This lesson plan helps students analyze the major characters in *Animal Farm* by George Orwell using a visual character map.
Subject: English Language Arts · Grade: 8–10 · Time: 45–60 minutes
Major characters
Napoleon
- Role: Antagonist / dictator
- Traits: Cunning, ruthless, power-hungry, manipulative
- Motivation: Absolute control of the farm
- Development: Consolidates power through force and propaganda
Snowball
- Role: Idealistic revolutionary
- Traits: Intelligent, passionate, articulate, strategic
- Motivation: Building a better society
- Development: Driven off the farm by Napoleon's dogs
Boxer
- Role: Loyal worker
- Traits: Strong, devoted, naive, hardworking
- Motivation: Serving the farm, believing in Napoleon
- Development: Works himself to death; sold to the knacker
Squealer
- Role: Propagandist
- Traits: Persuasive, deceitful, clever, loyal to Napoleon
- Motivation: Maintaining the pigs' power through lies
- Development: Continuously rewrites history
Old Major
- Role: Revolutionary prophet
- Traits: Wise, inspiring, visionary
- Motivation: Freedom from human oppression
- Development: Dies before the revolution; his ideas are corrupted
Activity: Character map storyboard
- Open Storyboard Creator
- Choose 3 characters from above
- For each character, create panels showing traits, motivations and key moments
- Export PDF or share a live link