Notes on Animal Farm

1. Notes on Animal Farm By: George Orwell

2. Chapter 1: • Setting: Manor Farm (in England) • Mr. Jones (farmer) turns in for the night. {Czar Nicholas II} • The animals gather in the barn to hear Old Major’s speech about his dream. • Old Major –{Lenin} white boar (pig); highly respected by the animals

3. The Dream – one day all the animals will own the land. Peace and equality will be theirs. • Old Major talks about how Man is the enemy. Man does not produce anything and mistreat the animals. • Animals are given just enough food to stay alive & work. • “Whatever goes on two legs is the enemy.”

4. NO ANIMAL SHALL ACT LIKE MAN! NO: • WEARING CLOTHES • SLEEPING IN BEDS • DRINKING ALCOHOL • SMOKING • USING MONEY • KILLING OTHER ANIMALS

5. Chapter 2: • Old Major dies. Jones is drinking more and neglects the farm and the animals. • THE REBELLION – animals break into the feed bin and start feeding themselves. • Jones and his men run out to see what is going on. Animals chase the humans off the farm.

6. Pigs Rise to the Occasion: • The pigs tell the other animals that they have taught themselves how to read and write. • Napoleon & Snowball (pigs) are the two main leaders. • Napoleon – {Stalin} is a bully; used to getting his way.

7. Snowball – {Trotsky} is well spoken and intelligent • Manor Farm is renamed: Animal Farm • Animalism {Communism} is broken down into 7 Commandments (p. 43) • Animals celebrate their freedom then go back to work

8. At the end of the chapter, pig prove that they are in control of the animals • Pigs milk the cows, but do not distribute it to all the animals. • Milk goes missing….

9. Chapter 3: • Animals spend summer harvesting the crops – best harvest the farm has ever known • Mollie (horse) and the cat are the only animals who constantly get out of working

10. Boxer {factory workers} – is the hardest working animal. His motto is: “I will work harder!” • Every Sunday – animals gather for the flag raising ceremony; debates, and singing of “Beasts of England” • Napoleon & Snowball’s view clash

11. The Flag – green (for the fields of England) and white (hoof & horn = animals) • Snowball organizes a number of committees. Most of them fail, but the one to teach the animals how to read & write has some success

12. Snowball comes up with the saying: “Four legs good, two legs bad” • Napoleon has no interest in the committees • N. takes the puppies that were just weaned and makes them his priority to “educate” them.

13. Animals find out the pigs are taking the milk and apples • Squealer {propagandanewspapers} tells them that the pigs need milk & apples for their “brain power.” If they didn’t have it, Jones would come back. • Squealer plays on their fears • Animals give in to the pigs

14. Chapter 4 • Napoleon & Snowball send out pigeons to spread the word about the rebellion to the animals on the other farms. • Other farmers – Mr. Pilkington (Foxwood) & Mr. Frederick (Pinchfield) are worried about their animals rebelling too

15. October 12th – Jones & men from other farms come onto Animal Farm • The animal ambush the men. • Boxer knocks a stable-lad out • Snowball gets shot at – injures his back • Animals are victorious • One sheep was killed

16. Battle becomes known as the “Battle of the Cowshed” • Boxer & Snowball get a medal for “Animal Hero, First Class” • Mollie ran back into her stall at the 1st gunshot and hid.

17. Chapter 5 • Mollie – runs away for good; animals never mention her again • Snowball & Napoleon are in constant disagreement • Snowball comes up with the idea to build a windmill which will generate electricity

18. Napoleon wets on the plans that Snowball has made • Snowball presents the idea to the animals. Says it will make their work week only a 3 day one once it is completed. • Napoleon argues that animals need food not a windmill • Animals are divided- after Snowball’s speech – they get ready to vote

19. Just when it looks like Snowball will win, Napoleon sends in the attack dogs {secret police} to get Snowball • Snowball runs away • Animals horrified • N. then announces – no more meeting/debates. All decisions will be made by a group of pigs headed by him

20. Squealer tells the animals that N is making a big sacrifice to be their leader. • He also says that Snowball was a criminal/traitor • Boxer = “Napoleon is always right” • N. says that the windmill was his idea and will be built • N keeps control by terrorizing animals w/ the dogs

21. Chapter 6 • Animals work harder than ever to build the windmill • Boxer is the hardest working animal • Animals suffer no more than when they were w/ Jones • They can not produce a number of things – need help

22. Mr. Whymper (human) is hired by Napoleon to help w/ trade • Napoleon states that there was no such law as “no trading with humans” • Pigs start living in the farm house – sleeping in the beds • Commandment change: “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”

23. Fierce storm comes through and blows down the windmill • Napoleon blames Snowball • He passes a death sentence on Snowball & offers a reward to anyone who kills him.

24. Chapter 7 • Bitterly cold winter – food is short • Some animals don’t believe that Snowball destroyed the windmill • Protest – hens don’t want to give up their eggs – Napoleon cuts back on their food; 9 hens die

25. Squealer continues to spread propaganda about Snowball – (was working with the humans the whole time - the wounds on his back were from Napoleon’s teeth) • Bloodshed - the dogs kill any animal that doesn’t agree with Napoleon & sides w/ Snowball • “Beasts of England” now banned because it was a song about the rebellion & the rebellion is over

26. Chapter 8 • More commandments are altered • Animals continue to work even harder even though there’s more hunger and cold. • Napoleon now takes on the title of “Leader” • Minimus (pig) – poet – writes about how great Napoleon is

27. Napoleon wants to sell lumber to Mr. Pilkington; then double crosses him and sells it all to Mr. Frederick • Frederick gives phony money to Napoleon – Napoleon is furious • Windmill is finally complete • Mr. Frederick soon attacks the farm (Battle of the Windmill) • Men blow up the windmill • Many animals are killed

28. Animals attack – men run off the farm • Animals victorious???? • Pigs celebrate by getting drunk • Napoleon thinks he’s dying, but is only suffering from a hangover. • Animals “catch” Squealer w/ white paint (changing the commandments)

29. Chapter 9 • Animals try to rebuild the windmill • Boxer is getting weaker and weaker • No animal has yet to retire on the farms • The pigs continue to benefit – living in comfort & have a lot of food while others go without

30. April – AF is now a republic w/ Napoleon as the President • Squealer tells the animals that Snowball was working w/ the humans the whole time • Moses comes back – tell more about Sugarcandy Mountain {heaven}

31. Boxer collapses – the pigs say they will take him to a “human hospital” • They really send him to the “Knacker” (horse slaughterer). Benjamin reads the truck. • He & Clover tell Boxer to try and break free. Boxer is too weak

32. Later Squealer announces that the doctors couldn’t cure Boxer & he died in the hospital • Days later the pigs have somehow found “money” to buy a crate of whisky.

33. Chapter 10 • Years have passed; many animals have aged/died • Few recall the days before the Rebellion • The new windmill is complete BUT is used to mill corn no generate electricity • Only the pigs & dogs live comfortablely

34. One day Squealer take the sheep off to teach them a new chant – “Four legs good, two legs better!” • Clover then sees the pigs walking on their hind legs • Napoleon is carrying a whip • Pigs smoking pipes acting like humans

35. Only commandment now reads “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” • Mr. Pilkington has a meeting w/ Napoleon talking about the farm • No longer will animals salute their flag or call each other “comrade” • Animal Farm goes back to old name – Manor Farm.