[Updated] Animal Farm Trigger Warning List

Here is the updated version of the trigger warning list for Animal Farm by George Orwell. Only 3 more books left before I'm done with the ones that I created for my ex-high school.

[Important: Please note that trigger warnings are not necessarily to make it so that you can just avoid the content. There is a fairly popular mistaken belief that trigger warnings are censorship. That is not true. Trigger warnings exist so that, if you are sensitive to the content, you are made aware of it before it occurs and surprises you. This gives you a chance to prepare yourself mentally before reading it so that it does not affect you as negatively as it might if you didn’t know that it was going to happen. Also, please note that if you rely on triggers for the shock-value or plot twists (aka, “Well I can’t use trigger warnings because they’re spoilers!”), you aren’t a very good writer and you definitely aren’t taking into consideration the potential sensitivity of your audience.]

Triggers, listed in order of the number of occurrences are: death, alcohol, violence, ableist language, drugs, and suicide.

The paragraph numbers and a general summary of each are listed on the following pages. For reference, the italicized numbers in the parenthesis are the page numbers in my book, and the total number of paragraphs in each chapter are listed below:

Foreword - 14
Preface - 30
Introduction - 11
Chapter 1 - 27
Chapter 2 - 35
Chapter 3 - 15
Chapter 4 - 17
Chapter 5 - 25
Chapter 6 - 22
Chapter 7 - 37
Chapter 8 - 42
Chapter 9 - 31
Chapter 10 - 34

Death
Death is mentioned in the following paragraphs. Those instances where I felt there needed to be a more detailed warning also include a short summary.
  • In paragraph 3 (vii) and 9 (x) of the foreword, there is a mention of murder.
  • In paragraph 6 (viii) of the foreword, there is a quote from the book that mentions ripping animals throats out.
  • Paragraphs 7 (ix) and 10 (x) of the foreword.
  • Paragraphs 1 (xiv) and 3 of the preface.
  • In paragraph 6 (xv) of the preface, there is a mention of selling a horse to be turned into glue, hides, and bone meal.
  • Paragraph 3 (xxiii) of the introduction.
  • In paragraph 4 (xxiv) of the introduction, there is a mention of murder.
  • In paragraph 7 (xxvi) of the introduction, there are mentions of a child being eaten by a wolf, hanging, and other deaths.
  • Paragraphs 6 (5), 7, 16 (8), 24 (10) of chapter 1.
  • In paragraph 10 (7) of chapter 1, there is talk of the deaths of farm animals, including being slaughtered and drowned.
  • Paragraphs 1 (12), 3 (13), 8 (14), and 27 (18) of chapter 2.
  • Paragraph 4 (22) of chapter 3.
  • Paragraphs 3 (28), 4, 8 (30), 10 (31), 11, 15, and 16 (32) of chapter 4.
  • Paragraphs 11 (37) and 23 (41) of chapter 5.
  • Paragraph 20 (50) of chapter 6.
  • Paragraphs 4 (53), 7 (54), 17 (57), 24 (59), and 35 (62) of chapter 7.
  • In paragraphs 25 (59), 26, 27 (60), and 30 (61) of chapter 7, animals are slaughtered for their supposed disobedience, including having their throats ripped out by dogs.
  • Paragraphs 1 (63), 9 (66), 11 (67), 14 (68), 18 (70), 37 (73), 38 (74), and 39 of chapter 8.
  • In paragraph 10 (67) of chapter 8, there are descriptions of the mistreatment and deaths of animals at a neighboring farm.
  • In paragraph 18 (70) of chapter 8, there is a mention of wanting to boil someone alive as a punishment.
  • In paragraphs 25 (71) and 26 (72) of chapter 8, both animals and men are killed in a battle.
  • In paragraphs 21 (84), 23, 24, and 28 (85) of chapter 9, a horse is taken away to be killed and turned into glue, hides, and bone meal.
  • Paragraphs 25 (85), 26, 29 (86), and 30 of chapter 9.
  • Paragraphs 2 (87) and 29 (96) of chapter 10


Alcohol
Alcohol or being drunk are mentioned in the following paragraphs.
  • Paragraphs 5 (xxiv) and 6 (xxv) of the introduction.
  • Paragraphs 1 (3) and 16 (8) of chapter 1.
  • Paragraphs 10 (14), 11, 18 (17), and 26 (18) of chapter 2.
  • Paragraph 2 (27) of chapter 4.
  • Paragraphs 38 (74), 39, 40 (75), and 42 of chapter 8.
  • Paragraphs 5 (78), 8 (81), and 31 (86) of chapter 9.
  • Paragraphs 22 (93), 23, 26 (95), 27, 31 (96), and 32 of chapter 10.


Violence
  • In paragraph 11 (15) of chapter 2, the animals rise up against the farm workers who were going to whip them and they beat them up and drive them off the farm.
  • In paragraph 13 (16) of chapter 2, there is a mention of the castration of animals.
  • In paragraph 3 (28) of chapter 4, there is a mention of cannibalism and torture, though neither of those things actually happen.
  • In paragraph 4 (29) of chapter 4, there is a mention of flogging animals.
  • In paragraph 8 (30) of chapter 4, men attempt to take the farm back from the animals and are driven off violently.
  • In paragraph 4 (53) of chapter 7, there is a mention of cannibalism and infanticide.
  • In paragraphs 19 (70) through 25 (72) of chapter 8, men attempt again to take the farm back. The battle is much more violent this time.


Ableist Language
Ableist language in this book is mainly the use of the word stupid.
  • In paragraphs 8 (ix) and 12 (xii) of the foreword, the word stupid is used.
  • In paragraphs 6 (xv) and 26 (xx) of the preface, the word stupid is used.
  • In paragraph 10 (xxviii) of the introduction, the phrase “deafen ourselves to” is used.
  • In paragraphs 3 (4) and 26 (10) of chapter 1, the word stupid is used.
  • In paragraph 3 (13) of chapter 2, the word stupid is used.
  • In paragraph 9 (24) of chapter 3, the word stupid is used.
  • In paragraph 13 (68) of chapter 8, the word dumb is used.
  • In paragraphs 24 (84) and 28 (85) of chapter 9, the word stupid is used.
  • In paragraph 3 (88) of chapter 10, the word stupid is used.


Drugs
In paragraphs 23 (xix) and 27 (xx) of the preface, drugs are mentioned in the context of the events of Brave New World, another dystopian/utopian novel, written by Aldous Huxley.


Suicide
  • In paragraph 11 (67) of chapter 8, an animal kills themselves by eating nightshade berries.



A Note for Teachers or Librarians: If you want to distribute these lists to your students or have them available to patrons, I can format the text into a singular sheet of paper (or as close to a single sheet of paper I can get)--either as a flyer or a tri-fold brochure. Let me know if you want that; My rates are variable and low, as I don't want to create a paywall to accessibility.


Love Always,

Sam


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