Animal Farm

1. Animal Farm George Orwell

2. Chapter 1 • All of Orwell’s writing focused on destroying totalitarianism • Published in 1945 • Animal Farm is a Fable: • A story where the characters are less important for individual characteristics and more important for the characters/people which they represent • Many of the characters in Animal Farm represent real figures from the Russian Revolution

3. Chapter 1: Characterization • Orwell begins the novel with the third person narrator, why does he do this? • Show Mr. Jones as a failed leader: corrupt, flawed, complacent • Pg. 25, 34 • Jones is symbolic of a leader ripe for take-over • Indirectly, Orwell also uses personification to foreshadow their downfalls: pgs 26-27 • Major: “wise, benevolent” He will not last (27) • Clover: “Motherly” and “loyal” (26) • Boxer: Focus on strength, not intelligence. Represents lower class attitude (26) • Benjamin: cynical, doesn’t talk. Represents those who won’t help or oppose (26) • Mollie: Looks are everything (27)

4. Chapter 1: Orwell’s Style • Uses plain language and cumbersome paragraphs to indirectly plant the seeds of the revolution • Old Major’s mottos and rules are bought by most animals but they cannot all be followed • Satire: • writing that ridicules a person, a group or an idea • Allegory: • a narrative in which the characters and setting stand for abstract ideas • Fable: • a story that teaches a moral; usually short

5. Chapter 1: Theme • The concept of a Revolution • Old Major says it is necessary • Old Major’s one sided facts (28-29) • “Comrade” a direct link to R.R. • Major’s rules solidify the revolt and they are the reason that it fails! • The Rules: • No animal shall live in a house • No animal shall sleep in a bed • No animal shall wear clothes • No animal shall drink alcohol • No animal shall smoke • No animal shall engage in trade • No animal shall tyrannize another animal

6. Chapter 2 • Old Major’s Death: • Very important because it allows the younger figures to take control • He is an idealist and one would always wonder how the revolution would have gone with him there • The Hesitant Animals: • These animals represent the peasants in Russia (26) • Don’t want to give up the security of their current government for the unknown

7. Chapter 2 • The Importance of Persuasion-Squealer: • Squealer could “turn black into white” • Squealer is persuasive and cunning • Through Squealer, Orwell shows that charisma and persuasive speakers are very important • He tells animals what they want to hear; Raven tells tales; Snowball is very firm with Mollie • How would Squealer have handled Mollie?

8. Chapter 2 • Shakespearean Influence: • Power of three (major dies three nights later, three pigs in control) • Buried in the orchard • Rebellion begins on a midsummer’s eve (ala Midsummer Night’s Dream)

9. Chapter 2 • The commandments: • 2 legs bad • Four legs-wings good • No clothes • No bed • No alcohol • No killing • All animals equal • Mollie tries on ribbons on pg 31 • If the leaders single items out and say “NO” then the peasants will want them more! • The pigs turn into hypocrites later because of these commandments • In #2, “friend” is spelled “friend” and looks like “Fiend” • Lies and corruption have already begun because the milk is gone (34)

10. Chapter 2 • The commandments: • 2 legs bad • Four legs-wings good • No clothes • No bed • No alcohol • No killing • All animals equal • These are written in parallel; begin and end with commandments aimed at uniting the animals and establishing basic beliefs • 3-5 are big mistakes based on psychology, these items make the citizens what to do these things more

11. Chapter 3 • Moving Away from Old Major’s Vision: • Classless society? • Squealer destroys this society when he says that Jones would come back without the pigs (42) • The pigs do no work (35) • A class system is beginning to emerge…

12. Chapter 3 • The New Vision… • Squealer always uses fear to solidify the pig’s place and this fear is used to persuade others into submission (41-43) • The new system of manipulation is based on fear and psychology • Old Major would have opposed all of this

13. Chapter 3 • Snowball vs.. Napoleon • A great divide is forming • Snowball’s committees is a different way of leading (39) • Wants to establish ownership of Animalism among all animals • Keep all animals busy and they won’t rebel • Whether any of the committees actually produce good/useable ideas does not matter • Napoleon wants to do everything himself and establish a tight control over the other animals • Takes the puppies and raises them himself (41)

14. Chapter 3 • Orwell’s Style: • The book is narrated from the unquestioning point of view of the animals • This perspective is used to create irony • Even though the narrator is not questioning, the reader should be…Why? • Napoleon takes the puppies • The animals forget about them • The milk disappears • The apples preserved only for pigs • The pigs do no work • All of this should raise suspicion in the reader, even if it doesn’t in the animals (35, 36, 43)

15. Chapter 3 • Evolution of Animalism: • Ironic that the narrator calls the animals “parasites” on page 36. • What are the pigs, then? • Aren’t they doing the same things that the humans did?

16. Chapter 4 • Napoleon: • He is not mentioned in this chapter • This is the only post-revolution chapter where he is not mentioned • This contrasts with Snowball’s bravery • Napoleon did not fight, is he dedicated to the revolution?

17. Chapter 4 • Snowball: • Leads the charge • Planned defense and military strategies • Snowball studied Julius Caesar (47) • An allusion that shows his scholarship and intellect • Snowball earns a medal (49) • Huge gap now between Napoleon and Snowball

18. The Townspeople • This chapter shows the first reactions to the revolution: • Apathy -> Disbelief -> Fear -> Self-interest • This attitude represents the attitude of other countries towards rebellion • As the townspeople spread rumors of cannibalism, infidelity, and torture, it shows their feelings of being threatened • This is a parody: • The propaganda the farmers use in their discussions is the same as the propaganda other nations use as a weapon

19. Chapter 5: Napoleon vs.. Snowball A. Snowball is pure - his name is symbolic • He is an intellectual and an idealist and his political ideas reflect this • Napoleon is a tyrant and is named after Napoleon Bonaparte (allusion) • Napoleon is economically minded, authoritarian, and a dictator • The dogs are very allegorical: • He takes the dogs (the resources of the farm) and uses them against the farm animals (like a totalitarian dictator would)

20. The Windmill • Napoleon disagrees with Snowball over the windmill • Why does he disagree, then want to build it anyway? • Pages 56-57 show the difference in oratory skills: • Napoleon is very direct - rules through fear • Snowball is very eloquent and wants everyone to agree and work together and believe in the windmill

21. The New Rules • Snowball is eliminated • Napoleon ironically stands where Old Major once stood to deliver his speech • Very authoritarian: “I’ll decide and tell you” • No debates, only private meetings • Napoleon seized control through power and will rule through fear, confusing ideas, etc…

22. The Characterization of Squealer • Characterization: • Has some of Snowball’s traits • Persuasive and eloquent speaker • Unlike Snowball, however, Squealer is shallow and a propaganda machine of the government • Squealer would never express his own opinions, even if he had them • He is exactly what Napoleon needs, but he is very detrimental to Animal Farm as a whole

23. Squealer in Action B1: Page 59: • Everything Squealer says contradicts the truth • No more meetings, but all animals are equal? • Extra Labor - Napoleon makes all the decisions but does not work B2: Page 60: • Completely discounts Snowball’s role in the battle • Even though the animals saw Snowball fight, they believe Squealer B3: Pages 60 - 61: • The pigs are guarded by the dogs • Them vs.. Us mentality

24. Mollie Vs. Boxer C1: Mollie (51, 52): • symbolic of the rich, pampered class during a revolution • Just like Zaroff described in “Game” they leave because they are interested only in luxury and their way of life C2: Boxer (60): • symbolic of the blind and trusting followers who follows the leader no matter what

25. Chapter 6 A. A Tyrant’s Trade • Reintroduced by Napoleon and dissolves the remaining parts of Old Major’s plan (66 • Mr. Whymper comes to Animal Farm and humans reemerge (66, 67) • After trade begins, the pigs move into the farmhouse (69) • Squealer reasons this out with the animals through repetition (67, 69, 70) • Double standards concerning work continue to manifest but are dismissed right away (63, 65, 70)

26. The Rewording of the 4th Commandment B. Napoleon’s Leadership: • Napoleon loves to take very general ideas and narrow them • His changes are so slight that there appears to be no change at all • He changes: • The commandment (69) • Ideas on work (63) • The interpretation of Snowball’s work (72)

27. The Windmill C: Napoleon refuses to believe that the project is difficult (63) • Napoleon uses his intelligence after the windmill is destroyed: • Many psychologists say man needs something to love and something to hate • Educational psychology says that people who are kept very busy are easily controlled • Napoleon uses both of these ideas to rebuild the windmill (71, 72) • Snowball is blamed and this unites the comrades against a common enemy (someone to hate) • Ironically, the animals unite against the true leader of the revolution

28. Chapter 7: Napoleon’s Decisions: A: Napoleon’s Leadership: • When he lies to save face he is hurting his own people (82) • Orwell uses this to satirize the authoritarian governments and how they never reach for outside help because it would show weakness in govt! (83) • Put citizen’s welfare at risk to save face (75, 76) • Where are some examples of Napoleon doing this in chapter 7?

29. Squealer’s Propaganda B: Napoleon desires to sever all remaining ties with the original revolution- but not before he gets a medal (83) • Snowball is the subject of most of the propaganda- Most of this is ironic and really refers to Napoleon: • He was a traitor from Day 1 (77, 78) • He was never concerned with the welfare of the animals (75) • Napoleon needs to discredit the early days of the revolution (79) • Napoleon wants to change their ideology so that they will accept future changes

30. The Beasts of England C: Napoleon’s final act of chapter 7 is simple, yet difficult for the animals (86-87) • The animals can accept laws, killings, food rations, and lies but have trouble with the song being abolished • It is a low-level need, deeply rooted in their psyche: It is a cultural tradition • Why would Napoleon do this?

31. Chapter 8: The Poem A. Full of ironic statements • “Friend of fatherless,” “faithful”, etc… • Napoleon lives in almost complete seclusion, lies to the animals and kills them • He is neither a friend nor a help

32. Complete Success B: Napoleon’s persona has been built up too much, a common mistake in authoritarian govt. • He can never be wrong, which is why: • The gun is fired after the attack by Fredrick • A new war decoration is created to hide the forged notes Napoleon accepted from Fredrick • Plinkington refuses to help and Napoleon chose the wrong farmer to give the wood to • Every time the pigs break a commandment, Squealer goes out at night and alters it • “Traitors” are murdered

33. The Effectiveness of Propaganda • Shows effectiveness of propaganda • A theme of “Reliability of Memory” is emerging • Later, Orwell would continue to explore this in 1984 • Muriel, through Orwell’s description of his mannerisms, seems to know something that the others do not • “Remembering wrong” is what the animals call their incorrect interpretations • Orwell uses propaganda, humor, and comedy to satirize how a nation’s collective memory can be called into question

34. Chapter 9 A. The Republic? • Social commentary • Many totalitarian governments implement dummy democracies • Animal Farm does this and the citizens are so brainwashed that they cannot see that one choice is no choice! • This is meant to be a chilling parallel to Old Major and the days when everything was decided by majority vote

35. Chapter 9 B. Squealer’s use of language: • Very important because it plays a huge part in his ability to successfully brainwash the citizens • Repetition in many of his speeches is significant • If one hears things over and over again, it will be believed • “A better life now” is contrasted with the narrator saying and Orwell showing the opposite • The sheep and Boxer are the best examples of blind followers

36. Chapter 9 C. Boxer’s Final Days: • Very ironic • Several things become apparent: • There has been foreshadowing of this: • Dogs attack him, Clover warns him, injury • Squealer and the narrator are in constant competition and this comes out in chapter 9 • Muriel finally reads

37. Chapter 9 D. Ignorance: • Boxer’s death brings the ignorance of the animals to the forefront • Boxer was the hardest worker and was killed when his usefulness ran out • This should make it clear that no one will retire and that Animalism is a farce • This deductive reasoning hits Muriel, but no one else • Squealer’s lies about being at Boxer’s bedside and Boxer’s last words accentuate this concept

38. Chapter 10 A. Theme: Reliability of memory • Few animals remain who remember Old Major, Jones, or Snowball • Orwell is commenting on the effect of time and brainwashing on memory • If something is not remembered, does it matter if it really happened? • The elimination of the characters, flag, and meetings makes it seem like none of this ever happened

39. Chapter 10 B. Bureaucracy: • Squealer invents important work for the growing number of pigs to do • The “files…” convince the animals, but the audience knows that these ate lies! • Totalitarian governments of ten do this because they favor one class of citizens over another

40. Chapter 10 • The Ending: • The pigs have slowly been assimilating into human culture: • Hind legs, houses, beer, visits with humans • Now it is too late: • They realize that the revolution is a joke but it is too late to do anything about it • Basically, they have traded on totalitarian government for another