Reviews

The animals on Manor Farm are full of discontent--they work for Mr. Jones, who owns the farm, but they get no benefits from their own work, and the food is barely subsistence living. Then, Old Major, the boar who has been there longer than any of them, tells them that he had a dream that some day the animals would run the farm. He teaches them a catchy pro-animal song, and shortly after, he dies. In the animal's consciousness, the idea of rebellion stagnates in the dank basement of their discontent.

The time for rebellion comes without discussion, and in the period of joy from being freed, the animals must organize themselves. The trouble starts at the very beginning, when the pigs, deemed to be the smartest animals, are put in charge of all the animals. Two leaders arise from the group, Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball believes in their ability to self-govern and has ideas to improve all their lives. Napoleon has other thoughts in mind.

The story is allegorical--it is not merely a story of animals running a farm, as how could that be? How could they work with hands or opposable thumbs or the ability to speak human language? This is an example of a story in which it helps to have at least some historical background, lest it be a story about being more literate than the rest of the beasts.

Would I teach this book? I did teach this book this year, to my seventh grade class. I found that the book needs quite a bit of front-loading in order to help them understand what is being critiqued in the novel. Politics in general are not in the forefront of their minds, as they are far from being able to vote and they do not pay taxes. It does not occur to them how much of their lives is impacted by the choices made by elected officials. To them, life is governed by parents, teachers, and principals. To them, the problems and realities of Communism are ancient history and could not possibly happen again.

However, the students as a whole were intrigued to learn more. How could anyone think this form of government could work? What happened in real life that was similar? What does it mean? They wanted to know more about what all this meant. Topics that pique their interest are good. Many found Animal Farm was quite interesting and were upset at the end.

Some students did have a difficult time accepting that the layering of plot and allegory saved the book from being just a silly story about talking animals. Other student critiques included dialogue summarized instead of spoken and the repetitiveness of the plot—never mind that is part of the point, it just made it boring. A bonus from the book: a surprise choral performance of “Beasts of England” by my students in the classroom.

Books like Animal Farm are a good way to help students become more aware of the larger forces working upon them and to think about things such as how a strong horse like Boxer could find himself in such a predicament. Thinking, on the whole, is good. Let them wonder. Even if at the end, they still don’t understand or don’t believe it could happen now, especially not to them, let them begin to wonder how the situations arise.

khawlareads26's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

vikiii's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

olix's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

lev0001's review against another edition

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2.25

This is what, my fourth re read..? Felt compelled to read after Wifedom. It did not get better as I’d hoped. I feel Orwell’s tuberculosis and frailty through these pages - his exasperation and terror of the Soviets - but the book isn’t… good?

h1bash4rf's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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