Animal Farm By George Orwell Orwell is the
Animal Farm By George Orwell
• Orwell is the pseudonym for Eric Arthur Blair (1903 -1950) • Published Animal Farm in 1944 • Joined Indian Imperial Police where he grew to hate the oppression of imperialism • Briefly lived in Paris, trying to survive as a writer, before returning to England employing the pseudonym George Orwell in order to prevent embarrassing his family George Orwell
• After returning to England, Blair became “a proponent for socialism, [and] now wanted to write for the ‘common man’ and purposefully lived as a tramp in London and the Home Counties and stayed with miners in the north. Blair learned of the disparity between the classes and came to know a life of poverty and hardship amongst beggars and thieves. His study of the under-classes in general would provide theme for many of his works to follow. ” http: //www. online-literature. com/orwell/ George Orwell
• After spending time in Spain, Orwell returned to England following the Spanish Civil War, during World War II • During this time, he completed Animal Farm, which was held from publication until 1944 • “Upon my return from Spain I thought of exposing the Soviet myth in a story that could be easily understood” – Orwell • Animal Farm was composed as an anti-Stalinist allegory George Orwell
• Socialism • According to Merriam-Webster • 1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods • 2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property • b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state • 3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done • Communism • According to Merriam-Webster: • • • 1 a : a theory advocating elimination of private property 1 b : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed 2 a : a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 2 b : a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls stateowned means of production 2 c : a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably 2 d : communist systems collectively Socialism vs. Communism
• Allegories are similar to metaphors: in both the author uses one subject to represent another, seemingly unrelated, subject. However, unlike metaphors, which are generally short and contained within a few lines, an allegory extends its representation over the course of an entire story, novel, or poem. • Think about what makes an allegory effective Edsitement. com Allegory
• Allegory can be found both in literature and in the visual arts, such as painting and sculpture. • Like metaphors, allegories utilize one subject as if it were analogous to another, seemingly unrelated, subject. • Unlike metaphors, the representational image is more detailed and is sustained throughout the length of a story, novel, or poem. • Allegories are generally understood as rhetorical, and, as a form of rhetoric, are generally designed to persuade their audience Allegory
• Animal Farm is “an allegorical indictment of tyranny which utilizes the historical events and players of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalin as a cautionary tale. ” (www. edsitement. com) • Read the novella as if you were a citizen of the world at this time, taking into account those players of the Russian Revolution with the fall of Czarist Russia and emergence of Communism • Allegorically, what is the additional or alternative meaning contained in Orwell’s story of animal rebellion? Animal Farm
• Mr. Jones – proprietor of Manor Farm – stumbles drunkenly to bed, forgetting to secure the buildings • When Mr. Jones falls asleep, all of the animals hold a meeting led by Old Major (a boar), who senses his life is close to ending • Their lives are “miserable, laborious and short” • Animals - born into the world as slaves, worked, fed only enough to survive, and then slaughtered when they are no longer useful • Blames suffering on human oppressors Chapter 1
• Who does Mr. Jones represent allegorically? Who are the oppressors? • Czar Nicholas II • Oppressors are the feudal classes – lords, ladies, landowners Chapter 1 • Mr. Jones and landowners have been exploiting animals for years, taking all of the animals valuables (milk, eggs, fur, labor, etc. ) and giving nothing of value in return
• Old Major’s dream • What does he dream about? • World in which animals live free from the tyranny of man • Free, happy, well-fed, and treated with dignity • Urges animals to do everything they can to make this happen – Rebellion • Animals must achieve a “perfect comradeship” – rising of the lower classes • Animals debate idea of rats as comrades • Old Major – Those that walk on two legs are enemies; those that walk on four are friends Chapter 1
• Ways of humans are corrupt • Animals cannot adopt any of these ways • Rallying cry – Beasts of England • Portrays utopian England for animals • Utopia – idealized society • Mr. Jones shoots into the yard during the song because he thinks a fox has gotten into the farm Chapter 1
• Old Major dies in his sleep three nights after the meeting • Animals decide to follow through with his plan • Teaching and organizing by pigs (cleverest of animals) – Napoleon and Snowball take charge • Napoleon and Snowball along with Squealer create principles of Animalism • Some animals have a hard time understanding principles of Animalism – carriage horse named Mollie wants to know if she can still wear her blue ribbon (sign of slavery) • Mollie only half-heartedly agrees (sign of fracture already) Chapter 2
• Raven named Moses is most troublesome opponent • Tells animals of Sugarcandy Mountain, where animals go when they die • Moses contrary to what the pigs want animals to believe, convincing other animals of falsehood of Moses’ teaching • With help from slow witted but loyal cart horses (Boxer and Clover), Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer prepare animals for Rebellion Chapter 2
• Rebellion starts earlier than expected • Mr. Jones gets drunk, lazy and forgets to feed the animals – the cows break into the shed & animals eat • Mr. Jones hears the noise, comes to whip the cows, but the animals turn on the men and chase them from the farm, leading the animals to destroy the last remnants of subservience (whips, chains, other farm implements) • When they finish eating, the animals sing Beasts of England seven times • In the morning they admire the farm, go inside the house and are astonished by all of the luxuries (some a little too much) • Decide to keep the farmhouse as a museum of the past Chapter 2
• Pigs reveal they have taught themselves to read • Snowball replaces “Manor Farm” on the gate with “Animal Farm” • Snowball and Napoleon reduce principles of Animalism to seven commandments, which are painted on the side of the big barn: Chapter 2
Chapter 2
• Trouble ahead? • Cows start mooing/whining because they haven’t been milked in some time • Pigs milk them and other animals eye pails of milk • Napoleon tells them not to worry about the milk, and when Snowball leads them to the field to harvest, the milk disappears by the time they return Chapter 2
• Elements of Allegory • What does Manor Farm represent? • Russia under part-feudal, part. Capitalist rulership of czars • What does Mr. Jones represent? • Moping Czar Nicholas II • Who does Old Major represent? • Both Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin – philosophical tenets of Socialism/Communism Chapter 1 -2
• What do the animals of the farm represent? • The working/peasant classes of Russia – Boxer and Clover in particular represent these classes • Pigs = intelligentsia who organized & controlled Revolution • Mollie = self-centered upper class – luxuries & comfort • What does the control by the pigs represent? • Totalitarianism – where there’s a strong ruling class – gradual assumption of power Chapters 1 -2
• Animals spend summer harvesting, gathering more than had ever been gathered before as pigs learn how to use farm equipment • Every animal participates up to their ability, except: • Mollie and the cat • Boxer does most of the heavy labor – “I will work harder” • Only the obstinate donkey Benjamin doesn’t notice a change under the new leadership Chapter 3
• Flag-raising ceremony every Sunday • Symbolism: • White Hoof and Horn = animals • Green = fields of England • Democratic meeting – animals debate & establish new policies for collective good • Snowball & Napoleon always voice loudest opinions, which always clash Chapter 3
• Snowball vs. Napoleon • Another fracture, this time in leadership • Snowball establishes committees with various goals • Reading classes are particularly effective • Snowball reduces Seven Commandments to just one maxim: “Four legs good, two legs bad. ” • Snowball explains that wings count as legs • Napoleon takes no interest in committees • Takes puppies from Jessie and Bluebell because training young more important than teaching adults • Other animals discover pigs have been taking all milk & apples for themselves • Squealer explains pigs need these to think so it’s in every animal’s best interest for the pigs to take the milk & apples (allegorical meaning) • Use fear of Mr. Jones return to calm other animals Chapter 3
• Dangerous dichotomy created • Educated (pigs) vs. Uneducated (other animals) • Stifles flow of information • Varying degrees of learnedness • “Four legs good, two legs bad” • Severely dumbs down the Seven Commandments = propaganda • Eliminates the necessity to think for other animals, giving pigs more power because of blind following Chapter 3
• News about Animal Farm spreading • Mr. Jones lives in town, drinking and complaining • Mr. Pilkington & Mr. Frederick, who own adjoining farms, refuse to join forces against Animal Farm because of their own rivalry • Animals across England sing Beasts of England • Pigeons warn Animal Farm that Mr. Jones is marching back to the farm with Pilkington’s & Frederick’s men • Snowball organizes & prepares a defense to ambush the men, defeating them quickly • Animals only lose a sheep, who receives a hero’s burial • Snowball & Boxer receive “Animal Hero, First Class” medals • Mr. Jones dropped his gun, which animals will use as memorial • It will be fired every year on Oct. 12 – “Battle of the Cowshed” and “Midsummer’s Day”, the anniversary of the Rebellion Chapter 4
• Russian Revolution • What do Mr. Pilkington & Mr. Frederick (their farms) represent? • Fear of the spread of communism • Pilkington & Frederick spread rumors about Animal Farm • Irony • Animals fight their hardest but do not understand truly what they are fighting for • Snowball: Animals “need to be ready to die for Animal Farm” • Unprepared to deal with consequences of the fight • Boxer’s reaction to thinking he called the farm boy Chapter 4
• Mollie becomes increasing burden on Animal Farm • Never does her work, shows up late, accepts treats from men, doesn’t live by tenets of Animalism • Lured away by red-faced man never to be spoken of again on Animal Farm • Meetings held inside barn during winter • Snowball & Napoleon continue to disagree, which dominates meetings • Snowball = better speaker & debater; idea man • Napoleon = better at rallying support; focus on now • Divides animals further Chapter 5
• Snowball unveils plans; Napoleon briefly retorts • Nine enormous dogs wearing brass collars enter barn, attacking & chasing Snowball from farm, then return to Napoleon’s side • Napoleon announces meetings will only be ceremonial & all important decisions will be made by pigs alone • Confuses & disturbs animals • Squealer explains Napoleon is making a great sacrifice in taking leadership responsibilities by himself • Snowball = traitor & criminal • Animals accept explanation • Boxer adopts new sayings: “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right” • Napoleon used windmill to oust Snowball; three menacing dogs reinforce ideas (submissive population) Chapter 5
• Chapter reveals Napoleon’s motives • Power-hungry & corrupt • Seizes power for himself, banishes Snowball for no reason, & re-writes history to suit himself • Who/What does this represent in Russian history? • Climax of tension of animals • Reveals true intentions of pigs (Napoleon) • Socialistic rhetoric was empty – all about power for pigs • Napoleon doesn’t truly care about good of all animals Chapter 5
• Animals work harder than ever on the farm on windmill, harvesting • Squealer explains rations have been “readjusted” and animals receive no food if they don’t work Sundays • Believe they are doing it for own good, not for Mr. Jones • Eager to take on extra labor – Boxer does work of three horses & never complains • Animals suffer no more than they had under Mr. Jones • Animals still need things they can’t produce • Napoleon hires human solicitor (Mr. Whymper) to trade • Animals can’t believe it, but Squealer reminds them there is nothing in the Seven Commandments about trade with man Chapter 6
• Pigs begin living in farmhouse and sleeping in beds • Violation of one of Seven Commandments • Commandment was changed to read “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets” • Squealer explains every animal sleeps in a bed, they just cannot use sheets • Pigs need comfort in order to think clearly & efficiently to serve greater good of farm • Storm damages farm, including destroying windmill • Napoleon tells animals it was sabotaged by Snowball, giving Snowball a death sentence with a reward • Windmill must be rebuilt: “Long live the windmill!” and “Long live Animal Farm!” Chapter 6
• Oppression of the animals • Mirrors oppression of people by governments • Overworking labor class, justification of luxury by ruling class, spreading of propaganda • Creation of imagined enemy (Snowball) to rally against • Power makes those in rulers more corrupt • Pigs begin to resemble people Chapter 6
• Focus on violent tactics of oppressive governments • Maintain docility of society • Led to class division (lower classes – working classes) • Pigs also manipulate history to suit their own needs/goals Chapter 7
• Animal struggling to rebuild windmill in bitter cold winter • Food shortage which animals work to conceal from people • Humans believe walls of windmill weren’t thick enough; animals persist in believing Snowball sabotaged it • Build walls twice as thick this time anyway • Squealer speaks about sacrifice • Animals gain motivation from hard work of Boxer Chapter 7
• Napoleon contracts farm to trade 400 eggs per week • Goes against initial ideas by Old Major – cruelty of egg selling • Hens rebel and are denied their rations by Napoleon • Nine hens die before they give in to Napoleon • Animals hear Snowball has been visiting Animal Farm at night to sabotage the animals’ efforts • Squealer tells animals that Snowball has been a spy for Mr. Jones since before the rebellion (spreading propaganda) • Animals, including Boxer, are completely baffled • Squealer recounts Napoleon’s superior bravery (falsified) that animals believe everything that he says Chapter 7
• Napoleon convenes animals in yard with his nine dogs surrounding him • Begins inquisition & purge • Forces animals to confess their crimes then brutally has them executed • Dogs attack Boxer for no reason, but he knocks a dog unconscious • Bloodshed leaves animals shaken and confused • Boxer says some of the blame goes to the animals themselves – he commits to working even harder • Animals begin singing Beasts of England before Squealer tells them Napoleon has outlawed the song because it’s goals have been reached • He tells the animals to sing a poem written by Minimus, a pig poet, that is patriotic but not inspiring Chapter 7
• Napoleon & Squealer have so far twisted the truth that other animals can’t recognize they’re being fooled even when it happens right before their eyes • Used the need to get rid of the upper class as justification for violence & subversion of principles of animalism • Equal work/Equal pay changed to favor military/politically powerful • Seen literally when Squealer is caught rewriting the law on the side of the barn • Animals don’t question their leadership – highlighted by Minimus’ poem Chapter 8
• Napoleon’s dealings with Pilkington & Frederick • Allegorical meaning of the destruction of the windmill • Use heroism of those in lower classes to highlight patriotism to demoralized survivors • Serve to transfer sacrifices from individual to state by large, patriotic celebrations Chapter 8
• Another commandment is changed: “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause” • Animals blame change on their faulty memories – they didn’t remember the last two words • Napoleon has taken title of Leader along with dozens of other complimentary titles • Minimus’ poem in praise of Napoleon is inscribed on barn wall • Napoleon tries to sell left over timber to either Mr. Pilkington or Mr. Frederick • When it appears the wood will be sold to Pilkington, the animals are taught to hate Frederick; when it appears it will be sold to Frederick, the animals are taught to hate Pilkington • The farm out of favor is rumored to be the hiding place for Snowball • Mr. Frederick eventually buys the wood, paying in cash Chapter 8
• Construction on windmill finished, but before it’s used, Napoleon discovered Frederick’s money was a stack of forgeries • Frederick attacks Animal Farm • Animals cower as he places dynamite at base of windmill, blowing it up • After that, animals attack Frederick & his men driving them off, but several animals are killed and Boxer is seriously injured • Disheartened, a patriotic flag raising ceremony lifts their spirits Chapter 8
• Pigs discover crate of whiskey in farmhouse basement • Animals hear singing & revelry later that night, followed by quarreling • Pigs look bleary eyed & sick, and rumors spread that Napoleon is dying – he recovers by that night • Next night, animals find Squealer near the barn holding a paint brush – he had fallen from a ladder near the Seven Commandments • “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess” • Animals can’t put two and two together Chapter 8
• Animals begin to see their sacrifices will not be rewarded • Quality of life continues to decline • Ruling class grows and consumes more luxuries • Boxer’s death symbolizes many evils of totalitarian rule and signifies downfall of Animal Farm • Boxer fell victim to his own virtue – hard work, loyalty, only fault was lack of ability to think • Pig leadership shows more treachery & hypocrisy • Boxer’s treatment underscores way the government treats all of its workers (Soviet leadership’s treatment of the working classes) • Napoleon brings back Moses (the church) to diffuse outrage • Spontaneous Demonstrations – What is the meaning/purpose? How are they ironic? • Control of information by leadership allow it to hide exploitation and animals have no choice but to follow because they have no power Chapter 9
• Animals again begin to rebuild windmill • Boxer remains seriously injured but refuses to stop working • Boxer wants to see the windmill get off to a good start before he retires (horses are allowed to retire at age 12) • Food grows more scarce – animals receive reduced rations (except pigs & dogs) • Spontaneous Demonstrations • Aren’t really spontaneous • Animals march around farm listening to speeches & exult in glory of Animal Farm • When other animals complain, sheep drown them out with chants of “Four legs good! Two legs bad!” Chapter 9
• Government declares Animal Farm a republic in April • Napoleon becomes president in unanimous vote (only candidate) • Leadership reveals new info about Snowball • Fought openly for Mr. Jones • Cried out “Long live humanity!” • Animals accept story • Moses returns and spreads stories of Sugarcandy Mountain • Boxer’s strength fails • Animals told he will be brought to human hospital, but cart arrives with glue maker on side for him to be slaughtered • He’s unable to escape – Squealer announces Boxer couldn’t be saved • Says Boxer died praising glories of Animal Farm • Squealer claims Boxer wasn’t taken to glue factory • Napoleon gives speech praising Boxer, relieving animals • Money from selling Boxer buys pigs more whiskey Chapter 9
• Pigs consolidate power - Totalitarian, Communist dictatorship overwhelms Democratic-Socialist ideal of Animal Farm • Napoleon & pigs have become identical to human farmers • Napoleon wants to be like the humans – oppressors • Animals remain naively hopeful • • Optimism vs. Harsh Reality shows drastic contrast Animal Farm has simply created new oppressors Manipulation of language as form of control “All Animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others” – defies logic Chapter 10
• New windmill completed and used to mill corn • Farm grows richer, but only pigs & dogs seem to benefit • Other animals never lose sense of pride in Animal Farm • Still believe in goals of Rebellion • Squealer & Napoleon seen walking on hind legs (like humans) • “Four legs good. Two legs better!” chanted by sheep • Only last commandment remains on barn, and it has changed: “All animals are created equal but some animals are more equal than others” • Pigs begin to wear human clothes and enjoy human luxuries Chapter 10
• Human farmers invited to inspect Animal Farm • Farmers praise pigs & express regret for past “misunderstandings” • Pilkington & Napoleon toast each other • Both have lower classes to contend with • Napoleon will change name back to Manor Farm & negotiate and work with human farms • Pigs and farmers return to card game • Pilkington & Napoleon argue over one cheating • Other animals unable to distinguish which are men and which are pigs any longer Chapter 10
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