Honors Literature and Composition I

Animal Farm Essay Prompts

Select one of the following four prompts and write a formal, Schaffer-style essay of at least five
paragraphs citing specific evidence from the novel to support your argument.

Due Dates:
Thesis: Friday, April 29
Rough Draft: Monday, May 2
Final Essay: Friday, May 6

1. Throughout Animal Farm, as the rules and policies of the farm begin to change and
Napoleon becomes more and more like a dictator, the reader sees individual freedoms and
privileges stripped from many of the animals. Napoleon even goes so far as to de-value the
work and self-worth of these characters in the eyes of others. Trace this idea through three
different characters in the story, revealing the physical and emotional consequences of such
actions and explain the message George Orwell conveys through these examples.

2. As life on Animal Farm begins to change over time and the pigs’ lust for power and
control increases, language (both in written and oral form) becomes a powerful tool used to
sway the minds and opinions of various animals to believe that these inequitable rules are
necessary. Select three examples from the novel when language is used as propaganda to
control the thoughts and actions of characters, commenting on the effects of such use, and
explain the message that George Orwell conveys through these examples.

3. Throughout Animal Farm, we see how personal weaknesses can be overpowered by other
people’s use of mental and physical strength, fear-tactics and trickery. Some of these
examples are positive and others are more negative. Select three examples of this idea,
discuss the effects of such manipulation in these examples and explain the message that
George Orwell conveys through them.

4. As the leadership of Animal Farm becomes more and more corrupt there are several
events, characters and situations that serve to remind all of the characters of the spirit and
vision of Old Major’s speech in Chapter 1 and help to encourage hope that one day those
ideas will come to fruition. Select three examples of this idea, discuss how they help all of
the characters persevere and endure the current obstacles faced at Animal Farm, and explain
the message that George Orwell conveys through these examples.

THESIS: