Discussion Questions for Chapter 3 and answers

1. Describe the difficulties the animals had in gathering the harvest and explain how they overcame those difficulties.

Ans: Many of the machines/implements were designed for human use, not for animals. So whatever requried the animals to stand on its hind legs proved to be a challenge. "But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty" (pg 33).

2. Describe the division of labour on Animal Farm after the Rebellion. What do you feel about this division?

Ans: The pigs did not actualyl work but they only sueprvised and gave orders to other animals. Boxer and Clover (horses) did the most physically demanding work. "Every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it" (pg 33). Even the ducks and the hens carried hay in their beaks.

Some students may say that this division of labour is fair, because since the pigs are the cleverest and most intelligent, it is natural for them to do the "brain work" and dorect/supervise others instead of doing manual work. It is because the other animals such as the horses are unintelligent which is why they cannot lead and have to do hard physical labour instead.

Other students may feel that the division of labour is unfair because the pigs do not even try to help out with the physical labour. They eat more than the other animals who work harder than them (the pigs take the milk and apples), yet do no contribute as much. Both views are valid, provided students can explain and justify their stand.

3. What does the behaviour of Mollie, the cat and Benjamin tell us about their attitudes to the Rebellion?

Ans: Mollie and the cat cannot be bothered about the Rebellion. They do not understand the true spirit and meaning of it. They are lazy, always evasive (trying to run away from work). Mollie always gives excuses to leave work early, while the cat is never around when there is work to do, but always comes back during mealtimes. This shows that they do not wish to contribute to the work, unlike the other animals.

Benjamin was "quite unchanged since the Rebellion" (pg 35). He worked in the same way as he did under Jones - always doing his work, and never taking on more, and he "would express no opinion" about the Rebellion. This shows that he is detached, aloof, and does not expect times to change much after the Rebellion. He is not very hopeful of a better future like the other animals, showing that he is cynical.

4. Why do you think Snowball’s various projects, except the reading and writing classes, were ‘failures’?

Ans: He could not convince the animals of the importance of these projects, and hence, probably did not get their support. "Napoleon took no interest in Snoball's committees" (pg 38) - since the pigs themselves appear not to be united, the animals probably were not convinced about these projects.

5. What degrees of success do the different animals achieve in learning to read and write? What does this tell us about their characters?

Ans: The pigs could already read and write before they taught the others --> tells us that they are smart. intelligent, and in the leadership position

Muriel could read somewhat better than the dogs, and she would sometimes read to others --> she is helpful, and not self-centered

The dogs learned to read fairly well, but are only interested in the 7 commandments --> shows that they are quite smart, but very loyal and devoted to the pigs and to Animalism

Benjamin "could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty" --> shows that he cannot be bothered about the Rebellion.

Clover and Boxer - had great difficuty learning --> shows they are unintelligent

Mollie - only learned the 6 letters which spelt her name --> extremely vain and self-centred

Sheep, hens and ducks - "stupider animals", very slow in learning --> therefore, Snowball had to reduce the 7 commandments into the phrase "Four legs good, two legs bad" (pg 37).

6. What kind of people do you think the sheep represent?

The sheep represent unintelligent poeple, and are followers who blindly accept that which is given or told to them.

Another important issue students should look into is the pigs keeping all the milk and apples for themselves. Think about how the pigs justify this action of theirs, and is it fair to the other animals. Put yourselves in the shoes of both the pigs and the other animals, and think about this issue from both sides.