To
read without reflecting is like eating without digesting. Edmund
Burke Reading
is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Richard
Steele, Tatler
Summer Reading Assignment
As part of a district goal to expand reading
opportunities for students, the English Departments at all the Plainfield High
Schools – Central Campus, South, North, and East - are requiring that all
students read a novel over the summer.
Because reading is vital to a student's success in school, we have set
up this program to encourage it. As Stratford P. Sherman, author of America
Won't Win Till it Reads More, declares and we agree, "Reading
transcends the mere transmission of information: It fosters an imaginative
dialogue between the text and the reader's mind that actually helps people
think."
Your summer reading assignment asks and expects
you to read the novel named below. After reading the novel, complete the
written assignment (also below). The written assignment is to be turned into
your English teacher on the first day of school. Ten points will be deducted
per school day for work handed in late.
The entire summer reading list and the written
assignment will be available online through the school English department
website as well as the student resources page.
Required
Reading:
Incoming Honors 9th graders:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
English 9 Honors Summer Assignment
One of the things we look for in all students includes attention to detail with all readings. As you begin to read the first in many novels in the Honors sequence, challenge yourself to complete the following questions in sentence form and cite the pages where you located the responses. This will help you when the novel is discussed later in class. Also, go past the typical responses and look to apply the themes and concepts learned in middle school to your responses. Some of the things you may wish to do include making predictions to what you think will happen later and being able to provide the reasons why you think it may happen. Connect characters to past reading and to other real life people that make them real to you. Remember, the more you put into any novel, the more you will get out of it.
Complete the questions as you read and
study the novel.
Old Major
Boxer
Mollie
Benjamin
Snowball
Napoleon
What noble ideals are set
forth in his dream?
Why are animals so excited
about singing “Beasts of England”?
What was their motive for rebellion?
1. Did the pigs help the other
animals work on the harvest?
2. Who did the animals admire the most?
3. What became his slogan?
4. Which two animals were not considered
by the other animals to be good workers?
5. Which animal’s character didn’t seem
to change at all since the Rebellion?
6. What three things happened on Sundays?
7. What did the Animal Farm flag look
like? To what would it compare historically?
8. At the meetings, who never seemed to
agree?
9. Who formed the animals into
committees?
10. How literate were the animals?
Why would literacy be an issue?
11. Who declared that the Seven
Commandments could be condensed into one?
What was this one
maxim?
Which animals would
repeat this for hours?
12. Who took Jessie’s and
Bluebell’s pup to “educate” them?
13. What had happened to the
missing milk? The apples? What was Squealer’s explanation?
14. What, according to
Squealer, would happen if the pigs failed in their duties?
15. How do you think the
disappearance of the milk and apples foreshadow future events?
16. Give some examples of the
pigs’ clever use of language to gain their own ends.
a.
b.
c.
d.
17. How are the animals better off after
the Rebellion?
a.
b.
c.
18. How are they worse off?
a .
b.
Chapter 4
1. How was word sent to animals on neighboring farms?
2. Name and describe the neighbors on
either side of the farm.
3. How did rebelliousness show
itself on other farms?
4. Early in October, Jones and men
from Foxwood and Pinchfield attempted to take over Animal Farm. Who
warned the animals?
5. Who has been studying Julius Caesar’s
campaign strategies?
Of what was he in
charge?
6. Describe the Battle of the Cowshed.
7. Who said, “The only good human is a
dead one”?
8. Who is discovered missing? Where
was she found?
9. What military decorations were
created? Who received them?
10. What are the anniversary dates
of the Rebellion and the Battle of the Cowshed?
Chapter 5
1. What did Mollie do wrong? Where did she finally go?
2. Describe the violent debates that
began to take place between Snowball and Napoleon.
3. What did Napoleon train the sheep to
do with “Four legs good, two legs bad?”
4. Describe the controversy over the
windmill.
Why would the animals
be in favor of it?
Who was against it and
why?
Who didn’t take a side
on it?
5. How did Napoleon ruin Snowball’s
plans?
6. When Napoleon and Snowball disagreed
on defense tactics, with whom did the animals agree?
7. What happened just as Snowball had the
animals agreeing with him?
8. Where had the nine dogs come from?
9. What happened to Sunday meetings and
debates?
10. Why was Squealer sent around to
explain the new setup?
11. How did the animals react?
12. What is Boxer’s new slogan?
13. To what did the animals now have to
show reverence?
14. Why is it important that Napoleon,
Squealer, and Minimus now sit above the other animals?
15. What do the animals learn three weeks
later?
16. Why does Napoleon say he pretended to
be against the windmill?
17. Who helped Squealer persuade the
animals that Napoleon was right?
Chapter 6
1. In August, Napoleon announced that there would be work on
Sundays. It would be strictly voluntary, but what would happen if the
animals didn’t work?
2.The animals were working like slaves on
the windmill, yet they were happy. Why?
3. What was the main problem with
building the windmill, and how was it solved?
4. How did Boxer lend extra help with the
windmill?
5. Everything was operating smoothly
until the animals discovered shortages of what?
6. What new policy did Napoleon announce
regarding obtaining articles the farm needed?
7. What things might have to be sold in
order to buy things for the windmill?
8. How would the dealings with humans be
accomplished? What is a broker?
9. Describe Mr. Whymper.
10. Who set the record straight that the
animals never had passed a rule against dealing with humans?
11. Why are the humans now
calling the farm by its new name?
12. What rumors are
circulating about Napoleon and his business agreements?
13. The pigs move
where? Why is this important?
14. How did Squealer
manipulate the language of the Fourth Commandment?
15. Why do the pigs get up an hour later
now?
16. What happened to the windmill when it
was half built?
17. What do you believe happened to the
windmill? Who is being blamed?
Chapter 7
1.Why is the windmill rebuilt with walls three feet thick?
2. Who never loses heart in spite of
worsening conditions?
3. Food falls short in January and
starvation seems near, but it is important to whom not to let the outside world
know?
4. What tricks are used to fool Mr.
Whymper?
5. Give some examples of how Napoleon is
becoming a dictator?
6. The chickens must surrender their eggs
now. While their rebellion takes place, nine hens die. What are the
other animals told about the nine hens?
7. Where is Snowball said to be living
now?
8. What tactics does Napoleon use when
negotiating the sale of the pile of lumber?
9. What animals disagreed with the
explanation that Snowball was Jones’ secret agent from the very beginning?
10. What explanation does Boxer accept?
11. Describe the confessions and
executions.
12. What is Boxer’s answer to the
slaughter of other animals?
13. Give an example of Clover’s blind
acceptance.
14. What explanation is given for banning
“Beasts of England?” What replaced it?
15. What always drowned out any animals
who protested?
Chapter 8
1. What is the significance of the poem about Napoleon?
2. How has the Sixth Commandment been
changed?
3. What is important about the rumor of
Mr. Frederick’s cruelty to his animals?
4. What is the slogan of the pigeons now?
5. What else is Snowball being blamed
for?
6. Why is it ironic that the windmill is
named after Napoleon?
7. Why is a death sentence decreed upon
Frederick?
8. Describe the Battle of the Windmill in
order of events.
9. What is ironic about their victory
celebration?
10. What is the result of the pigs’
discovery of whiskey?
11. What will the retirees’ pasture now
be used for?
12. Why is Squealer out at midnight with
a ladder and a paintbrush?
Chapter 9
1. How is Boxer hurt? Who helps him?
2. How far away is Boxer’s supposed
retirement?
3. What word does Squealer use to
describe the reduced rations?
4. Do the animals still believe they are
free?
5. What special rights do pigs gain in
this chapter?
6. What is ironic about the pigs gaining
so much weight?
7. What is Spontaneous
Demonstration? What is the purpose?
8. Why was Napoleon elected president?
9. What propaganda is spread about
Snowball’s wound in the Battle of the Cowshed?
10. What is significant about the
reappearance of Moses?
11. What type of building is going on
now?
12. Why does Napoleon make arrangements
to send Boxer to a “hospital”?
13. How do the pigs explain the knacker’s
truck? Do the animal’s believe him?
14. How do the pigs continue to use
Boxer’s strength after his death?
15. Where did the pigs get the money for
the case of whiskey?
Chapter 10
1. Who is left after all these years?
2. Has anyone retired? Do you thing
anyone ever will?
3. What has happened to the animals’
promised rewards?
4. What do the pigs have to work on,
according to Squealer?
5. What does Benjamin remember about the
past?
6. What new song does Napoleon now have
Squealer teach the sheep? Why?
7. What does the wall of Commandments now
say?
8. What is the similarity between
Napoleon and Jones?
9. Describe the conversation at the card
game.
10. What is the final irony at the end of
the novel?