Chapter 1: The story starts off by saying that Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor farm, is drunk again. There is an old, big, and wise boar named "Old Major." He is held in high regards as the wise man of the farm animals. He has a startling dream and calls forth all the animals to come to join him. The animals include Jessie, Bluebell, and Pincher, who are dogs. Then there is Boxer and Clover, who are horses, male and female. Then there's ol' Muriel, a goat, and Benjamin a donkey. We also can not forget about Mollie, a mare, Moses a raven, chickens, hens and ducks. Old Major talks about how they should start a revolution and overthrow the humans and run the farm themselves. So Old Major puts down some rules like, alcohol can not be drunk, money can not be spent, and others should not be killed. They conclude the meeting by singing the song "Beasts of England."
Clarify: All the animals can talk. Old Major is the leader of all the animals, respectively. None of them like the humans.
Questions: Can the animals even overpower the humans? Will the humans just shoot the animals? Will their plan work?
Predictions: The animals will kill Mr. Jones by taking advantage of him while he is drunk. The animals will also start breaking all the rules they have set in place.
Connections: This reminds me of the french revolution we learned about in History class. The common people wanted to overthrow the known government just like the animals.
Clarify: All the animals can talk. Old Major is the leader of all the animals, respectively. None of them like the humans.
Questions: Can the animals even overpower the humans? Will the humans just shoot the animals? Will their plan work?
Predictions: The animals will kill Mr. Jones by taking advantage of him while he is drunk. The animals will also start breaking all the rules they have set in place.
Connections: This reminds me of the french revolution we learned about in History class. The common people wanted to overthrow the known government just like the animals.
Chapter 2: This chapter starts with Old Major dying. He predicted this however in his little speech. So, then Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer became the leaders and to started to set things place. The pigs set up "Animalism." The crow also sets a paradise center called Sugarcandy Mountain. Mr. Jones gets drunk and the animals use this as their opportunity, they kick him out and take over. They then set some rules like no wearing clothes, and no sleeping in the house. The farm is now named Animal Farm instead of Manor Farm. The pigs write out seven commandments that basically outline Animalism and how they are going to run the farm. Despite this the pigs steal all the fresh milk from the cows.
Clarify: The pigs are the leaders and by far the smartest. The system set up is supposed to be a communist system. The animals now control the farm.
Questions: Will one of the leaders get power hungry and try to get rid of the other two pigs? Will this system turn into a dictatorship? Will the humans come back and kill all the animals?
Predictions: The pigs get greedy and start taking all of the best goods and food, making the other animals angry. The animals will then revolt against them.
Connections: This is like Mr. Miller's school project he does while he is grading the fairy tales. He makes the class make their own rules and try to run the class themselves for a week and see what kind of things happen.
Clarify: The pigs are the leaders and by far the smartest. The system set up is supposed to be a communist system. The animals now control the farm.
Questions: Will one of the leaders get power hungry and try to get rid of the other two pigs? Will this system turn into a dictatorship? Will the humans come back and kill all the animals?
Predictions: The pigs get greedy and start taking all of the best goods and food, making the other animals angry. The animals will then revolt against them.
Connections: This is like Mr. Miller's school project he does while he is grading the fairy tales. He makes the class make their own rules and try to run the class themselves for a week and see what kind of things happen.
Chapter 3: The animals begin to run the farm. Everything is going great for a while. We find out that Boxer is a great worker. He constantly repeats the phrase "I will work harder" all day long. Mollie is extremely lazy. We also see that Benjamin the donkey is really relaxed. He does not seem to be too mad or glad with the rebellion just sort of chill about the whole thing. The pigs try to educate the animals but they find out that besides themselves, the other animals are not too smart. Napoleon secret puppies were just born and he has nine that he is raising. The pigs continue to hoard the milk and apples.
Clarify: The pigs are definitely the leaders. Boxer is a major character in the story. The puppies could be evil.
Questions: What is Napoleon planning to do with the puppies? Will the other animals get mad they are taking the apples?
Predictions: The puppies will be a militia or something. Animals will begin to revolt against the pigs.
Connections: My older brother used to take all my Halloween candy when I was young just because he did not want me to have it. This is like the pigs and the milk and apples.
Clarify: The pigs are definitely the leaders. Boxer is a major character in the story. The puppies could be evil.
Questions: What is Napoleon planning to do with the puppies? Will the other animals get mad they are taking the apples?
Predictions: The puppies will be a militia or something. Animals will begin to revolt against the pigs.
Connections: My older brother used to take all my Halloween candy when I was young just because he did not want me to have it. This is like the pigs and the milk and apples.
Chapter 4: The neighbor farms owned by Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick, are worried about their animals having and uprising. The pigs and these two neighbor farms try to get along but it does not work out so well. A few battles take place and the pigs win. A few animals die like sheep and Snowball gets hurt. Boxer also kills a man and feels guilty. To reward himself, Snowball gives himself the prize of "Animal Hero, First Class."
Clarify: The farms are actually fighting each other. The pigs did not lose the farm.
Questions: Will the other farms animal's rise up as well? Will Snowball die?
Predictions: The other farm animals from other farms will rise up and join Animal Farm. The actually human military will have to stop the pigs.
Connections: This reminds me of Braveheart due to the epic battle.
Clarify: The farms are actually fighting each other. The pigs did not lose the farm.
Questions: Will the other farms animal's rise up as well? Will Snowball die?
Predictions: The other farm animals from other farms will rise up and join Animal Farm. The actually human military will have to stop the pigs.
Connections: This reminds me of Braveheart due to the epic battle.
Chapter 5: Things start to get complicated on Animal Farm. Mollie is having an interesting relationship with one of the neighbor farm men. She eventually leaves Animal Farm. Napoleon and Snowball start fighting over who should be supreme leader. Napoleon is better at campaigning and swindling for votes, but Snowball has better speeches. Snowball then creates plan for a windmill which will bring electricity to the farm and Napoleon literally pees on them. Benjamin talks about how life is bad no matter what happens. So before the official for the leader, Napoleon's dogs are all grown up and he brings them out to play. They are vicious and chase Snowball out of the farm after he delivered his great speech. Napoleon is now the leader and ends up building a windmill anyway.
Clarify: Snowball is a better leader with great ideas but is exiled. Napoleon is the official supreme leader. The animals are brainwashed into thinking Napoleon is a great leader.
Questions: Will the animals end up following Snowball? Will Snowball start an uprising?
Predictions: The windmill will fail due to Napoleon's poor planning. Snowball will start an uprising and take over the farm.
Connections: This is like me and my brother, we are always fighting over little things even though we both have good ideas.
Clarify: Snowball is a better leader with great ideas but is exiled. Napoleon is the official supreme leader. The animals are brainwashed into thinking Napoleon is a great leader.
Questions: Will the animals end up following Snowball? Will Snowball start an uprising?
Predictions: The windmill will fail due to Napoleon's poor planning. Snowball will start an uprising and take over the farm.
Connections: This is like me and my brother, we are always fighting over little things even though we both have good ideas.
Chapter 6: A lot of manual labor starts to happen at the farm. The animals end up working like slaves under the leadership of Napoleon. Napoleon also starts to trade with other farms despite the commandment forbidding it. Squealer explains Napoleon's actions to all of the animals so they "understand." The animals also move into the farm house and sleep there, which is also against the rules. The windmill ends up blowing down as well. Things have taken a turn for the worse on the once great Animal farm. Snowball ends up turning into the scapegoat.
Clarify: Napoleon is breaking the rules and becoming a dictatorship. Everyone blames Snowball for the disaster of the windmill.
Questions: Will the people continue to blame Snowball or will they eventually join him? Will Napoleon continue to lead the animals or will they revolt?
Predictions: The animals will revolt against Napoleon. Snowball will become the leader.
Connections: This is like in middle school when one kid would break the rules, all the other kids would follow. Like say you are not allowed to jump off the swings, but as soon as one kid does it everybody else jumps off too.
Clarify: Napoleon is breaking the rules and becoming a dictatorship. Everyone blames Snowball for the disaster of the windmill.
Questions: Will the people continue to blame Snowball or will they eventually join him? Will Napoleon continue to lead the animals or will they revolt?
Predictions: The animals will revolt against Napoleon. Snowball will become the leader.
Connections: This is like in middle school when one kid would break the rules, all the other kids would follow. Like say you are not allowed to jump off the swings, but as soon as one kid does it everybody else jumps off too.
Chapter 7: Over the winter the Animals are trying to rebuild the windmill. When it was destroyed everyone blamed Snowball for sabotaging it, but it was really due to the fact that the walls were not thick enough. The humans suggest to them that they build thicker walls and the animals reluctantly do. Since everyone is starving due to no windmill and the rationing of food by Napoleon, everyone is very angry. Napoleon decides to sell four hundred eggs against the old rule and Old Major's prior ideas. The hens are angry and protest but Napoleon uses his dog to kill nine of the hens and they then agree. Squealer then tells all the animals that Snowball's efforts in the battles were really just plots to hurt Animal Farm. The animals are baffled and ask questions but Squealer has an answer explain why Napoleon is the real hero. Napoleon then holds a meeting with all the animals about affairs with Snowball. He uses the power of his dogs to get some animals to convince their plotting with Snowball, if they really were we will never know. Napoleon then has the dogs tear all those animals to shreds in front of everyone. The dogs even try to attack boxer with no order and boxer kicks them away. The animals are starting to notice that things are not good anymore and something needs to change. Boxer just keeps saying he will work harder.
Clarify: The animals are starting to question Napoleon's leadership and stories. The dogs regularly kill animals. The people are scared of resisting Napoleon.
Questions: Will Boxer leave the farm and go with Snowball? Will Snowball start a new revolution?
Predictions: Boxer will leave the farm and join Snowball. Napoleon on hearing Boxer is leaving will have his dogs kill Snowball.
Connections: The U.S. government uses it's military force to "persuade" other smaller countries just like Napoleon.
Clarify: The animals are starting to question Napoleon's leadership and stories. The dogs regularly kill animals. The people are scared of resisting Napoleon.
Questions: Will Boxer leave the farm and go with Snowball? Will Snowball start a new revolution?
Predictions: Boxer will leave the farm and join Snowball. Napoleon on hearing Boxer is leaving will have his dogs kill Snowball.
Connections: The U.S. government uses it's military force to "persuade" other smaller countries just like Napoleon.
Chapter 8: The rules have been changed to say there is no killing without cause. Also Napoleon's new name is "Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon." Napoleon has also been trading eggs and such with the neighboring farms but not accepting checks. He only wants cash money, and it turns out that he does not trade with Mr. Pilkington and instead goes with Mr. Frederick, who ends up giving him fake money. Another battle breaks out between humans and animals and the humans dynamite the windmill the animals were building. Boxer gets injured but the animals win in the end. The pigs toast to this by dressing up, drinking alcohol, and sleeping in the farm house. The pigs break all the rules and get away with it.
Clarify: The Pigs defeated the humans again. The windmill is destroyed once again.
Questions: Will the humans attack again and kill the pigs? Will Snowball come back?
Predictions: The humans will team up with Snowball and defeat Napoleon. Snowball will lead the animals.
Connections: I once sold a guitar and promised one person I would sell it to them, but then somebody else offered me more money so I sold it to them. Reminds me of Napoleon and his trading.
Clarify: The Pigs defeated the humans again. The windmill is destroyed once again.
Questions: Will the humans attack again and kill the pigs? Will Snowball come back?
Predictions: The humans will team up with Snowball and defeat Napoleon. Snowball will lead the animals.
Connections: I once sold a guitar and promised one person I would sell it to them, but then somebody else offered me more money so I sold it to them. Reminds me of Napoleon and his trading.
Chapter 9: Everything is falling apart and things are not going well. The pigs on the other hand are living quite well, hoarding food and constantly intoxicated. The animals are also rebuilding the windmill. Finally good old Boxer finally gives out. He works too hard and can't go any further. So, the pigs send him to the hospital. Well, actually they send him to a glue factory. Boxer reads the sign of the truck that takes him away. Due to this, Benjamin finally gets angry and shows some emotion for his old friend. He is angry to see what the Pigs had done to the hardest working animal they had. The pigs seem content and happily get drunk off the reparations from selling Boxer.
Clarify: Boxer is shipped out and never comes back. The animals are starting to get angry.
Questions: Will Benjamin fight back? Will Napoleon continue to rule?
Predictions: Benjamin will try to fight back and be killed. Napoleon will then slaughter more animals.
Connections: The talking about glue reminds me of kindergarten when I would eat Elmer's glue from the bottle.
Clarify: Boxer is shipped out and never comes back. The animals are starting to get angry.
Questions: Will Benjamin fight back? Will Napoleon continue to rule?
Predictions: Benjamin will try to fight back and be killed. Napoleon will then slaughter more animals.
Connections: The talking about glue reminds me of kindergarten when I would eat Elmer's glue from the bottle.
Chapter 10: Time flies by and years pass. A lot of animals become old and die. Very few animals remember or recall the dies before the rebellion. All the animals think things are better even though they are worse. Squealer takes the pigs to spot where he teaches them a new chant. It goes, "four legs good, two legs better." Then the animals all swarm around Clover who calls them to see this crazy sight. Napoleon and the pigs have begun to walk on their hind two legs. The pigs also rename the farm Manor Farm instead of Animal Farm. The pigs hold a meeting with the neighbors and Napoleon shows off his farm. The other farmers are marveled how he could have the hardest working animals while being the lowest fed. Then both Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington pull an Ace at the same time during a card game and accuse each other of cheating. The animals looking in from outside realize that they can no longer tell apart the pigs from the humans. Finally, there is only one commandment left, and it reads, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."
Clarify: Years have passed Napoleon still rules on. The animals begin dying of old age. The pigs are no just like humans.
Questions: Will the pigs die soon? What will happen when the pigs die?
Predictions: All the animals will die eventually from old age. The neighboring farms will eventually take over Animal Farm.
Connections: Reminds me of the saying, "people become the things they fear the most." Meaning that whatever you don't want to be, or don't want to happen a lot of times happens. Just like in this book, the pigs eventually turned into what they despised, the humans.
Clarify: Years have passed Napoleon still rules on. The animals begin dying of old age. The pigs are no just like humans.
Questions: Will the pigs die soon? What will happen when the pigs die?
Predictions: All the animals will die eventually from old age. The neighboring farms will eventually take over Animal Farm.
Connections: Reminds me of the saying, "people become the things they fear the most." Meaning that whatever you don't want to be, or don't want to happen a lot of times happens. Just like in this book, the pigs eventually turned into what they despised, the humans.
Theme(s):
Power - In this story, the main idea of Old Major was to have a farm free of humans (no government aka communism). When he dies the animals rebel against the humans and succeed in taking over the farm. Then, the smartest animals, the pigs, become the leaders. At first everything seems okay, everybody is fed, works, and are treated equally. Pretty soon the pigs start taking all the milk and apples and keeping it for themselves. They told the animals that they need it so they can continue to lead properly. Suddenly, the pigs are fighting over who is the supreme leader. So, Napoleon puts an assassination on his friend Snowball just so he can win the election. Then, Napoleon starts rationing all the food and forcing the animals to work like slaves while he does nothing. He even moves into the farm house and sleeps in the nice beds. He uses his dogs to enforce whatever rules he wants. He starts to drink whiskey and forget to feed the animals just like Mr. Jones. In the end he takes all rights away from the farm animals and basically turns the farm into a socialist government. This goes to show how a little power can slowly corrupt. The corruption of power in Napoleon ultimately led to the downfall of the other animals.
Deception - When the animals set up their government system they have seven commandments which they live by. They sum everything down into one easy phrase, "four legs good, two legs bad." During the story, as the pigs get more and more corrupt, the rules begin to change. The pigs change one commandment from "no killing" to "no killing without cause." Since the animals can not remember well or read well they can not question these things and just believe them to have been always that way. The pigs use this to their advantage to deceive the animals to do their bidding. They also trick the animals in saying that the windmill will bring food and power but the pigs change it to grind grains just so they can make more money. Napoleon also tricks the animals into thinking Snowball is the reason for all of the bad things that happen, deceiving them so he will seem like a good leader. Even at the end of the book when all commandments have been changed or abolished the animals can not remember the past and the old rules.
Dreams/Hope - The story begins with Old Major having a dream about communism. The animals focus all their attention to bringing this dream into reality. The animals overthrow the humans, then set up an equal system. However, the pigs soon start treating the animals poorly. The animals however just go with it because they have this dream of utopia and are willing to sacrifice anything for it. Even though battle after battles happen, the fall of the windmill, the animals never once forget about their dream of freedom and equality. Nobody ever loses hope and continue to work hard and strive to reach an unreachable finish line. Only at the very end of the book do the animals start to question if life is really getting better, if it will ever get better, and that the pigs are totally corrupt. So in the end Old Major's dream is just a dream, and can only be brought to reality by animals who are flawed, jealous, corrupt, greedy, and vain.
Motif(s):
Chant/Song- There are songs that are repeated throughout the story by the animals. The first one is "Beasts of England" which speaks of rebellion. The animals chant this before they overthrow the humans. Then Napoleon has squealer teach the animals the "Four legs good, two legs bad chant" which is right after the rebellion. Then Napoleon bands "Beast Of England" because it is about rebellion and he does not want the animals to rebel. He also has squealer teach the animals to say, "four legs good, two legs better" so that they will adjust to the fact the pigs walk on two legs. The songs serve as propaganda in the way that by having all the animals sing the same thing they no longer have personal identity. They say the same things, act the same way, and think the same way. This is a tactic in which Napoleon can use to take control of the animals minds by erasing their identity and making them conform and become mindless robots.
State Ritual- Napoleon and Snowball start to hold elections and award ceremonies. The ceremonies are held in which Snowball gives himself a reward. Napoleon also has a time when he elects himself President for life. They also have the campaigns where Napoleon runs against Snowball. These public acts serve as a tool that makes the animals look up to the leaders. By having ceremonies and parades and celebrations of victories the animals then more heavily rely on the pigs to lead them. This then makes it so that they think they need a leader and can not be let to govern themselves. Napoleon uses this to his advantage to take control.
Nine Dogs- Napoleon starts to raise a secret group of fun loving puppies. He raises them up in the top of the barn so nobody knows and can find out. We first get introduced to the true side of the dogs when Napoleon is about to lose the campaign against Snowball. Napoleon brings out his now full grown viscous dogs and have them chase Snowball off the farm. The dogs represent fear and control. Anyone who disobeys Napoleon's order will be killed. They show up again when the hens rebel and do not want to have 400 of their eggs trade to the neighbors. So, Napoleon has nine of them killed and they then agree to give up their eggs. Then has them try to kill Boxer but luckily sense Boxer is a strong horse he can defend himself and kick them away. Nobody even suspects that Napoleon sent them to attack they just figured the dogs went rogue for a minute. So, then Napoleon calls a meeting with the animals and is trying to find out who has been involved with Snowball. When some animals reveal that they have been he has them torn to shreds right there in front of everyone. The dogs represent the KGB secret police that Stalin had and used to kill anyone who opposed him.
Symbol(s):
The Windmill - The windmill represents the manipulation done by the pig's. They tell the animals that the windmill will bring them electricity and power so that there will be no starvation. The pigs make the animals undergo insane amounts of work, and abuse in order to build these windmills when in reality the windmill will only bring the pigs more money. The windmill in the end is not even used for power but to grind corn because it is more profitable than producing electricity. And by Napoleon telling the other animals that Snowball was the reason the windmill failed, it makes it impossible for the animals to doubt the leadership and reasoning of Napoleon. So, instead of realizing the windmill is not even helping them, they keep rebuilding it because they have trust in Napoleon.
The Barn - The barn represents the memory and history of the farm and the animal rebellion. The barn wall is were they write the seven commandments in which they live by. Then throughout the story the Pigs change the commandments subtly on the wall. For example, instead of saying "No killing" the wall reads "no killing without cause." The animals all together do not question the wall and therefore believe that the messages never change, they accept the wall and the meaning. They do not even trust their own ideas of history and how things were or are suppose to be because the pigs have changed the rules and told them what to believe. The pigs learn that controlling the animal's ideas of history and self identity, in turn leads to control of animals themselves.
Tone(s):
Objective - The overall tone of this book is objective. It is real straight to the point. The animals rebel, then they set up rules, then they go on with life. It is really just a narrative of what is going on. The pigs slowly fall into corruption and become overwhelmed with the power and the animals are forced to live and abide by their rules. The pigs want total control and that is their objective. The author writes in a way as where we as readers can blatantly see these objectives.
Comical - The author also writes in a more comical manner and tone. Even though things are serious on the farm the author is making fun of the whole situation. The story perfectly reflects the ordeals of the Russian Revolution and it is quite hilarious. The stupidity of the animals in the story to see what the pigs are trying to do is funny. Plus, by writing this story about animals it shows how really unintelligent the Russians were, this is the authors way of making fun of the revolution. While reading the story it is obvious what is going on and that the pigs are screwing over the animals. So, it makes it comical that the people of Russia were so blind to see that their own leaders did the same thing during the Russian Revolution.
Ironic- The author makes the whole story also seem ironic. In the beginning of the story the animals are fighting so hard to rebel and get rid of the control of the humans. They want for everyone to be equal and for the animals to run themselves with no government. The irony comes in when after they get rid of the humans (government) the pigs begin leaders. The pigs then run the farm and start to set up rules and flex their powers over the animals. But wait, isn't that just like a socialist government not communism? The pigs have become exactly what they set out to destroy, humans (government). The story is also ironic because of how the animals change the rules. They say "no animal shall sleep in a bed" then they change it to "no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets." This is ironic because it is contrary to what is suppose to happen, no one is suppose to sleep in beds, then all of a sudden animals can sleep in beds. This happens with all the rules. The last commandment instead of saying "all animals are equal" it is changed to say, "all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."
Mood(s):
Cheerful/Ambitious - In the beginning of the story, the animals are all gun-ho to rebel and start a new life. They hear of Old Major's dream and decide to take action. They overthrow the humans, celebrate and write rules. Everyone is happy about not having to starve anymore or listen to drunken Mr. Jones. When the Battle of Cowshed takes place, the animals fight with honor and are ready to defend their dreams. When they win the battle, they all celebrate and rejoice in the happiness. The animals also work harder than ever just to build the windmill so that it will help the other animals and farm. This mood changes towards the end of the story however. But in the beginning the mood is definitely cheerful and ambitious.
Sad/Depressing - As a reader when I read this book I got this vibe of sadness. In the beginning of the story everything was great but as it progresses it becomes sad. The decline of the farm and animals gives this vibe off. The animals work like slaves and are starved. The windmill also blows down, they rebuild it, then it gets blown up, then they rebuild it AGAIN! Many animal die as well in battles, or at the hand of Napoleon's dogs. Death and poverty surrounds the farm animals (not the pigs) constantly. The saddest point is when Boxer is injured and the pigs show him no sympathy. They say whatever and ship him off to a glue factory for him to be butchered and killed. In the end of the story the animals witness the pigs and humans playing cards and the animals finally realize what is wrong. They become sad and realize that they can no longer distinguish the pigs from the humans, the one thing they wanted to get rid of has come about.
Anger - During the course of the book I started to get angry. I was not angry at the book but I was angry at the pigs and how the farm animals were treated. The way that pigs started to kill animals and indulge in whiskey and human affairs made me feel a sense of anger towards them. Also, the fact that the animals could do nothing about the corruption and could not fight back made me angry. I did not like the situation, seeing the animals treated wrongly with no escape truly invokes emotion. The thing that made me the most angry was how the pigs begin to take all the food for themselves, starve the animals, and then force the animals to work like slaves. The pigs would manipulate and deceptive the pigs with rules and lies.
Characterization:
Napoleon- Napoleon is the main pig in this story. He is the leader on the farm and tells everyone what to do. In my eyes he is a dynamic character. He is also a round character. I think he is dynamic because in the beginning of the story he wants to help the farm get rid of the humans and provide equality for all. Then as the story goes on he turns into an evil dictator who only cares for his own health and wealth. He starts to starve the animals and force them to work like slaves, he begins to spend the money made from the farm on alcohol and dress up nice. He even goes inside the house and sleeps there. He is no longer a typical farm pig who is equal with everyone else. He only cares for power and wants to be in complete control. He even kills animals, plus he labels himself "president" for life. He is a round character because he is like an actually human, with his ideas and thought process. He is complex, he comes up with advanced schemes and is able to manipulate others. We can obviously infer that he is selfish, from the hoarding of the milk and apples, and power hunger, by his changing of the rules and use of dogs. To have these characteristics one must have a complex personality. Napoleon represents Stalin' the soviet leader during the Russian Revolution.
Snowball- Snowball is the other head pig on the farm besides Napoleon. He is a static and flat character. He does not change throughout the story like Napoleon does, making him static. His personalty does not change either making him flat. In the beginning of the story he is all about helping the other animals and providing them with food. He even has the bright idea of building a windmill to bring power to the farm so the animals will have more food and luxury. Napoleon finds this out and exiles him using his dogs. Snowball however is always around and trying rebel against Napoleon staying true to the original communistic ways. He wants the other animals to realize the corruption and he wants to help them. Snowball represents Stalin's rival, Trotsky, during the Russian Revolution.
Squealer- Squealer is the henchman of Napoleon. He is a pig but really he is only a pawn and tool for Napoleon. He is a flat, static, and stock character. He nor his personality changes throughout the story, he stays the same. He also is the stereotypical sidekick or henchman of Napoleon. In the beginning he goes around and tells the farm animals to sing certain songs that Napoleon wants them to sing. He also goes around and justifies all of Napoleon's actions to the animals. Napoleon starts to trade with other farmers, which is breaking the rules, and the animals get suspicious. Squealer then goes around and reassures the animals that Napoleon is only trading because he has too. He tells them that Napoleon does not even want to trade he is only doing it for the good of the animals. Since Squealer goes around spreading propaganda, and issuing explanation for Napoleon, he represents the media and Stalin's propaganda machine during the Russian Revolution.
Boxer- Boxer is the horse on the farm, he is the best worker anyone could ask for. He is a flat and static character. His personality does not change throughout the story and he seems to only have one. I say he does not change because in the beginning of the story he always chants "I will work harder." Then in the end of the story he still says "I will work harder." Boxer does what he is told and never questions, he works harder each day and pushes himself to the limits for the benefits of others (well indirectly just the benefit of the pigs). He even works himself to death and then the pigs ship him off to a glue factory without any remorse. Boxer represented the working class in Russia during the revolution who worked as hard as they could.
Power - In this story, the main idea of Old Major was to have a farm free of humans (no government aka communism). When he dies the animals rebel against the humans and succeed in taking over the farm. Then, the smartest animals, the pigs, become the leaders. At first everything seems okay, everybody is fed, works, and are treated equally. Pretty soon the pigs start taking all the milk and apples and keeping it for themselves. They told the animals that they need it so they can continue to lead properly. Suddenly, the pigs are fighting over who is the supreme leader. So, Napoleon puts an assassination on his friend Snowball just so he can win the election. Then, Napoleon starts rationing all the food and forcing the animals to work like slaves while he does nothing. He even moves into the farm house and sleeps in the nice beds. He uses his dogs to enforce whatever rules he wants. He starts to drink whiskey and forget to feed the animals just like Mr. Jones. In the end he takes all rights away from the farm animals and basically turns the farm into a socialist government. This goes to show how a little power can slowly corrupt. The corruption of power in Napoleon ultimately led to the downfall of the other animals.
Deception - When the animals set up their government system they have seven commandments which they live by. They sum everything down into one easy phrase, "four legs good, two legs bad." During the story, as the pigs get more and more corrupt, the rules begin to change. The pigs change one commandment from "no killing" to "no killing without cause." Since the animals can not remember well or read well they can not question these things and just believe them to have been always that way. The pigs use this to their advantage to deceive the animals to do their bidding. They also trick the animals in saying that the windmill will bring food and power but the pigs change it to grind grains just so they can make more money. Napoleon also tricks the animals into thinking Snowball is the reason for all of the bad things that happen, deceiving them so he will seem like a good leader. Even at the end of the book when all commandments have been changed or abolished the animals can not remember the past and the old rules.
Dreams/Hope - The story begins with Old Major having a dream about communism. The animals focus all their attention to bringing this dream into reality. The animals overthrow the humans, then set up an equal system. However, the pigs soon start treating the animals poorly. The animals however just go with it because they have this dream of utopia and are willing to sacrifice anything for it. Even though battle after battles happen, the fall of the windmill, the animals never once forget about their dream of freedom and equality. Nobody ever loses hope and continue to work hard and strive to reach an unreachable finish line. Only at the very end of the book do the animals start to question if life is really getting better, if it will ever get better, and that the pigs are totally corrupt. So in the end Old Major's dream is just a dream, and can only be brought to reality by animals who are flawed, jealous, corrupt, greedy, and vain.
Motif(s):
Chant/Song- There are songs that are repeated throughout the story by the animals. The first one is "Beasts of England" which speaks of rebellion. The animals chant this before they overthrow the humans. Then Napoleon has squealer teach the animals the "Four legs good, two legs bad chant" which is right after the rebellion. Then Napoleon bands "Beast Of England" because it is about rebellion and he does not want the animals to rebel. He also has squealer teach the animals to say, "four legs good, two legs better" so that they will adjust to the fact the pigs walk on two legs. The songs serve as propaganda in the way that by having all the animals sing the same thing they no longer have personal identity. They say the same things, act the same way, and think the same way. This is a tactic in which Napoleon can use to take control of the animals minds by erasing their identity and making them conform and become mindless robots.
State Ritual- Napoleon and Snowball start to hold elections and award ceremonies. The ceremonies are held in which Snowball gives himself a reward. Napoleon also has a time when he elects himself President for life. They also have the campaigns where Napoleon runs against Snowball. These public acts serve as a tool that makes the animals look up to the leaders. By having ceremonies and parades and celebrations of victories the animals then more heavily rely on the pigs to lead them. This then makes it so that they think they need a leader and can not be let to govern themselves. Napoleon uses this to his advantage to take control.
Nine Dogs- Napoleon starts to raise a secret group of fun loving puppies. He raises them up in the top of the barn so nobody knows and can find out. We first get introduced to the true side of the dogs when Napoleon is about to lose the campaign against Snowball. Napoleon brings out his now full grown viscous dogs and have them chase Snowball off the farm. The dogs represent fear and control. Anyone who disobeys Napoleon's order will be killed. They show up again when the hens rebel and do not want to have 400 of their eggs trade to the neighbors. So, Napoleon has nine of them killed and they then agree to give up their eggs. Then has them try to kill Boxer but luckily sense Boxer is a strong horse he can defend himself and kick them away. Nobody even suspects that Napoleon sent them to attack they just figured the dogs went rogue for a minute. So, then Napoleon calls a meeting with the animals and is trying to find out who has been involved with Snowball. When some animals reveal that they have been he has them torn to shreds right there in front of everyone. The dogs represent the KGB secret police that Stalin had and used to kill anyone who opposed him.
Symbol(s):
The Windmill - The windmill represents the manipulation done by the pig's. They tell the animals that the windmill will bring them electricity and power so that there will be no starvation. The pigs make the animals undergo insane amounts of work, and abuse in order to build these windmills when in reality the windmill will only bring the pigs more money. The windmill in the end is not even used for power but to grind corn because it is more profitable than producing electricity. And by Napoleon telling the other animals that Snowball was the reason the windmill failed, it makes it impossible for the animals to doubt the leadership and reasoning of Napoleon. So, instead of realizing the windmill is not even helping them, they keep rebuilding it because they have trust in Napoleon.
The Barn - The barn represents the memory and history of the farm and the animal rebellion. The barn wall is were they write the seven commandments in which they live by. Then throughout the story the Pigs change the commandments subtly on the wall. For example, instead of saying "No killing" the wall reads "no killing without cause." The animals all together do not question the wall and therefore believe that the messages never change, they accept the wall and the meaning. They do not even trust their own ideas of history and how things were or are suppose to be because the pigs have changed the rules and told them what to believe. The pigs learn that controlling the animal's ideas of history and self identity, in turn leads to control of animals themselves.
Tone(s):
Objective - The overall tone of this book is objective. It is real straight to the point. The animals rebel, then they set up rules, then they go on with life. It is really just a narrative of what is going on. The pigs slowly fall into corruption and become overwhelmed with the power and the animals are forced to live and abide by their rules. The pigs want total control and that is their objective. The author writes in a way as where we as readers can blatantly see these objectives.
Comical - The author also writes in a more comical manner and tone. Even though things are serious on the farm the author is making fun of the whole situation. The story perfectly reflects the ordeals of the Russian Revolution and it is quite hilarious. The stupidity of the animals in the story to see what the pigs are trying to do is funny. Plus, by writing this story about animals it shows how really unintelligent the Russians were, this is the authors way of making fun of the revolution. While reading the story it is obvious what is going on and that the pigs are screwing over the animals. So, it makes it comical that the people of Russia were so blind to see that their own leaders did the same thing during the Russian Revolution.
Ironic- The author makes the whole story also seem ironic. In the beginning of the story the animals are fighting so hard to rebel and get rid of the control of the humans. They want for everyone to be equal and for the animals to run themselves with no government. The irony comes in when after they get rid of the humans (government) the pigs begin leaders. The pigs then run the farm and start to set up rules and flex their powers over the animals. But wait, isn't that just like a socialist government not communism? The pigs have become exactly what they set out to destroy, humans (government). The story is also ironic because of how the animals change the rules. They say "no animal shall sleep in a bed" then they change it to "no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets." This is ironic because it is contrary to what is suppose to happen, no one is suppose to sleep in beds, then all of a sudden animals can sleep in beds. This happens with all the rules. The last commandment instead of saying "all animals are equal" it is changed to say, "all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."
Mood(s):
Cheerful/Ambitious - In the beginning of the story, the animals are all gun-ho to rebel and start a new life. They hear of Old Major's dream and decide to take action. They overthrow the humans, celebrate and write rules. Everyone is happy about not having to starve anymore or listen to drunken Mr. Jones. When the Battle of Cowshed takes place, the animals fight with honor and are ready to defend their dreams. When they win the battle, they all celebrate and rejoice in the happiness. The animals also work harder than ever just to build the windmill so that it will help the other animals and farm. This mood changes towards the end of the story however. But in the beginning the mood is definitely cheerful and ambitious.
Sad/Depressing - As a reader when I read this book I got this vibe of sadness. In the beginning of the story everything was great but as it progresses it becomes sad. The decline of the farm and animals gives this vibe off. The animals work like slaves and are starved. The windmill also blows down, they rebuild it, then it gets blown up, then they rebuild it AGAIN! Many animal die as well in battles, or at the hand of Napoleon's dogs. Death and poverty surrounds the farm animals (not the pigs) constantly. The saddest point is when Boxer is injured and the pigs show him no sympathy. They say whatever and ship him off to a glue factory for him to be butchered and killed. In the end of the story the animals witness the pigs and humans playing cards and the animals finally realize what is wrong. They become sad and realize that they can no longer distinguish the pigs from the humans, the one thing they wanted to get rid of has come about.
Anger - During the course of the book I started to get angry. I was not angry at the book but I was angry at the pigs and how the farm animals were treated. The way that pigs started to kill animals and indulge in whiskey and human affairs made me feel a sense of anger towards them. Also, the fact that the animals could do nothing about the corruption and could not fight back made me angry. I did not like the situation, seeing the animals treated wrongly with no escape truly invokes emotion. The thing that made me the most angry was how the pigs begin to take all the food for themselves, starve the animals, and then force the animals to work like slaves. The pigs would manipulate and deceptive the pigs with rules and lies.
Characterization:
Napoleon- Napoleon is the main pig in this story. He is the leader on the farm and tells everyone what to do. In my eyes he is a dynamic character. He is also a round character. I think he is dynamic because in the beginning of the story he wants to help the farm get rid of the humans and provide equality for all. Then as the story goes on he turns into an evil dictator who only cares for his own health and wealth. He starts to starve the animals and force them to work like slaves, he begins to spend the money made from the farm on alcohol and dress up nice. He even goes inside the house and sleeps there. He is no longer a typical farm pig who is equal with everyone else. He only cares for power and wants to be in complete control. He even kills animals, plus he labels himself "president" for life. He is a round character because he is like an actually human, with his ideas and thought process. He is complex, he comes up with advanced schemes and is able to manipulate others. We can obviously infer that he is selfish, from the hoarding of the milk and apples, and power hunger, by his changing of the rules and use of dogs. To have these characteristics one must have a complex personality. Napoleon represents Stalin' the soviet leader during the Russian Revolution.
Snowball- Snowball is the other head pig on the farm besides Napoleon. He is a static and flat character. He does not change throughout the story like Napoleon does, making him static. His personalty does not change either making him flat. In the beginning of the story he is all about helping the other animals and providing them with food. He even has the bright idea of building a windmill to bring power to the farm so the animals will have more food and luxury. Napoleon finds this out and exiles him using his dogs. Snowball however is always around and trying rebel against Napoleon staying true to the original communistic ways. He wants the other animals to realize the corruption and he wants to help them. Snowball represents Stalin's rival, Trotsky, during the Russian Revolution.
Squealer- Squealer is the henchman of Napoleon. He is a pig but really he is only a pawn and tool for Napoleon. He is a flat, static, and stock character. He nor his personality changes throughout the story, he stays the same. He also is the stereotypical sidekick or henchman of Napoleon. In the beginning he goes around and tells the farm animals to sing certain songs that Napoleon wants them to sing. He also goes around and justifies all of Napoleon's actions to the animals. Napoleon starts to trade with other farmers, which is breaking the rules, and the animals get suspicious. Squealer then goes around and reassures the animals that Napoleon is only trading because he has too. He tells them that Napoleon does not even want to trade he is only doing it for the good of the animals. Since Squealer goes around spreading propaganda, and issuing explanation for Napoleon, he represents the media and Stalin's propaganda machine during the Russian Revolution.
Boxer- Boxer is the horse on the farm, he is the best worker anyone could ask for. He is a flat and static character. His personality does not change throughout the story and he seems to only have one. I say he does not change because in the beginning of the story he always chants "I will work harder." Then in the end of the story he still says "I will work harder." Boxer does what he is told and never questions, he works harder each day and pushes himself to the limits for the benefits of others (well indirectly just the benefit of the pigs). He even works himself to death and then the pigs ship him off to a glue factory without any remorse. Boxer represented the working class in Russia during the revolution who worked as hard as they could.
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Exposition: The beginning of the story starts off in England. Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor Farm, is "drunk once again" meaning that this is a regular thing. He poorly runs the farm, forgetting to feed the animals and tend to their needs. One day the oldest and wisest pig on the farm, who is like a father figure to all of the animals, calls for a meeting. He brings in all the animals, including Napoleon, Snowball, Squealer (who are all pigs), Boxer and Mollie (who are horses), Benjamin (donkey), and many other animals. He tells them of a dream he had in which there were no humans and all animals were equal. The animals ran the farm themselves and everyone was happy and peaceful. His ideas were of communistic manner and they started to formulate in the minds of the animals. A few days later Old Major died and his ideas cultivated into action by the other animals. A rebellion began, led by the three pigs, Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer.
Rising Action:
Climax: Squealer takes the sheep to a meeting place and teaches them a chant. It goes "four legs good, two legs better." Then the pigs come out walking on two legs and the animals are shocked. The animals start to question if this "utopia" is really better than before.
Falling Action:
Resolution: Napoleon and the pigs invite the neighboring farmers to come over and inspect Manor Farm. They say it is marvelous how Napoleon has managed to have the hardest working animals yet feed them the least. They all have fun playing cards, talking, cussing, and drinking. Upon hearing all this the animals peer through the window and see the commotion. They are shocked at what they see. Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington then have a dispute over cards, when they both pull an ace and accuse each other of cheating. At this very moment the animals realized they can no longer distinguish the pigs from the humans.
Rising Action:
- Mr. Jones becomes drunk and disorderly so the animals seize this opportunity to get rid of him. They drive him and all farmers off the farm.
- The animals then write down seven commandments in which they will live by. Basically, no harmful actions towards each other, no acting like humans, and no indulging in human affairs.
- Rules on how each animal will work are set in place. The pigs hoard the apples and milk.
- The neighboring farms attack Animal Farm and the Battle of Cowshed happens in which the animals survive. A few animals die.
- In secret Napoleon trains nine little puppies, of whom nobody knows the reason for.
- There is conflict between Napoleon and Snowball, both want to be the supreme leader so they campaign.
- Snowball has the idea to build a windmill and Napoleon literally pees on his plans/blueprints.
- Napoleon uses his now viscous dogs to chase Snowball off the farm, so he wins the election by default.
- The Windmill falls down and everyone blames Snowball.
- The pigs ration food and work the animals like slaves
- The building a new windmill starts
- Napoleon kills a group of animals that admit to having be in cahoots with Snowball.
- The humans dynamite the new windmill in the Battle of the Windmill.
- The pigs begin to trade with other farmers and sleep in the farmhouse.
- Napoleon receives fake money from a trade.
- Boxer overexerts himself and collapses, the pigs then send him to a glue factory.
- The pigs start drinking alcohol and dressing like humans.
- Napoleon is elected president for life.
Climax: Squealer takes the sheep to a meeting place and teaches them a chant. It goes "four legs good, two legs better." Then the pigs come out walking on two legs and the animals are shocked. The animals start to question if this "utopia" is really better than before.
Falling Action:
- Years pass and the animals continue to work like slaves.
- The windmill is built and is used for harvesting corn not electricity, because it is more profitable.
- Pigs constantly drink alcohol and become drunks like Mr. Jones
- The farm is renamed Manor Farm
Resolution: Napoleon and the pigs invite the neighboring farmers to come over and inspect Manor Farm. They say it is marvelous how Napoleon has managed to have the hardest working animals yet feed them the least. They all have fun playing cards, talking, cussing, and drinking. Upon hearing all this the animals peer through the window and see the commotion. They are shocked at what they see. Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington then have a dispute over cards, when they both pull an ace and accuse each other of cheating. At this very moment the animals realized they can no longer distinguish the pigs from the humans.