Animal Farm Study Guide PDF - 1945

Animal Farm Study Guide by Course Hero...

Animal Farm Study Guide by Course Hero Animal Farm is written in the past tense. What's Inside AB O U T THE TITL E Animal Farm takes its name from the book's setting, Manor j Book Basics................................................................................................. 1 Farm, which the rebellious animals rename Animal Farm when they seize control. d In Context..................................................................................................... 1 a Author Biography..................................................................................... 2 h Characters.................................................................................................. 3 d In Context k Plot Summary............................................................................................. 5 c Chapter Summaries.............................................................................. 10 The Russian Revolution and Its g Quotes........................................................................................................ 22 Aftermath l Symbols..................................................................................................... 24 On its surface, Animal Farm seems to be a simple tale about m Themes....................................................................................................... 25 talking animals on a farm—a children's story, some might think. But this surface is the allegory, or story with a hidden political b Motifs.......................................................................................................... 26 meaning, of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the civil war that followed (1918–20), and the later rise of Stalin's dictatorship in e Suggested Reading.............................................................................. 26 the Soviet Union. The novel draws clear parallels between Josef Stalin and the pig Napoleon. To serve his own ends, Napoleon distorts Old Major's idealized dream of equality and j Book Basics brotherhood for all animals as he rules the farm. In the same way, Stalin distorted the ideals of Marxist communism to feed his own desire for power and control in the Soviet Union. While AUTHOR Marxist communism gave workers control of production, George Orwell Stalin's version gave the state control of production, paving the way for totalitarian rule. Stalin was an active participant in the YEAR PUBLISHED Revolution of 1917, which overthrew Russia's Tsar Nicolas II. 1945 Stalin remained a high-ranking member of the government GENRE under Vladimir Lenin, the first head of the Soviet Union after Allegory, Satire the revolution. Then Stalin led the Communist Party in the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953. In the same way PERSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE AN D N ARRAT ARRATOOR in which Napoleon finds himself in conflict with the intellectual Animal Farm has a third-person omniscient narrator. Snowball, Stalin battled Leon Trotsky, who had essentially served as Lenin's second-in-command, for the direction of the TENSE party and the Soviet Union after Lenin's death in 1924. After Animal Farm Study Guide Author Biography 2 driving Trotsky into exile in 1929, Stalin took full control of the party and the country. a Author Biography Once Stalin took control of the Soviet Union, he focused on George Orwell is the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, who was eliminating any perceived threats to his power, culminating in born on June 25, 1903, to British parents in India. His mother the Great Purge of the late 1930s during which he had millions separated from her husband, a poorly paid civil servant, shortly of people, including his political opponents, imprisoned or after their son was born. Blair's mother took him and his sister, killed. In 1939 he entered into an alliance with Hitler (which Marjorie, back to England, where Blair was educated. In 1911 he ended in 1941 when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union). In the began boarding school in Sussex, attending on scholarship. In meantime Stalin and his close supporters remained 1917 Blair went to Eton, one of Britain's premier secondary comfortable while the people of the t he Soviet Union suffered boarding schools, also on scholarship. His poverty relative to to deprivation and hardship, both during wartime and after. The the other students in these environments introduced him to the government used propaganda to inspire loyalty in the class divisions that would inform his politics and his writing. populace, and as in the world of Animal Farm, where propaganda failed, fear and intimidation succeeded. After Eton, Blair opted to serve in Burma (now Myanmar) with the Indian Imperial Police instead of attending university. His experiences in Burma inspired his lifelong opposition to Adult Satire imperialism, later reflected in his novel Burmese Days (1934). In 1928 Blair resigned from his post and returned to England. He Animal Farm was Orwell's first novel to enjoy wide commercial lived among the lower classes in London's East End upon his success. However, when it was first published booksellers return, giving rise to his first book, Down and Out in Paris and placed it in the children's section of their stores because they London (1933). The conditions described in this book, which did not realize it was adult satire, or a work that makes use of straddles the line between fact and fiction, are so bleak that literary techniques, such as humor, irony, or hyperbole, to Blair adopted the pen name George Orwell to distance himself criticize a figure, event, or issue. Orwell himself traveled from and his family from them. store to store convincing them to shelve it with adult books, Orwell's experiences with the working classes led him to where it remains categorized. embrace the concept of economic equality for all, and in the The novel continues to have contemporary relevance. While 1930s he dabbled in socialism, which in turn led him to travel to the specific content of the novel addresses Soviet Russia, it Spain in December 1936 to fight in the Spanish Civil War also serves as a broader cautionary tale by showing how a (1936–39). He joined the forces of the Republican government, corrupt and selfish leader who uses fear and ignorance to gain backed by the United States and the Soviet Union, in opposition to Francisco Franco's Fascist regime. After Orwell control can lead to a totalitarian government. In this way the novel warns against complacency in the populace. Orwell was wounded in battle by a sniper, the communist forces in wrote the following response to a query from fellow political Spain, supported by Josef Stalin, accused him of betraying the writer Dwight Macdonald: "Of course I intended it primarily as a anti-Fascist cause, and Orwell and his wife had to flee the satire on the Russian revolution. But I did mean it to have a country. This experience left him with an ongoing aversion to wider application in so much that I meant that that kind of Stalin's brand of communism. revolution (violent conspiratorial revolution, led by Orwell spent part of World War II as a correspondent for the unconsciously power-hungry people) can only lead to a change British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which further fed his of masters. I meant the moral to be that revolutions only effect distaste for totalitarian regimes. His experiences in Spain and a radical improvement when the masses are alert and know as a BBC reporter created the political leanings that shaped how to chuck out their leaders as soon as the latter have done his two best known works: Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 their job." In this respect Animal Farm continues to have (1949). Both texts offer scathing criticism of the ways the relevance for citizens who live under all forms of government. socialist and communist ideals of equality had been warped by totalitarian regimes. Orwell died on January 21, 1950, in London, England. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Characters 3 h Characters Boxer Boxer the horse believes every problem can be solved with hard work and persistence. His strength and work ethic make Napoleon the building of the windmills possible, and he is a mighty asset in battle. All the animals look up to him because his belief in Not a very strong public speaker, the pig Napoleon rules the farm through strong-arm tactics and cunning. He makes the Animalism is pure and his intentions are good. However, his lack of intelligence and his naiveté cause him to follow the pigs farm prosperous but keeps most of the wealth for himself, blindly, and they "reward" his hard work by selling him to a working the other animals with a level of efficiency that slaughterer when his health fails. Boxer represents the borders on the brutal. He is ruthless toward his enemies, proletariat, or working-class people. ordering the executions of those who dare to cross him. Napoleon represents Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Old Major Snowball The old boar who originates the principles of Animalism and encourages the rebellion, Old Major, is revered by the animals. Snowball is a pig on an equal footing with Napoleon after the He dies shortly after presenting his vision to the animals, so he rebellion, and his intelligence and planning ability become does not live to see how his fellow pigs corrupt his ideals over assets to the farm. His use of military strategy wins the Battle time. Old Major is often interpreted to represent Karl Marx or of the Cowshed, and he originates the plans for the windmill. Vladimir Lenin. His popularity and his ability threaten Napoleon's ambitions, so Napoleon exiles him from the farm and makes him a scapegoat when things go wrong. Thus his achievements are erased, and Benjamin history is rewritten to vilify him. Snowball represents the banished Russian leader Leon Trotsky. Possibly the most intelligent animal on the farm, the donkey Benjamin is prevented from becoming useful to the rebellion by his cynicism and belief that nothing ever really changes. He Mr. Jones might have the capacity to educate the animals about the pigs' intentions, but his silence allows the pigs to take over Mr. Jones's neglect and mistreatment of his animals spark unimpeded. them to rebel against him. After the animals take over the farm, the threat of his return is used to keep the animals from protesting and allows the pigs to get their way. Mr. Jones represents Tsar Nicholas II. Squealer Squealer the pig acts as Napoleon's mouthpiece, persuad persuading ing the animals that the pigs are working in everyone's best interests. He presents information, such as false statistics, that misleads the animals into believing what he says is true. He is a master of propaganda, modeled after the Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, and his energetic speaking style makes him an appealing orator. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Characters 4 Character Map Main Character Other Major Character Minor Character Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Plot Summary 5 Full Character List Jessie Jessie and Bluebell are Mr. Jones's dogs who give birth to the puppies who grow up to be Napoleon's enforcers. Character Description Mollie is Mr. Jones's mare who values Mollie her own appearance and the favor of Napoleon is the totalitarian pig leader of humans over the principles of the farm. Napoleon Animal Farm who exploits the other animals to maintain his own power. Moses is a trained raven who tells the Moses animals stories of a heavenly afterworld Snowball is an early pig leader of Animal called Sugarcandy Mountain. Snowball Farm whose conflicts with Napoleon lead to his dishonor and exile. Frederick is the owner of a neighboring farm who becomes Napoleon's enemy Mr. Jones is the drunken, neglectful Mr. Frederick when he cheats the pigs and attacks the Mr. Jones proprietor of Manor Farm, overthrown by farm. his animals. Pilkington is the owner of a neighboring Squealer is Napoleon's second pig in Mr. Pilkington farm who eventually becomes Squealer command, who spins stories and Napoleon's ally. propaganda to keep the animals in line. Boxer is the hardworking horse whose Mr. Whymper Mr. pigsWhymper is their to conduct a lawyer retained by the business Boxer devotion to Animal Farm earns him the transactions with other humans. respect of all the animals. Muriel is a goat who, aside from Old Major is the boar whose vision for a Muriel Benjamin and the pigs, is the only animal Old Major world where animals are free inspires on the farm who is fully literate. the rebellion. Sheep are useful spreaders of Benjamin is a cynical donkey who is at propaganda that can be relied upon to least as clever as the pigs but refuses to Sheep Benjamin stop debates or potential protests with get involved with the rebellion, even their chanting. when he sees things going wrong. Jessie and Bluebell are Mr. Jones's dogs Bluebell who give birth to the puppies who grow up to be Napoleon's enforcers. k Plot Summary Clover is a working horse who is Boxer's Animal Farm presents the history of a small farm in England. Clover companion and is as devoted to the After a lifetime of oppression at the hands of their human cause of Animalism as he is. masters, the animals of Manor Farm hear from one of their oldest denizens, a boar known as Old Major. He shares his Dogs are the animals most closely c losely vision for a future in which all animals are free and control c ontrol their Dogs aligned with the pigs, who serve as the pigs' guards and enforcers. own destinies, working to provide for themselves, not for the humans who have enslaved them. He urges the t he animals to Hens are egg producers for the farm prepare for the day when the rebellion will come and they can Hens who, at one point, attempt a rebellion, make his vision a reality. Three days later Old Major dies, but with disastrous results. his dream lives on among the animals, especially the other pigs who follow his instructions and prepare for rebellion. Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, take the lead in preparing a formalized version of Old Major's teachings they call Animalism. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Plot Summary 6 The rebellion takes place much sooner than the animals Work on the farm and the new windmill continues at a rapid originally plan. Three months after Old Major dies, Mr. Jones, pace. After a long period of negotiation with neighboring Manor Farm's owner, gets drunk and forgets to feed the farmers, Frederick and Pilkington, Napoleon sells a pile of animals. Accordingly they riot. They expel Jones from the farm timber to Frederick despite the animals' reservations about this and dispose of his tools, which they see as instruments of farmer. Frederick pays for the timber with counterfeit money oppression. They resolve to bring in the year's harvests and launches an attack on their farm. The windmill is destroyed themselves and inscribe Seven Commandmen Commandments ts of Animalism in the battle, but the animals are able to fend off Frederick and on the wall of the barn to provide guidance as they forge his men, so the pigs declare a victory for Animal Farm. ahead, learning to govern themselves. Some months after the Although their spirits are crushed, they t hey recommence rebuilding rebellion, Mr. Jones and his men return to the farm and attempt the windmill. to reclaim the property, but under Snowball's leadership the animals repel the attack, and Jones disappears for good. As the year wears on, the animals continue to work hard for little food as the pigs enjoy luxuries in the farmhouse. The After this clash with Mr. Jones, known as the Battle of the animals never question this arrangement. Boxer the horse, Cowshed, Snowball and Napoleon come into conflict, highly respected for his work ethic, collapses while working on disagreeing over nearly every facet of life on the farm. Their the windmill, and the pigs claim to make arrangements to send conflict peaks when Snowball proposes construction of a him to a local veterinary hospital. The "ambulance" that arrives windmill, which Napoleon claims to oppose. When the animals actually bears the logo of the local horse slaughterer, and the gather to vote on the windmill project, Napoleon unleashes animals create an uproar once they realize what is happening. nine dogs he has trained in secret, and Snowball flees the farm. Taken away from the farm, Boxer dies, but the pigs maintain A few weeks later Napoleon announces they will build the their story that he was sent to a hospital, claiming the van was windmill, explaining that his opposition to the project was just a a recent acquisition for the hospital that had not yet been ruse to get rid of Snowball's negative influence on the farm. repainted. Taken in by this explanation, most of the animals settle back into their lives of hard work and little litt le food. As the windmill project progresses, all the animals except the pigs work grueling hours of physical labor, none as hard as Some years after Boxer's death, the farm and the pigs have Boxer the horse. Food runs short but the animals persevere, become very prosperous, but the animals' lives remain much driven by the pride of working for themselves. To make up for the same, filled with hard labor and few rewards. Their sole the food shortages and obtain other farm supplies, Napoleon consolation is the memory of the rebellion and the knowledge announces plans to begin trade with other farms. The animals that they serve themselves, not humans. They lose this last are skeptical about this plan but follow his lead. consolation when the pigs begin to wear clothes, walk on two legs, and regularly do business with humans. The pigs change In November of the second year after the rebellion, the almost- the name of Animal Farm back to Manor Farm and deny that finished windmill collapses during a spell of bad weather. the rebellion ever took place. When the animals peek into the Napoleon and the pigs blame Snowball for sabotaging the windows during a dinner party the pigs host for some project, though no hard evidence exists for his involvement. neighboring human farmers, the animals are unable to tell the This event sets a precedent that allows the animals to blame difference between pigs and men. The animals finally see that Snowball's scheming for every misfortune that befalls the t he farm. their rebellion has changed nothing. The animals spend the winter working to rebuild the windmill, and some hens stage a protest when Napoleon expands orders for eggs to trade with other farms. Food continues to run in short supply for the animals. A few f ew months later the hens, along with a number of other animals who confess to colluding with Snowball, are publicly executed as traitors. The other animals become frightened and alarmed, even though they accept the pigs' justification that those executed were traitors to the farm and to Animalism. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Plot Summary 7 Plot Diagram 7. Boxer is sent away to slaughter as the animals protest. Introduction 1. Old Major introduces ideas about animal rebellion. Falling Action 8. Pigs walk on two legs and begin wearing clothes. Rising Action 2. Animals rebel against Mr. Jones and take over the farm. Resolution 3. Battle of the Cowshed occurs; Mr. Jones tries to take farm. 9. At party, animals unable to tell the humans and pigs apart. 4. Snowball and Napoleon compete for leadership of the farm. 5. Napoleon expels Snowball and takes total control. 6. Animals defend farm against Frederick's attack. Climax Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Plot Summary 8 Timeline of Events March Animals hear Old Major's dream of a world where all animals are free from human oppression. June Animals rebel against Mr. Jones and establish their own rule, renaming the farm Animal Farm. October Mr. Jones and his men attempt to reclaim the farm but are defeated at the Battle of the Cowshed. Early Spring Conflict between Snowball and Napoleon peaks over windmill; Napoleon forces Snowball to flee. Late Summer Napoleon announces plans to begin trade with other farms, and the pigs populate the farmhouse. November The windmill, near completion, collapses, and Snowball is blamed for sabotage. Early Spring Napoleon executes animals who confess to working with Snowball to sabotage the farm. Autumn Frederick double-crosses Napoleon Napoleon on a timber sale and attacks the farm. Summer Boxer the horse collapses while working, and the pigs sell him to the local knacker for slaughter. Some Years Later Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Plot Summary 9 Pigs fully assume the role humans once held on the farm, wearing clothes and walking on two legs. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 10 c Chapter Summaries Analysis Mr. Jones is introduced as a drunkard, which prevents him from properly closing the small doors, or pop holes, of the Chapter 1 henhouse on the night of Old Major's meeting. Mr. Jones's drinking habits also prevent him from properly caring for his animals. Although on this night the open doors in the henhouse Summary give the hens a means to attend the meeting in the barn, the t he open doors could have just as easily allowed a predator access After Mr. Jones, the drunken owner of Manor Farm, goes to to the sleeping birds. bed for the night, the animals gather in the large barn to hear a The order in which the animals sit at the meeting significantly message from Old Major the boar. They gather around his bed foreshadows the hierarchy that will emerge on the farm after on a raised platform at the front of the barn, with dogs and pigs the animals take over. The dogs are already close to the pigs, at the front, sheep and cows behind them, followed by the and both species take places of privilege at the front of the horses. Muriel the goat and Benjamin the donkey are at the crowd. Even though Mollie is late to the meeting, she takes a back. The hens occupy the windowsills, and the pigeons sit in place near the front, which speaks to her own, ultimately the rafters. Mollie, a mare who pulls Mr. Jones's carriage, misguided, sense of entitlement. The horses Boxer and Clover arrives late but takes a place at the front. The only animal sit near the middle of the crowd, which indicates they are team absent from the meeting is Moses, Jones's pet raven. players. Benjamin the donkey is arguably the smartest animal Old Major begins his speech saying his own death is coming in the room, but he remains near the back because he does not soon and explains how his age gives him a special want to be involved in the meeting or the revolution. understanding of the nature of life. He says the lives of the Old Major's speech indicates all the ways the animals could animals are filled with misery and exploitation. Animals work for benefit if they get away from Man's control. His urgings for little food and are killed when they are no longer useful. The unity among the animals reflect his idealized vision of how he products of their labor, even their own offspring, are taken thinks the world should be, and he assumes the animals will be away from them. Old Major believes Man is the cause of this able to preserve equality and unity; he believes none of them bleak existence because Man consumes without producing will step into the void of power left behind when Man is anything. Old Major encourages the animals to band together overthrown or use the new structure to benefit only and prepare for a rebellion to overthrow Mankind. themselves. In the allegorical parallels with the Communist When rats come into the barn during the meeting, some of the Revolution in Russia, Old Major is commonly seen as an dogs attack them. At this point the animals hold a vote and analogue to Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin, both of whom set determine that rats and other wild creatures are their forth an idealized world in which all workers were equal, comrades as well. After this decision Old Major describes a equally owning the means of production and equally enjoying dream he had of a world in which animals are free, which the fruits of their own labor. Both communist ideals and Old brings him back to a song from his childhood, "Beasts of Major's dream disregard the seductive nature of power and the England." A key verse includes the lines, "Soon or late the day willingness of some humans, or animals, to exploit a system is coming,/Tyrant man shall be o'erthrown,/And the fruitful that could give them advantages. fields of England/Shall be trod by beasts alone." He teaches the animals this song, and they sing together until they awaken Mr. Jones, who drunkenly responds by firing his rifle into the Chapter 2 night. This commotion ends the meeting. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 11 Napoleon tells them not to worry. When the animals return Summary from the hayfield, they notice that the buckets have disappeared. Old Major dies three days after the meeting takes place, passing peacefully in his sleep. The animals bury him in the farm's orchard. In the three months that follow, the most intelligent of the animals begin meeting regularly, organizing for Analysis the rebellion, even though they don't know when the rebellion will begin. As the pigs take the lead in these early preparations, Old Major's death contrasts sharply with the violent and brutal deaths at the hands of Men, which he describes at the among them two leaders emerge: Napoleon and Snowball. A meeting. This ending allows him the dignity that befits the third pig, Squealer, becomes well known for his powers of founder of Animalism. Because the rebellion originated with speech and persuasion. These three pigs work together to Old Major, and because the pigs are the only animals besides formalize Old Major's ideas into a system of ideas they call Benjamin who can read and write fluently, it makes sense that Animalism. This philosophy helps convince the animals to they take the lead in organizing the rebellion and running the consider a rebellion. Some wonder why they should work for a farm afterward. rebellion that might not happen in their lifetimes, especially when Moses the raven promises them they will go to a land of Moses and his tales of Sugarcandy Mountain parallel a religion. plenty called Sugarcandy Mountain when they die. Boxer and Moses's name makes this connection clear, as he shares his Clover prove helpful in winning the animals over to the cause name with the Biblical prophet who led the Hebrews out of because the animals believe the horses are so trustworthy. servitude in Egypt and presented them with the Ten Commandments. In Animal Farm, these are replaced with the As it turns out, the rebellion does come within the animals' Seven Commandments of Animalism. Sugarcandy Mountain lifetimes. Having lost a lawsuit, Mr. Jones continues to neglect seems like a heaven, a place of leisure and plentiful food, the the farm and drink too much. One Saturday in June, Jones gets animals' reward in the next life for hard work and suffering in inebriated in the village; neither he nor his workers return to this one. Communism rejects such religious ideals because feed the animals. The cows break into the store shed, and the these beliefs provide the workers with a reason to endure animals help themselves to the grain inside. When Mr. Jones suffering rather than the motivation to overthrow their and his men return and try to stop the animals, the animals oppressors so they can improve their lot in this life. Karl Marx fight back. Mr. Jones, his family, and his men flee the farm. The called religion the "opium of the masses," meaning that it dulls animals, seeing what they have accomplished and realizing people's thinking so they remain content with their lot. that they are now free, destroy the farmer's tools and the Obviously, such thinking runs counter to the process of symbols of their bondage, such as bits, nose rings, and halters. rebellion, so Moses's speeches are not helpful to the animals' Touring the farmhouse, they see the luxuries inside, such as featherbeds and carpets. On the barn wall they write the basic ultimate goals. tenets of Animalism as Seven Commandments: In the parallel to the Russian Revolution of 1917 presented in Animal Farm, Mr. Jones, his family, and his men represent r epresent Tsar 1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Nicholas II and his family. However, in the more generalized 2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. critique of communism the novel presents, Jones and his men 3. No animal shall wear clothes. represent the entire ruling class that not only neglects the 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. needs of the poor, but makes its fortunes on the labor of the 5. No animal shall drink alcohol. working classes. In the same way that all revolutions are won 6. No animal shall kill any other animal. and lost, the farmers underestimate the physical strength and 7. All animals are equal. numbers of the animals, so the farmers lose in direct They change the farm's name to Animal Farm and resolve to confrontation. bring in the harvest themselves, faster and better than Jones ever did. Just before the animals move out to the hayfield to Likewise, the renaming of Manor Farm to Animal Farm mirrors the decision of the Russian communist government to rename harvest, the cows need milking, so the pigs do the job. When the country following the revolution and ensuing civil war. the animals wonder what will be done with the buckets of milk, Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 12 Russia became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the meetings because they disagree a lot. The meetings end (U.S.S.R.) or Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. with the animals singing "Beasts of England," and then the animals use Sunday afternoons for rest and relaxation. The Seven Commandments form the cornerstone of the animals' new way of life, so it is important for them to have The pigs attempt to teach the other animals to read and write, these close at hand. Even though most of the animals cannot but few of the animals learn the alphabet beyond several read, having the commandments posted for all to see instills a letters. Instead, since most of the animals cannot read or sense of pride in the animals and creates a sense of legitimacy memorize the commandments, Snowball shortens them to a for the new regime. single slogan: "Four legs good, two legs bad." The sheep become fond of chanting this slogan, doing so for hours on end. Napoleon takes nine puppies from Jessie and Bluebell into Chapter 3 his own care with the promise to take full responsibility for their education. Summary Analysis The animals work hard to harvest the hay, and the yield proves The scope of the pigs' influence and control over the farm to be the largest in the farm's history. They also complete it becomes evident as the animals settle into a routine. The pigs' two days earlier than Jones and his crew ever did. The pigs do supervision of the harvest, giving orders from behind the not participate in the actual labor but supervise the workers horses, seems eerily similar to the position humans once and modify the necessary tools so the animals can use them. occupied on the farm. Their decision to keep the choice bits of Boxer, whose physical strength is a great asset, and Clover are produce from the farm, the apples and the milk, also reflects a the most productive. All of the other animals do their parts as sense of privilege. The excuse that they need the extra well, down to the ducks and hens who pick up stray bits of hay nutrients establishes inequality at the outset because it implies to prevent any waste. that mental labor is more important and difficult than physical The summer after the revolution is a satisfying time for all the labor. The animals grumble about this situation, which means animals because they can enjoy the fruits of their own they sense its unfairness, but Squealer silences them with the labor—most of them, anyway. After the harvest, the animals question that will become his trump card: Do you want Mr. finally discover the milk is going into the pigs' mash, and when Jones to come back? That is the last thing the animals want. In the apples begin to ripen, the pigs claim those as well. an instance of dramatic irony, this statement covers up the fact Squealer argues that the pigs do not enjoy milk and apples but that some of the pigs' practices are exactly like Jones's, so in a need the extra sustenance to carry them through all the brain sense he has already returned. work of managing the farm to ensure that Mr. Jones does not The primary obstacle to equality that all the animals face is return. Otherwise, rations are provided to the animals their inability to read and write. This situation alone gives the according to their needs, and everyone does his share of work, pigs a tremendous advantage. They have a skill set the other except for Mollie and the cat. Often neglectful of their duties, animals don't have or understand, so the "brain work" they somehow always have convenient excuses. Motivated by argument seems legitimate to them; they don't know what the cause of Animalism, Boxer seems to work harder than "brain work" actually involves. The pigs make only a cursory ever. Benjamin continues to work as he always has—no more, effort to educate the animals. Rather than continue the reading no less—but offers no opinions about the rebellion or its and writing lessons, they quickly reduce r educe the Seven aftermath. Commandments to a single simplistic slogan. Not only does Sunday mornings are reserved for a ceremony c eremony that involves this lack of literacy allow the pigs to maintain their advantage, saluting the farm's flag (a hoof and horn on a green field), but the pigs set up a headquarters for themselves in the followed by a meeting in the barn. Here the pigs put forth plans harness room so they can study books from the farmhouse, for the coming week's work and present resolutions on which expanding their knowledge while the other animals' remains the animals can vote. Napoleon and Snowball debate during limited. Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 13 As is the case with many totalitarian regimes, the leaders do others from neighboring farms, attempt to retake Animal Farm. not expend their energies trying to fully educate the populace, In the ensuing battle, Snowball takes the lead. Deriving because it is in their best interests to keep the populace strategies based on his readings of Julius Caesar, he directs relatively ignorant. Uneducated citizens lack the ability to think the defense and counterattack. He launches two waves at the critically about what their leaders tell them. Even in current intruders and then instructs the animals to retreat, luring the slang, the term sheep describes mindless followers, so it men deep into the farm as a trap. During the battle, Snowball is makes sense that the sheep become the animals on the farm injured by some pellets from Jones's gun, and a sheep is killed. who most enjoy chanting the new slogan, "Four legs good, two Boxer knocks a farm boy unconscious with a hoof. Thinking legs bad," without really considering what it means. Similarly, the boy is dead, the horse is racked by guilt. All the animals pigs are gluttons who take more than they deserve or should take part in the battle except for Mollie, who hides in her stall have. after the first gunshots. With these facts in mind, Benjamin may be the most troubling The animals celebrate their victory by singing "Beasts of character of all. He reads and writes as well as any of the pigs, England" and raising their flag. They bury the dead sheep and and he observes the events on the farm with a critical eye. He award him the newly created c reated honor, Animal Hero, Second appears to understand what is happening, that the pigs are Class. Boxer and Snowball receive Animal Hero, First Class for taking advantage of the situation. At the same time, he is given their bravery in the event, now called the Battle of the over to cynicism and the belief that nothing will ever really Cowshed. The animals display Jones's rifle, which he dropped change, so he does not bother to get involved. In this way, he is during the men's retreat, as a trophy by the flagstaff. They similar to many educated citizens, under any form of agree to fire it on the anniversaries of the battle and their government, who decline to participate or assume leadership rebellion. because either it is too much trouble or they feel defeated by the system. Analysis Chapter 4 The pigs' attempts to spread the message of their rebellion to other farms mirrors the effort of the Soviet Union to spread communist ideals around the world in the early 20th century. Other countries, including the United States, made their own Summary special efforts to contain these t hese messages and counter the spread of communism in Asia, Africa, and South America. The Snowball and Napoleon work through the summer to t o spread same was true in England throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and word of the rebellion, sending out pigeons and teaching "Beasts of England" to animals on neighboring farms. 1940s. Even after World War II and Animal Farm's publication (1945), this struggle and the Cold War became defining Meanwhile, Mr. Jones tells his side of the story at the t he village features of 20th-century history. Many of the scenarios pub. The other farmers, especially Mr. Frederick and Mr. politicians presented to counter the growth of communism Pilkington, ignore Jones's problems and are more interested in touched upon the same topics the farmers presented: famine, how they might take advantage of the situation. They also shortages of goods, torture. While the farmers' predictions worry about potential rebellions on their own farms. To deter have not come true at this point in the t he novel, many of them will their own animals from revolting, they tell stories of fighting, by the end. starvation, and even cannibalism and torture at Animal Farm. However, the other animals in the county don't believe the As of right now, however, the animals still believe their farm is humans' version of events, and small acts of rebellion take superior to any run by humans. They are willing to fight to place all around. "Beasts of England" becomes popular among preserve their way of life. Snowball's leadership in the Battle of the animals throughout the countryside despite threats of the Cowshed is notable because he is the only pig whose punishment. actions are specifically identified in the narrative. Without Snowball's strategies, the animals might not have defeated the In October Mr. Jones and his men, along with a handful of human intruders. Whatever actions the other pigs take during Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 14 the battle, including Napoleon's, are not notable enough to Napoleon escalates as Snowball introduces more plans for the warrant specific mention, although the pigs do appear to be farm's improvement and forms a number of committees to active in the battle rather than supervisory. implement these suggestions. Snowball's power comes from the popularity of his speeches during meetings, but Napoleon Furthermore, Snowball's ideals about Animalism are decidedly has more success raising support among the animals on a day- pure. When Boxer experiences his crisis of conscience, to-day basis. thinking he has killed the boy, Snowball scolds him for feeling guilty, saying the only good human is a dead one. This The conflict between the two pigs comes to a head when exchange raises an additional conflict of ideals. Boxer's Snowball introduces his plan to build a windmill on the farm. commitment to Animalism is as total as any animal's on the The windmill could help the animals with their labor by running farm, yet he is strongly opposed to taking life, even human life. machinery and providing electricity for the farm. Snowball The exchange raises the question of whether violence is ever sketches out complete designs and publicly proposes his plan. acceptable, even for a justifiable end. In spite of the apparent benefits, many of the animals are put off by the intense labor the project will require. The conflict Mollie's notable absence from battle once again underscores leads to a vote between Snowball's plan to build a windmill and how she is really not as drawn to Animalism as the others. In Napoleon's proposal to continue in their present manner. The many ways she has reason to resist. Her life under Mr. Jones two pigs also clash over the best way to defend the farm, with was relatively good. She had a place of honor as his public Snowball favoring a continued propaganda campaign and horse; she was decorated with ribbons r ibbons and rewarded with Napoleon supporting the expanded use of weapons. sugar cubes. If Jones and his family are the ruling class, Mollie represents the upper class, not herself a ruler but still one who Before the vote Snowball makes a detailed speech in favor of benefits directly from the rulers. She is reluctant to lower her the windmill, outlining its many benefits. Napoleon is less living standards for the ideals of Animalism. Like many persuasive with words. Instead, he unleashes nine dogs—the members of the human upper classes who faced the puppies he took from Jessie and Bluebell to raise and upheavals of communist revolution in their countries, Mollie is educate—and these dogs chase Snowball away from the farm. not greedy or power-hungry, but she's had a good life under At the next meeting Squealer explains how getting rid of the old system. Not cut out for hard physical labor, she has no Snowball was done for the animals' own good because reason to desire change or to risk herself to preserve the new Snowball was a bad influence. He caps off his speech by order. asking if the animals want Jones back. Three weeks after Snowball's expulsion, Napoleon announces the windmill project will proceed. Chapter 5 Analysis Summary Mollie's disappearance reflects a phenomenon disturbingly common in Soviet Russia and other totalitarian regimes. Mollie repeatedly shirks her duties. One day Clover spots her Clearly she is not falling into line with the party's ideas, which talking to one of Pilkington's men near the farm's fence. Clover breeds suspicion about her intentions and activities. After also believes Mollie allowed the man to pet her. Searching Clover investigates her comrade and, presumably, reports her Mollie's stall, Clover finds a stash of sugar cubes and ribbons. findings to the pigs, Mollie disappears. The animals never Three days later Mollie disappears from the farm. The pigeons mention her again. Often during the years of Soviet rule, report seeing her wearing a ribbon and attached to a cart near neighbors informed on neighbors for breaking with party a local pub. The pub's owner is said to have been stroking her protocol, and those neighbors disappeared, often into the nose and feeding her sugar. gulag, the secret prison system. Similar scenarios played out On the farm the animals have given the pigs authority to make under other totalitarian regimes as well, including Nazi all decisions, although these determinations still have to be Germany. It is possible that Mollie really did go live with the pub approved by a majority vote. Conflict between Snowball and owner, but it is not impossible—especially considering Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 15 Napoleon's show of force toward Snowball later in the will ultimately improve the animals' lives. His skepticism about chapter—that she met a much worse fate. the revolution is born from his idea that the revolution will not substantially change their lives in the long run. Here his The power shift in the pigs' favor that has been building since cynicism deepens to show that even when presented with two the rebellion is now complete. The animals have already given different choices on an equal footing, he refuses to engage the pigs the authority to make decisions, and the voting with the choice because he believes the alternatives are process seems to be nominal since many of the animals do not essentially no different. His thinking lives up to the donkey's really understand the voting process anyway. Now that reputation as a stubborn animal: in refusing r efusing to acknowledge Napoleon has revealed his secret weapon, the nine dogs he the possibility of a better option, he ensures there will not be a has trained to attack, he can rule by force if necessary. Since better option. the Battle of the Cowshed, Snowball is clearly the cleverer, or at least the more studious, of the two. That difference is even clearer in his proposal to build the windmill. Napoleon cannot hope to compete with Snowball's intellectual capabilities, so he Chapter 6 uses force instead. The difference in their approaches appears in their ideas about the farm's defense as well, where Snowball favors the use of words to persuade others to the farm's cause Summary while Napoleon favors defending the farm with force. In their first year under Napoleon's rule, the animals work 60- With Snowball out of the picture, Napoleon is free to claim hour weeks; however, they are consoled by the belief that they Snowball's ideas for himself. When Napoleon announces the are still working for their own benefit, even when Napoleon windmill project will go forward, he reveals what his real announces "voluntary" working time on Sunday afternoons. problem with Snowball was. Snowball's ideas are better than Despite the long hours, the harvest is less successful than the his own, so Napoleon saw him as a threat. This meeting also previous year, and the animals miss planting some signals the end of voting on the farm, as the windmill goes supplementary root crops that would have fed them through forward without an actual vote from the animals. Without the winter. The reduced yield results from the windmill bringing the project back to the animals for ratification, construction project, which presents many unforeseen Napoleon simply issues a decree. This fiat is how decisions will problems. For example, even though the farm has a large store be made on the farm from now on, yet none of the animals of sand and cement, the animals lack the ability to use tools for seem to notice, or they are too intimidated by the dogs to building. While the farm also has a quarry with plenty of stone, protest. the only way the animals can break the large stones into pieces suitable for construction is to drag each boulder to the The conflict between Napoleon and Snowball closely top of the quarry, drop it back to the bottom, and hope it correlates with the conflict that emerged in the Soviet Union breaks. after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924. Josef Stalin and Leon Trotsky were both ranking members of the Communist Party Boxer makes the entire windmill project possible by working and the Soviet government under Lenin. Stalin was well known tirelessly to drag stones from the quarry, even getting up early as a strong man. Trotsky, with an intellectual reputation, was a and staying late in addition to his other duties. His belief in the popular leader in the party. After Lenin died Trotsky openly project, in Animalism, and in Comrade Napoleon is unshakable. opposed Stalin, which ultimately led to Trotsky's 1929 exile. In At the same time, the animals discover they need other items 1940 one of Stalin's men assassinated Trotsky in Mexico. Just the farm cannot produce, such as fuel oil, nails, horseshoes, as Snowball's removal from the farm solidifies Napoleon's and machinery for the windmill. These needs force the farm to control, Trotsky's departure from the Soviet Union ensured engage in trade with humans so the animals can earn money to Stalin's control of the country by removing his most serious buy the necessary items. At a meeting, four young pigs opposition. question this plan, but they are quickly silenced by growling Benjamin stays out of the voting and the debate about the from Napoleon's dogs and chanting by the sheep. Napoleon windmill because he believes neither Snowball nor Napoleon announces that he will make the sacrifice of dealing with the Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 16 human lawyer, Mr. Whymper, who will handle the trade affairs. Even if questioning Napoleon did cross the animals' minds, While this arrangement makes them nervous, the animals also they have little recourse at this point. Napoleon tolerates no find they enjoy watching one of their own give orders to a challenges to his edicts and decisions. When the four young human. pigs hesitate over the trade issue, Napoleon threatens them with his dogs and allows the sheep to drown out their The pigs move into the farmhouse. Muriel and Clover question questions. The threat of force and the use of propaganda, such whether this act is permitted by the Seven Commandments as slogans, are common strategies totalitarian leaders use to because they seem to recall the commandment prohibiting maintain power. This incident shows that even other pigs are animals sleeping in beds. Squealer points out that the full not immune to Napoleon's tactics. At the same time, Napoleon commandment only prohibits animals from sleeping in beds needs to pacify the animals, so he deploys Squealer to explain with sheets, since all animals have beds but a sheet is a human that the Seven Commandments do not prohibit trade. Unlike invention. This explanation seems to settle the matter. the earlier interpretation of the commandment regarding sleeping in a bed, Squealer is technically telling the truth here. By November the windmill is finally near completion, but the The Seven Commandments do not explicitly prohibit trade. animals must pause construction because the weather is too However, they do say that creatures who walk on two legs are damp and windy to mix concrete and set stones into place. the animals' enemies, so not doing business with them is One night the animals awaken to a loud cracking sound, which certainly implied. turns out to be the windmill collapsing. Napoleon blames the failure on Snowball, saying he must have sneaked into the farm In the context of history, the pigs' decision to do business with and sabotaged the project. As proof, he sniffs some footprints, humans on other farms parallels the Soviet decision to form declaring them to be Snowball's. He then offers the honor of alliances with European nations and the United States prior to Animal Hero, Second Class to any animal who finds and kills World War II. At different times during the 1930s, Stalin Snowball. He additionally offers a bushel of apples to any considered allying himself with both Germany and the t he United animal who brings Snowball in alive. He then announces they Kingdom. The uncertainty of where Stalin would place his will begin rebuilding the windmill immediately. country's considerable military might caused unrest on all sides. Analysis Given the weather conditions, it is more likely the windmill collapsed due to design flaws and forces of nature than The so-called voluntary Sunday workday is actually mandatory. sabotage. At the same time, Napoleon does not want the Animals who do not participate in the Sunday work time have animals to question the feasibility of the t he design, the quality of their rations cut in half. This reduction is so substantial that the the construction, or especially his own decision to proceed, so apparent choice is not a real choice at all. However, the illusion he must find another source on which to fix the blame. keeps the animals happy. The animals are also content Snowball is the obvious scapegoat here, the one to blame because they believe they have at least the same amount of when anything goes wrong, whether or not he is actually food as they had before the rebellion, and they do not have to responsible. With a clear, common, identifiable enemy trying to support five humans as well. This consolation distracts them stop the windmill, not nature itself, Napoleon knows the from the fact that they t hey are supporting many more than five animals are more likely to buy into rebuilding it. They can pigs who have now moved into the farmhouse to live like believe they are defying a threat, not engaging in a futile task. humans. Squealer takes advantage of the animals' poor memories and complacency when he covers up the first change of the Seven Commandmen Commandments ts with his explanation Chapter 7 about animals not being allowed to use bedsheets. They other animals still trust the pigs because they believe "four legs good," meaning no animal would ever lie to them. Their belief in Animalism means the prospect of deception does not even cross their minds. Summary Work continues on the windmill through the bitter winter Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 17 because the animals want to prove themselves to the humans themselves, the animals try to sing "Beasts of England," but who doubt them. These same humans say the windmill Squealer tells them the song is now banned, replaced with a collapsed because the walls were too thin, but the animals new song swearing allegiance to Animal Farm. continue to believe Snowball is responsible. However, they also decide to rebuild the windmill with thicker walls, which means they need more stone. Collecting the stone in winter weather is Analysis slow and difficult, impeding their progress. Only Boxer and Clover, with their unshakable work ethic, keep up the animals' The animals all agree that the outsiders can't know what is spirits. really going on with the farm's food supply because that would leave them open to another attempt from the humans to take Other problems abound. In January an improperly planted over the farm. They cooperate with the plan to keep the potato crop fails, leaving the farm with a severe food shortage. humans from finding out the truth. Despite near-starvation, Napoleon and the animals work frantically to conceal the shortage from the outside world. Snowball becomes a useful scapegoat for the pigs to cover Rumors of famine are already circulating among the humans, their own mismanagement of the farm. Blaming Snowball is so so confirming these rumors would put the farm in danger. The useful for deterring questions about the windmill collapse, they animals are instructed to talk about increased rations when Mr. blame him for everything that goes wrong on the farm. Whymper is around. Still, Napoleon makes arrangements to sell However, when a misplaced key that Snowball has allegedly more of the hens' eggs so the farm can buy grain to t o make up thrown down a well turns up under a sack of meal, it becomes for the shortfall in their stores. obvious that Snowball's involvement involvement is just a fiction. He is likely not coming to the farm at all, but the animals seem to ignore Wanting their eggs to become chicks, the hens rebel, laying this fact. Many of Snowball's alleged crimes are food-related: their eggs in the henhouse rafters so they fall to the t he floor and missing corn, upset milk pails, broken eggs. The cows even break. Napoleon responds by withholding the hens' rations, but claim Snowball comes to their stalls and milks them at night. their resistance still lasts for five days. Nine hens die of Blaming Snowball can be a way for the animals to cover up starvation, but Napoleon makes sure the other animals are told some of their own shortcomings, such as reduced milk they died of disease. production. It is also possible the pigs use Snowball to cover for their own activities. If a pig is seen eating bark from a tree Although Snowball has not been sighted directly, rumors swirl or taking corn or milking a cow at night, it makes sense to that he is hiding on either Pilkington's or Frederick's farm, claim the malefactor is Snowball instead of creating suspicion depending on which farmer Napoleon is leaning toward doing among themselves. business with—or not—at any given time. Later the pigs claim Snowball has been returning to the farm at night to cause c ause The pigs are so committed to the Snowball ruse, they rewrite mischief—stealing corn, upsetting milk pails, eating bark off their history of the Battle of the Cowshed. Snowball has been fruit trees. All the bad things that happen are blamed on called the hero of that battle, and his strategies made victory Snowball, even if the true causes become apparent later. possible. Yet Squealer convinces the animals that Snowball Eventually Squealer announces Snowball has sold himself to was working for Mr. Jones the whole time, serving as Jones's Frederick and says Snowball was always in league with the guide through the battle. This story further discredits Snowball, humans, even fighting for Jones at the Battle of the Cowshed. illustrating the animals' willingness to believe anything the pigs tell them. They don't remember their own history or even take Later, Napoleon uses the threat of Snowball to eliminate some the time or trouble to try to recall what really happened, so of his enemies. During a meeting, he sends his dogs after the they are open to whatever story the pigs feed them. four pigs who question his trade plans, the hens that have rebelled over the eggs, and a few other animals who confess As the executions prove, scapegoating Snowball is also a good to working with Snowball. All of these animals are executed way for Napoleon to keep the other animals in line through immediately. This violence stuns the other animals, especially intimidation. Some of the animals confess to being in league Clover. After the executions, she and the other animals gather with Snowball, perhaps in a futile effort to save themselves, or on the knoll where the windmill stood. In an attempt to comfort perhaps because they have been brainwashed sufficiently to Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 18 believe Snowball truly made them lay eggs in the rafters or Pilkington and spreads rumors about Frederick's plans to urinate in the drinking water supply. However, the stunned attack the farm. Other rumors circulate about Frederick's reaction the animals have to the executions shows they did not cruelty to his animals, which makes the animals want to attack expect such carnage. The killings parallel Stalin's Great Purge his farm and overthrow him, but Squealer advises them against during the 1930s, in which hundreds of thousands of "rash action." government opponents or perceived opponents were executed or imprisoned. The most disturbing part of the More misfortunes, including the appearance of weeds in the animals' reaction to the executions is that despite their despair wheat crop, continue to be blamed on Snowball, still said to be over these events, they are still convinced they are better off hiding on Frederick's farm. A gander who says he knew that now than they were with Mr. Jones, revealing how brainwashed Snowball mixed weed seeds in with the t he wheat confesses and or fearful, or both, the animals have become. commits suicide. The pigs revise the story of the Battle of the Cowshed again, this time to reveal r eveal Snowball's active cowardice. Chapter 8 After all of these rumors and stories, the animals are shocked to learn that Napoleon has sold the timber to Frederick and has been negotiating with Frederick in secret all along. He Summary spread the stories about selling to Pilkington only to get Frederick to meet his price. The rumors about Frederick's farm After the executions, the animals question (away from the pigs likely came from Snowball, who apparently is actually hiding on and dogs) whether these events fall in line with the Seven Pilkington's farm. Once they hear the whole story, the animals Commandments; they think they remember one of the t he are proud of Napoleon's negotiating prowess and also commandments stating that no animal shall kill another animal. impressed that he is savvy enough to demand cash payment After some investigation, Muriel the goat reads the instead of a check. commandment on the wall aloud, and they discover it actually reads, "No animal shall kill another animal without cause." The With the windmill finished and the timber sold, the machinery animals decide these two words justify the executions of the for the windmill can be purchased, and all their dreams can apparent traitors since their actions gave Napoleon cause. come true. However, three days after the sale Mr. Whymper tells Napoleon that Frederick's money is counterfeit and he has The general conditions for the animals continue to be harsh, as cheated them all. Napoleon pronounces a death sentence on the workload of rebuilding the windmill and regular farm duties Frederick and prepares for an attack the next morning. The requires additional effort. Although the animals believe they are animals are outmatched, and the men have guns. The animals getting no more food than they did under Mr. Jones, Squealer send a message to Pilkington, who refuses to help. The battle presents weekly numbers that seem to prove they are actually culminates when Frederick and his men blow up the finished getting more food and are better off. At this point Squealer is windmill. The animals, who have retreated, are outraged by this doing most of Napoleon's public speaking. Napoleon has act and counterattack vigorously, suffering casualties but isolated himself in the farmhouse, away from even the other driving the humans from the farm. The pigs declare a victory pigs, and rarely appears in public. When three hens confess to and hold a ceremony celebrating what they call the Battle of plotting to assassinate Napoleon in summer, he becomes even the Windmill. more isolated, adds more guard dogs, and gets a food taster. The hens are executed. The pigs circulate poems and songs The animals, however, are crushed by the loss of the windmill praising Napoleon as the savior and protector of all the and don't understand why the pigs want to celebrate. Squealer animals. convinces them the battle is a triumph because the animals held on to the farm, but they t hey are not fully convinced until Napoleon's negotiations with the other farms become more Napoleon speaks to them. The fallen animals are given a complicated as he plans to sell a pile of timber to either funeral, and the rest of the animals receive extra rations. Pilkington or Frederick. Frederick wants the timber but won't meet Napoleon's price, so Napoleon announces plans to sell to to A few days after the battle, the pigs discover whisky in the farmhouse and drink it. The morning after, the pigs announce Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 19 Comrade Napoleon is dying, but he seems to feel better by toward Pilkington, he maligns Frederick, playing each side off evening. That night the animals hear a noise in the barn and against the other to get his way. Furthermore, saying each find Squealer unconscious on the ground next to a ladder and man's farm is harboring Snowball creates only more hostility a paint can. One of the Seven Commandme Commandments nts now reads, "No among the animals. The changing stories about Snowball's animal shall drink alcohol to excess." location reveal that no one knows where Snowball is, or the pigs have killed Snowball already and are using him as a kind of bogeyman for their own purposes. Given the shady way Napoleon deals with both farmers, it should not come as a Analysis shock that Frederick betrays him and Pilkington refuses to The animals fail to remember their own history, and the pigs come to his aid during the Battle of the Windmill. The two take advantage of this fact. Squealer's weekly presentations of farmers have been opposed to Animal Farm from the numbers regarding the food supply do not reflect the truth. beginning, anyway. If the pigs had adhered to their own Numbers can be manipulated to prove different results, so purported belief system—"Four legs good, two legs bad"—they having the capacity to question the sources and methods of might have avoided the trouble. The entire episode illustrates creating statistics is important. Of course the animals don't how Napoleon is really more interested in his own advantage have this capacity. The changes to the commandments and than he is in animal power. the faulty statistics illustrate how blind trust, a lack of education and attention to detail, and apathetic participation in Napoleon's dealings with Pilkington and Frederick parallel government all combined can result in ongoing exploitation and Stalin's negotiations with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s and then the abuse of power. The animals do not have much recourse Winston Churchill, Britain's prime minister, in the 1940s. Stalin toward the pigs at this point, anyway. After they discover entered an alliance with Hitler in 1939 just as Napoleon entered Squealer in the barn, they may guess what the pigs have been an agreement with Frederick. Hitler nullified his pact with Stalin up to with the commandments, but with the dogs at the pigs' when he invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 just as Frederick beck and call, the animals are too intimidated to do anything. betrayed the terms of his deal with Animal Farm. The Soviet army suffered massive casualties repelling the German As if to add insult to (literal) injury, the pigs declare the Battle advance just as the animals suffered heavy losses in the Battle of the Windmill a victory worth celebrating in spite of the of the Windmill. Both the Soviets and the animals were losses the animals have suffered. This characterization ultimately successful in keeping what they had. negates the months of hard labor and deprivation the animals have endured to build and then rebuild the windmill. Boxer, the During the 1940s, Russia and Britain were official allies in most steady of them all, has even suffered a serious injury in World War II, but Stalin and Churchill kept secrets from each the battle. Now the animals know they will have to construct other. Stalin did not let the extent of his vindictive purges, such the windmill again. When Squealer's arguments don't work to as his extensive killings of kulaks (members of the rich Russian convince the animals of the victory, Napoleon buys them off peasant class) be known. Churchill, on his side, did not tell with meager treats: an apple for each animal, an ounce of corn Stalin that he and Roosevelt had decided not to open a second for each bird, and three biscuits for each dog. These are small front against Hitler in France in 1942, which they earlier had led rewards for such a heavy loss. As for the pigs, they celebrate Stalin to believe and which would have helped Russia defend by drinking themselves sick, breaking another of the Seven itself better. Commandments; then they revise it behind the animals' backs to fit their own behavior. No matter how egregious and obvious the pigs' hypocrisy becomes, the animals do not react. Here Chapter 9 Orwell underscores just how dangerous a combination passive citizens and unscrupulous dictators can be. The negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington illustrate the Summary strength of propaganda in manipulating public opinion. When The hoof Boxer split during the Battle of the Windmill takes t akes a Napoleon leans toward doing business with Frederick, he puts long time to heal, but he refuses to take any time off work. The out negative publicity about Pilkington. When he inclines Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 20 animals have already started rebuilding the windmill, and Boxer Sugarcandy Mountain, the pigs officially declare his stories lies, knows he is essential to the project. He refuses to let the other but they also provide the bird with a daily ration of beer. animals see his pain and wants to see the windmill well underway before he retires, even though Clover and Benjamin In late summer, near his time of retirement, Boxer collapses caution him not to overexert himself. The original plans for near the windmill site. A lung has given way, and the animals Animal Farm allow horses to retire at 12 years with a pension of rush to the pigs for help. Squealer comes to the site after 15 corn and hay, and Boxer's 12th birthday is coming up this year. minutes with word that Napoleon is making arrangements to send Boxer to a veterinary hospital in the village. Clover and Conditions on the farm remain harsh, as the animals continue Benjamin escort Boxer to his stall and stay with him while they to undertake both farm and windmill-building duties through aren't working, comforting him and keeping flies away. Two the winter. In addition the four sows litter a total of 35 days later, while they are in the fields, a van comes c omes to take piglets—all Napoleon's—so Napoleon's—so there are many more mouths to Boxer away. The animals rush to see him off,