Animal Farm (Edexcel GCSE English Literature): Exam Questions

Do not imagine, comrade, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility.

Explore the importance of leadership in the novel.

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

Napoleon was a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar… not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way.

In what ways is Napoleon significant in Animal Farm?

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but was not considered to have the same depth of character.

How is Snowball important in Animal Farm?

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters.

Explain how the Seven Commandments are important in Animal Farm.

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

… old Major, the prize Middle White boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals.

Explore the significance of Old Major in the novel.

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

‘Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!’ (Napoleon)

How is the relationship between Napoleon and Snowball important in the novel?

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

Mr Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.

Explore how Mr Jones is presented in the novel.

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)

Boxer: 'I do not understand it. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. It must be due to some fault in ourselves.'

In what ways is Boxer presented as a sympathetic character in Animal Farm?

You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer.

[40 marks]

(includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)