Animal Farm Reading Journal

“Animal Farm”
Reading Journal
Preface
It is well known among the educated general public that the short-story entitled “Animal Farm,” written by George Orwell in 1943, is an allegory for the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in the early twentieth century and the harsh times that followed. It is a story that shows how a revolution against tyranny can transform into a totalitarianism which is even more terrible. Based on that postulation, the following is a journal kept during a reading of the novel which attempts to identify the parallels of the Animal Farm and the post-Tsarist Russia. It is made-up of six sections, the first five of which consisting of a two quotes apiece, one from each of the two chapters being examined, and a response from the writer to both quotes separately, as well as five vocabulary terms from each chapter which may be key to the understanding of the chapter and may or may not be included within the actual text of “Animal Farm”. Also, these first five sections will include a discussion question at the end of every one, as well as the writer’s opinion of the topic addressed in the question. The last section consists solely of the key theme of the story, and the symbolism behind the characters and certain important objects relative to the real-world. The point of this journal is not to entertain, but to inform and enlighten the reader to the best of the writer’s ability. However, the writer has attempted to be as thought-provoking as possible, and hopes he shall not bore the reader to death. Enjoy!
Section 1
(Chapters one and two)
Chapter 1
Quote: (pg. 25, lines 1-3)
“Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked then hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes.”
Response:
This quote is significant in two ways. For one, it is the beginning of the story and allows the reader the first glimpse of what is to come. Another reason this particular quote is signifi-cant is because it represents how Russia’s...