Animal Farm - Characters test questions - OCR - GCSE English Literature Revision

1

Read the following extract from Old Major's speech in chapter one and answer the following questions:

"Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth."

Why does Old Major refer to the other animals as 'comrades'?

Because he doesn't know their names

Because he is trying to be informal

Because it creates the sense that they are a team

2

Why does Old Major point out all the negative aspects of the animals' lives?

To make them want to rebel

To upset them

To make himself seem more important

3

What does this speech tell us about Old Major?

That he is a pessimist

That he wants to be lazy

That he wants the best for the animals

4

Which literary device is used in the line: "what is the nature of this life of ours"?

A metaphor

A rhetorical question

A simile

5

Read the following extract from chapter five and answer the following questions:

Napoleon, with the dogs following him, now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag, sing Beasts of England, and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates.

Why does Napoleon get on to the 'raised platform' with his dogs?

So that he can see everyone

So that he can project his voice better

So that he can be seen to be superior and threatening

6

Why does Napoleon call an end to the Sunday meetings?

So the animals have more rest time

So that he can make checks around the farm

To stop discussion and debate

7

If Napoleon is giving the animals 'orders' for the week, what is he becoming?

A democratic leader

A tyrant

A communist

8

Read the following extract from chapter four, then answer the following questions:

Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. He himself dashed straight for Jones. Jones saw him coming, raised his gun and fired. The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball’s back, and a sheep dropped dead. Without halting for an instant, Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones’s legs. Jones was hurled into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands.

How does Snowball show his leadership skills?

By charging at Jones

By being shot

By giving the signal for the charge

9

Which quote from the extract shows Snowball's bravery?

'The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball’s back'

'A sheep dropped dead'

'Jones was hurled into a pile of dung'

10

Where was Napoleon whilst all the fighting was going on?

Leading another charge against the humans

He is not mentioned

He is wounded