A satirical beast fable, The Book of the Dun Cow portrays the struggle between good and evil and focuses human strengths, weaknesses, and temptations. It is moral without being didactic and contains much prose that is close to poetry without being cloying. The major animals are well-developed and credible. It is accessible to most readers, but its ideas are challenging to the best readers.

Students examine the medieval aspects of the novel and study the use of allegories, religious allusions, imagery, and dream sequences. They also analyze characters, themes, and the use of found poetry. 

Supplementary materials include a character quiz with answer key, a reading test with answer key, and an allegorical outline of World War II.