Animal Farm Chapter One

1. What is the setting for the story?

The story begins as Mr. Jones, the owner of the farm falls asleep because he is drunk. All the animals of his farm begin to gather at the big barn to listen to the Old Major`s (the oldest pig on the farm) speech about the dream he had the previous night.

2. What four characteristics are noted about Boxer the horse?

Boxer is described as an enormous animal, which is eighteen hands high. He is a hard worker, respected by all the animals at the farm, as strong as two horses put together. Boxer has a white stripe running down his nose which gave an impression of him not being particularly intelligent; however, he is regarded as reliable and faithful.

3. What comment does Benjamin the donkey make that shows his cynicism and bad temper?

To outline the character of Benjamin the donkey it is mentioned that he said that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would have preferred to have no tail and no flies. Benjamin was regarded as the worst tempered animal on the farm and he was never seen laughing. When the other animals pointed that out to him, he responded that he saw nothing to laugh at.

4. How does Clover help the other animals at the meeting?

Clover, the horse, had made some space between her legs for some ducklings, which had lost their mother and couldn’t find some free place in the barn where the farm`s animals gathered so that they wouldn`t be trampled on. The ducklings have fallen asleep immediately after that.

5. What does Old Major say is the reason the animals have such miserable lives?

Old Major in his speech dedicated to the farm`s animals says that the reason of their miserable condition are human beings. He continues that they steal all the products of their labor whereas human don’t produce any and if there were no men to control their lives, there will be no overwork or hunger. The farm could be independent and prosperous if it wasn’t  for the human owner.