Animal Farm Chapter 4: Spreading the Word

Chapter IV: Spreading the Word and Consolidating Power

• News of Animal Farm's rebellion spreads across half the county.
• Snowball and Napoleon release pigeons to share the story of the rebellion with neighboring farms.
• The pigeons teach the other animals the song "Beasts of England".
• Mr. Jones spends his time at the Red Lion in Willingdon, complaining about being ousted.
• The other farmers initially sympathize but secretly hope to capitalize on Jones’s misfortune.
• The owners of the two neighboring farms, Foxwood and Pinchfield, are always on bad terms.
• Foxwood is a large, neglected farm owned by the easygoing Mr. Pilkington, who likes fishing and hunting.
• Pinchfield is a smaller, well-kept farm owned by the shrewd and litigious Mr. Frederick.
• Pilkington and Frederick dislike each other intensely, making it hard to agree on anything.
• The neighboring farmers are frightened by the Animal Farm rebellion and want to prevent similar uprisings on their own farms.
• They initially dismiss the idea of animals successfully managing a farm.
• The humans claim the animals are constantly fighting and starving to death
• As time passes and the animals of Animal Farm do not starve, the humans revised their claims
• The humans spread rumors of cannibalism and torture on Animal Farm.
• Despite the negative stories from the humans, the news of Animal Farm inspires rebelliousness in other farms.
• Animals start behaving erratically and disobeying their human owners.
• "Beasts of England" is widely known and spreads rapidly.
• Humans are enraged by the song but dismiss it as ridiculous.
• Animals caught singing "Beasts of England" are punished, but the song is impossible to suppress.
• In early October, the animals spot Jones and a group of men approaching Animal Farm with sticks and a gun.
• Snowball is in charge of the farm's defense, having studied Julius Caesar's campaigns.
• Preparations are quickly made for the recapture of the farm by Jones and his men.

The Battle of the Cowshed

• Snowball launches the first attack using the pigeons to attack the humans from above, and the geese to peck at their legs.
• The geese's efforts are dismissed by the men as a light skirmish.
• The second wave consists of Muriel, Benjamin, and the sheep, led by Snowball but the humans fend them off.
• At Snowball's signal, the animals retreat to the yard.
• Jones and his men follow the animals into the yard in a disorganized charge.
• The horses, cows, and pigs are lying in wait in the cowshed.
• Snowball signals the ambush, launching forward and aiming for Jones.
• Jones fires his gun, wounding Snowball and killing a sheep.
• Snowball knocks Jones into a pile of dung with a fifteen-stone charge.
• Boxer rears up and strikes a stable-lad from Foxwood, killing him with a blow to the skull.
• The other men panic. Every animal fights as best they can.
• The cat claws a cowman, the men retreat rapidly, and the geese pursue them.
• Boxer expresses remorse for killing the stable-lad, forgetting that he was wearing iron shoes.
• Boxer is concerned about intentionally doing harm, and doesn't think anyone will believe it was an accident.
• Snowball states that sentimentality is pointless and "the only good human is a dead one.".
• Boxer is upset about taking any life, even a human one.
• Mollie is found hiding in her stall after fleeing during the battle.
• The animals celebrate their victory with great excitement.
• A sheep is given a solemn funeral.
• Snowball gives a speech about the need to defend Animal Farm.
• The animals create the "Animal Hero, First Class" medal for Snowball and Boxer.
• A posthumous "Animal Hero, Second Class" medal is awarded to the dead sheep.
• The battle is named the Battle of the Cowshed.
• Jones's gun is placed at the foot of the Flagstaff and will be fired twice a year to commemorate the Battle and the Rebellion.

Chapter V: Internal Conflicts and Changing Principles

• As winter comes, Mollie becomes a source of more and more trouble.
• Mollie is lazy, often late for work, and always making excuses, even though her appetite is strong.
• She is caught gazing at her own reflection in the drinking pool and shirking work.
• Clover confronts Mollie about being stroked by one of Mr. Pilkington's men over the hedge.
• Clover then finds sugar and ribbons hidden in the straw of Mollie's stall
• Three days later, Mollie disappears from Animal Farm.
• Pigeons report seeing her in Willingdon, being stroked and fed sugar by a fat man outside a pub, wearing ribbons.
• None of the animals ever mention Mollie again after the pigeons report sightings of her.
• Bitterly cold weather arrives in January, making fieldwork impossible.
• The pigs hold meetings to plan the upcoming season.
• It becomes accepted that the pigs will make decisions, subject to majority vote.
• The pigs' plans are often disputed by Snowball and Napoleon.
• Snowball will advocate for larger plots of barley, while Napoleon will advocate for larger plots of oats.
• Napoleon will argue that some land is only suited to cabbage, while Snowball will suggest that it's only useful for roots.
• Snowball is better at public speaking, but Napoleon is better at winning support behind the scenes.
• Napoleon is particularly successful with the sheep, who often interrupt meetings with chants.
• Snowball bases his plans on old copies of 'Farmer and Stockbreeder' found in the farmhouse.
• Snowball has innovations around field drains, silage, and basic slag.
• Snowball devised a plan to have the animals drop their dung in the fields to avoid having to cart it later.
• Napoleon never offers any plans but dismisses Snowball's ideas.
• The most bitter dispute between Napoleon and Snowball is over the windmill.
• There is a knoll in a long pasture, and Snowball suggests it's the perfect place for a windmill which would also generate electricity.
• The windmill could power lights, heaters, and machines.
• The other animals are in awe when Snowball speaks about the technological advancements.
• Snowball spends weeks developing the windmill plans.
• Snowball uses three human books, and reads them in his shed
• The books are titled: 'One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House', 'Every Man His Own Bricklayer', and 'Electricity for Beginners'.
• He works tirelessly, using chalk to draw detailed plans on the floor.
• The other animals are impressed by Snowball's plans, but cannot understand them.
• Napoleon initially opposes the windmill but comes to inspect the plans.
• Napoleon expresses his rejection of the windmill by urinating on the plans before walking out silently.
• The farm becomes divided over the windmill.
• Snowball aims to save labor, while Napoleon focuses on immediate food production.
• A slogan emerges as "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week".
• A second slogan emerges as "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger".
• Benjamin refuses to take a side, believing life will remain difficult regardless.
• The animals were concerned with the defense of the farm.
• Snowball argues for spreading rebellion, while Napoleon prioritizes firearms and training.
• The animals are indecisive, agreeing with whoever is speaking.
• On the day of the vote, Snowball passionately argues for the windmill; Napoleon gives a thirty-second rebuttal.
• As Snowball gains support for the windmill, Napoleon gives out a strange high-pitched cry.
• Nine dogs wearing studded brass collars rush the barn.
• The dogs chase Snowball out of the barn.
• Snowball flees through a hole in the hedge and disappears.
• The dogs are revealed to be the puppies Napoleon had secretly raised.
• The dogs are massive and ferocious.
• The dogs act like the hunting dogs that worked for Mr. Jones.
• Napoleon announces that the Sunday meetings are over.
• Napoleon states the pigs alone will make all the decisions.
• The animals are still expected to salute the flag, since "Beasts of England", and receive orders.
• The other animals are dismayed.
• Four young pigs protest but are silenced by the dogs.
• The sheep interrupt with their bleating distracting from the main issues.
• Squealer explains the new arrangement.
• Squealer states leadership is a sacrifice and accuses Snowball of being a criminal because of disagreements.
• When someone mentions Snowball’s bravery, Squealer insists loyalty and obedience are more important and suggests exaggerating his role in the Battle of the Cowshed.
• Squealer warns the animals by saying that one false move will result in Jones' return.
• Boxer adopts the maxims "Napoleon is always right" and "I will work harder."
• Snowball's windmill plans are assumed to have been rubbed off the floor.
• Every Sunday, Major’s skull is displayed, and the animals are forced to file past it before receiving orders from Napoleon.
• Napoleon, Squealer, and Minimus (a pig who is a poet) sit at the front with the dogs, and Napoleon gives orders.
• Napoleon announces that the windmill will be built and warns about the extra work which could result in reduced rations.
• Squealer later claims that Napoleon secretly supported the windmill all along and that Snowball stole the plans from Napoleon.
• Squealer states Napoleon had acted against the windmill merely as a manoeuvre to get rid of his rival and bad influence, Snowball.

Chapter VI: The Windmill and Changing of the Rules

• The animals worked harder than ever on the windmill and felt proud that they were labouring only for themselves.
• The Animals worked a sixty-hour week, and Napoleon introduced voluntary work on Sundays, with the threat of reduced rations for absentees.
• The harvest was less bountiful, and the animals were unable to sow enough crops for the winter.
• The building of the windmill was tougher than expected.
• The animals decided on using gravity to pull stones down the hill.
• The animals are inspired by Boxer to keep working.
• Boxer adds a cockerel to his routine to wake up for work an hour earlier.
• Boxer is inspired by the phrases "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right".
• Though the animals worked very hard, conditions were never worse than under Mr. Jones.
• Weeding and fencing were much easier than what was accomplished when the humans managed the farm.
• Shortages started to occur around paraffin oil, nails, string, dog biscuits, and iron for horses' shoes.
• The animals needed seeds and artificial manures.
• Napoleon announced that Animal Farm would trade with neighboring farms for essential materials.
• The animals would sell hay, wheat, and eggs to raise money for the windmill.
• The hens were told that selling eggs was a special contribution towards building the windmill.
• The animals felt uneasy because they thought that they agreed never to use money or trade with humans.
• The pigs who protested were silenced by the dogs and the sheep distracted by bleating their slogan.
• Napoleon announced Mr. Whymper, a solicitor, will become an intermediary between the farms.
• Whymper would visit the farm every Monday.
• The animals were proud to see Napoleon giving orders to Whymper on two legs.
• The humans began to call Animal Farm by its correct name and dropped any pretense of calling it Manor Farm.
• Outside of Whymper, there was no contact between Animal Farm and outside world.
• It was rumored Napoleon would meet with either Mr. Pilkington or Mr. Frederick, but never both at the same time.
• The pigs moved into the farmhouse.
• The animals thought this was against the initial rules.
• Old Major's skull was being kept and disinterred so that the animals could file past it every Sunday.
• It was decided that the pigs now needed a quiet place to work.
• The pigs started to eat in the kitchen and use the drawing-room as a recreation room.
• The animals heard the pigs were sleeping in the beds, and Boxer dismissed it by saying that Napoleon is always right.
• Clover and Muriel checked the Four Commandments and found out, "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.".
• Squealer corrected the animals on the meaning.
• Squealer states"A bed is just a pile of straw; the rule was against sheets.".
• It was then declared that the pigs would wake up an hour later than the rest of the animals.
• The animals were tired as the harvest started to come in, and the animals felt the windmill was close to being done.
• Boxer worked at nights to get the wall raised higher.
• Boxer could be found working at night to ensure progress continued.
• The animals admired the strength of the walls, while Benjamin remained unimpressed.
• In November, gales struck the island with violent winds.
• The animals found the windmill in ruins after a particularly bad storm where it was too wet to mix the cement.
• Napoleon blamed Snowball for the destruction.
• Napoleon declared the death sentence on Snowball and offered a reward for his capture, dead or alive.
• Napoleon blamed the direction coming from the Foxwood farm and assumed Snowball had probably come from there.
• Napoleon stated the animals would start rebuilding and continue, rain or shine.