4.3_Analytical Paragraph Creation-Quotations

​Animal Farm Analytical Paragraph- Selecting a Quotation

By Celi Oliveto

Quotations

Now that you've generated a theme statement, you'll need to find examples from the text in order to back up your argument.

Quotations

Think of yourself as a lawyer. You're trying to prove your case for your interpretation of the subject in the book. You'll need a piece of evidence to prove that you're correct.

Selecting a Quotation

In the next couple of questions, we will read theme statements. You'll need to select which evidence best supports the argument.

Multiple Choice

Theme statement: Power inevitably corrupts those who hold it.

• All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

• Napoleon is always right.

• “The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before.”

• “Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?”

Power inevitably corrupts those who possess it.

Correct Quote (Supports the Theme):

✅ “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Shows how the pigs twist equality into inequality once they gain power.

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Distractor Quotes (Do not directly support the theme):

❌ “I will work harder!”
– Focuses on Boxer’s work ethic, not corruption.

❌ “The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before.”
– A general description of surprise or confusion, not power corrupting.

Multiple Select

Those in power often twist language for the purpose of controlling others.

• The harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped.

• The milk and apples… contained substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig.

• Squealer could turn black into white.

• Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines.

Those in power often twist language for the purpose of controlling others.

Correct Quote (Supports the Theme):

✅ Correct Quote:

• “Squealer could turn black into white.” This quote explicitly says that Squealer can take what is true and in front of the animals' eyes and use his power of language to shape it into what he wants the animals to believe.

❌ Distractors:

• “The milk and apples… contained substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig.” (This is manipulation, but more about justification than language control.)

• “The harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped.”

Multiple Choice

Revolutions can fail when leaders become just like the oppressors they replaced.

• “Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines.”

• “The Seven Commandments could be reduced to a single maxim: ‘Four legs good, two legs bad.’”

• “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig… but already it was impossible to say which was which.”

• “Boxer was the admiration of everybody.”

Categorize

Options (8)

"Napoleon is always right"

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; b

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

“Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right argument

“All men are enemies. All animals are comrades”

“Comrades!' he cried. 'You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this for privilege

“Surely, comrades, you don't want Jones back?”

Place the quotes under the subject/topic that they would best belong to

Equality

Becoming the thing that you hated

Dictatorships

Education

Correct Quote

✅ Correct Quote:

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig… but already it was impossible to say which was which.”

Why This Quote Fits the Theme:

• At the end of the novel, the pigs behave exactly like the humans they originally overthrew.

• The animals cannot tell the difference between the pigs (the new leaders) and humans (the old oppressors).

• This proves the revolution failed— the pigs replaced Mr. Jones but became just as corrupt, selfish, and oppressive.

Next Lesson

Next Lesson Preview: Theme → Evidence → Paragraph

In our next lesson, you will…

1. Choose one theme statement from Lesson 4.2

2. Find a quotation from Animal Farm that supports your theme

3. Explain why the quote supports your theme statement

4. Combine your ideas into a well-developed analytical paragraph

Bring your notebook and your Lesson 4.2 theme statements!