Animal Farm: Chapters 1 & 2 Summary

• Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell, published in 1945, that critiques the Russian Revolution and Stalinist Soviet Union through a satirical animal fable.

Chapter 1

• Old Major, a prize-winning boar, gathers all the animals of Manor Farm for a meeting.
• Old Major recounts a dream he had, envisioning a world free from human tyranny, where animals live in equality and happiness.
• Old Major introduces the song "Beasts of England," an anthem of animal liberation, which inspires revolutionary fervor among the animals.
• Old Major symbolizes Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, representing the ideological founders of communism.
• "Beasts of England" serves as the anthem of the revolution, uniting the animals with a shared vision of freedom and equality.

Chapter 2

• Three nights after the meeting, Old Major dies, leaving the animals to ponder his revolutionary ideas.
• The pigs, being the most intelligent animals, take it upon themselves to organize and prepare for the revolution.
• Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer emerge as the leading pigs, each with distinct characteristics and leadership styles.
• Snowball is vivacious, inventive, and a skilled speaker, representing Leon Trotsky.
• Napoleon is a large, fierce-looking boar, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way, symbolizing Joseph Stalin.
• Squealer is a brilliant talker who can twist words to justify any action, acting as the propaganda machine of the revolution.
• The pigs develop Old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought, which they name Animalism.
• The revolution occurs sooner than expected when Mr. Jones, the neglectful and often drunk farmer, forgets to feed the animals.
• The animals, driven by hunger and desperation, rebel against Mr. Jones and his men, driving them off the farm.
• Manor Farm is renamed Animal Farm, symbolizing the animals' newfound freedom and ownership.
• The animals celebrate their victory and establish the Seven Commandments of Animalism, which enshrine the principles of equality and freedom.
• The pigs secretly begin to exploit the other animals by taking the milk and apples for themselves, rationalizing it as necessary for their leadership and brain work.
• This marks the beginning of the pigs' gradual corruption and abuse of power.

Chapter 3

• The animals work diligently to harvest the crops, finding joy and pride in their collective labor.
• Boxer, a strong and loyal cart-horse, becomes the most dedicated worker, adopting the personal motto "I will work harder."
• The animals organize themselves into committees and groups, but most of these initiatives prove unsuccessful.
• Snowball establishes literacy classes for the animals, but only a few learn to read well.
• Napoleon focuses on educating the young, taking the newborn puppies away from their mothers to "educate" them privately.
• The pigs continue to manipulate and control the other animals through propaganda and deception.
• Squealer convinces the animals that the pigs need the milk and apples to preserve their health and maintain their leadership, warning that if the pigs fail, Mr. Jones will return.
• The animals accept Squealer's explanations, fearing the return of human tyranny more than the pigs' self-serving actions.
• The flag of Animal Farm is created: a green tablecloth with a painted white hoof and horn.
• Sunday meetings are held where the animals sing "Beasts of England", salute the flag, and debate resolutions.
• Snowball and Napoleon always disagree, even on simple topics.

Chapter 4

• News of Animal Farm spreads to neighboring farms, inspiring other animals to rebel against their human masters.
• Mr. Jones and other farmers attempt to retake Animal Farm, leading to the Battle of the Cowshed.
• Snowball plans the defense, and the animals successfully repel the human attack with bravery and coordination.
• Snowball is hailed as a hero for his leadership in the battle, solidifying his reputation among the animals.
• Boxer also demonstrates great strength and courage, though he expresses remorse for unintentionally killing a stable boy.
• The animals commemorate the victory by establishing October 12th as a holiday and setting up a military decoration, "Animal Hero, First Class."
• The Battle of the Cowshed symbolizes the Russian Civil War, in which the Bolsheviks defended their revolution against counter-revolutionary forces.
• The chapter reinforces the initial solidarity and revolutionary zeal of the animals, before the pigs' corruption fully takes hold.