CHAPTER VIII REVIEW OF ANIMAL FARM BY LUKE

CHAPTER VIII REVIEW OF ANIMAL FARM BY: LUKE SMITH &ALEX CORTES

Summary • • • Chapter VIII begins with a dark cloud of fear looming over Animal Farm. Animals upon animals had been murdered only a few days earlier, their necks ripped out by Napoleon’s ferocious dogs. A few animals faintly remember that the sixth commandment stated that no animal shall kill another animal. Coincidentally all of the animals are incorrect, as it clearly states that no animal shall kill another without reason. Napoleon is no longer just Napoleon, he is Leader, or Comrade Napoleon. Leader Napoleon is always spoken of in a good light, especially by Squealer. His speeches always speak of his kind ways, and the goodness of his heart. The mood at Animal Farm dives deeper into the depths of sadness with the destruction of their beloved windmill at the hands of Frederick. At the sight of the windmill in ruins, the animals charge in an adrenaline and rage fueled onslaught. The animals are disheartened at the loss of the windmill, yet Squealer declares “The Battle of the Windmill” a great victory, for they had driven off the intruding force of humans. A few days later, the pigs are seen celebrating with alcohol in quite a human fashion.

Quotes • “It ran: No animal shall kill another animal without cause. ” “Somehow or another the last two words had slipped from the animals’ memory. This quote shows that the pigs are manipulating the other animals lack of long term memory, and changing the laws in their advantage. • “Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as Napoleon. He was always referred to in formal style as “our leader, Comrade Napoleon. ” • “…the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon’s birthday, as well as on the other two anniversaries. ” These quotes tell the reader that Napoleon has officially proclaimed himself as better than all the other animals. • “In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that, inspired by Snowball, they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. ” This excerpt shows that Napoleon’s tactics of using fear to oppress the animals and to use Snowball as a scapegoat are working extremely well, and also shows that the tactics are keeping the farm under Napoleon’s hoof, so to speak.

Questions • What purpose is served by the production figures Squealer reads to the animals? The purpose is to convince them that everything is going amazingly, and that things are so much better than when Jones ruled. • Why are the animals so easily fooled, even when they find Squealer with a ladder and white paint beside the barn at night? They are not properly educated, and could not “put two and two together”, and were left wondering what happened.