Animal Farm Chapters 7 8 SummaryAnalysis Chapter 7

Animal Farm Chapters 7 -8 Summary/Analysis

Chapter 7 Summary • Harsh winter w/ food shortage – Animals are misled • Humans don’t believe Snowball ruined wall-rebuilt at 3’ thick • Egg shortage- increased export/morally wrong – Hens rebel and 9 die • Snowball’s supposed visits to farm- Everything blamed on him – ‘Tied’ to Pinchfield (associate of Mr. Jones) – Battle of Cowshed bravery taken away and used against him Napoleon’s battle bravery is hyped up – Squealer’s persuasion makes them believe • Napoleon stages a purge and takes more power – Pigs are forced to falsely confess to conspiracy w/ Snowball • They are said to be ‘Trotskyists’ and immediately killed p 91/92 • Boxer stands up for the animals-Napoleon immediately stops Boxer • Egg rebellion confession- 3 more hens killed

Chapter 7 Summary (Continued) • Boxer’s explanation of problem at hand – The fault is our own = WORK HARDER • Clover wonders how farm could have gotten like it is – Animals not smart enough to figure it out • Squealer: “No more beasts of England” – Song only applies to the rebellion-no need for rebellion now • New song with no inspiration – “Animal Farm. . . ”- Glorifies the situation

Chapter 7 Analysis • Stalin’s 5 year plan for agriculture resulted in starvation of millions – Industrial production was also down • Violent tactics of oppressive governments – Massive class divisions in egalitarian/true communist society • Stalin also had ‘show trials’ (trials w/ preset outcome) – Forced people to admit Trotskyism – People tortured until admission then executed • Stalin kept a common enemy- Trotsky – Create fear for people-no one challenged his rule • Manipulated statistics- illusion that all is good/better • Fear installed b/c people believe propaganda • An indestructible dictatorship formed-far from communism

Chapter 8 Summary No kill commandment is changed to “. . . w/out cause” Animals work harder to rebuild windmill Very cold winter with famine Napoleon takes title of “Leader” Minimus writes a poem on barn praising Napoleon Controversy between Frederick and Pilkington w/ firewood Windmill is finished-Mr. F. and men blow it up – Several animals are killed/Boxer is injured • Pigs get drunk • Squealer caught w/ paint brush (changing commandments) – Animals not smart enough to figure it out • Alcohol Commandment Changed to “. . . In excess” • •

Chapter 8 Analysis • Overall idea of manipulated rules and govt. to benefit the politically and militaristic powers • Minimus’s Poem: great irony/satire of patriotic rhetoric – Creates a misdirection (propaganda) for the public • Pilkington vs. Frederick Incident – Russia/Stalin’s back and forth nature of siding with Germany and then the Allies at the outset of WWII – @ last moment, Stalin signs a non-aggression pact with Hitler – Hitler (Frederick) betrays his word and invades Western Russia killing 25 million Russians and destroying much of the infrastructure built up during the Russian Revolution – This is known as the Battle of Stalingrad