Narration in Animal Farm By Mr Keough Ps

Narration in Animal Farm By Mr. Keough Ps. Your Welcome

The narrator is the person who relates the events of a story to a reader or audience. It is the lens through which we view the story and characters. • Three main types of narrator: • o First Person: The narrator is a character in the story – uses the first person “I” to tell the story. • o Third Person Limited: The narrator does not participate in the action of the story – relates the • thoughts and feelings of only one character. • o Third Person Omniscient: The ‘all knowing’ narrator does not participate in the action of the story, • however does relate thoughts and feelings of many different characters.

• Animal Farm is told from the third person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader to see into the minds of characters and gain a better understanding of their true opinions of the happenings of Animal Farm. • The narrator is a voice that has no part in the story, and tells the story of Animal Farm objectively.

• As a result, the reader is able to understand the true situation throughout the story, even while the animals have a limited view and/or do not understand what is happening. • One of successful aspects of Animal Farm is the neutral tone of the (mostly) unbiased narrator. • The narrator rarely makes judgments; they rarely take sides. The narrator mostly reports the events as one would report the news.

• This objectivity leaves the reader to make his/her own judgments, yet the way the plot is constructed, it is clear that the reader should ultimately see the point Orwell is trying to put across, without the narrator making assertions or stating opinions.

Chapter 1: Discussion ? ’s • Do you sympathize with the animals’ complaints and goals? Why or why not? • How is Old Major’s speech similar to any political speeches you have ever heard or studied?

Chapter 2: Important Points and Questions • We are told that the pigs are more intelligent than anyone else. o Discuss the issue of how with knowledge comes power / often the uneducated are at a disadvantage. • We get to know Boxer and Clover; they are stupid, but trusting and hard working. o Why does this not bode well for them? Should we blindly trust those in authority? • The Seven Commandments are designed. o What do we think of these? Are they fair? Why have they been chosen specifically? • The pigs steal the milk from the cows. o Yikes! Isn’t this a little suspicious? How does it go against communist principles?

Chapter 3: Important Points and Questions • Although the pigs do attempt to educate the other animals, they are not successful. o This resulting imbalance in knowledge has negative consequences. Do we ever see this happening in our own society? • The pigs simplify the principles into the one slogan: “Four legs good, two legs bad”. o Is this an oversimplification? How are slogans powerful? Can you think of any political slogans which have stuck in your mind? • We learn more about Mollie. She clearly enjoys the trappings of the past regime. o She represents the bourgeoisie. What do we think of her and Benjamin? • The pigs steal the milk AND apples now… o We can clearly see that their abuse of power is taking shape.

Chapter 4 • We are introduced to Mr Pilkington and Mr Frederick. o This is in line with the allegorical links to Russian history. Trotsky tried to establish communism as an international movement. • Snowball’s plans o We start to see the difference in leadership styles between Napoleon and Snowball. • The Battle and the prize o Don’t distinguished prizes go against principles of communism? And what about the fact that it was selfappointed?

Chapter 5 Mollie is in communication with the men on neighboring farms. o Mollie represents the bourgeois and those who weren’t interested in the ‘greater good’ of the revolution. They just cared about themselves and fled the country - like Mollie! We start to see the real differences between Snowball and Napoleon and their leadership styles. o Snowball is clearly the better public speaker, but Napoleon is cunning and doesn’t play fair (he literally pees on Snowball’s plans). • We finally find out what happened to the puppies…. o … and it’s not good. They represent the secret police (later the KGB) who Stalin used to carry out his dirty work. • Napoleon runs Snowball off the farm and is now in control. o Things change drastically. The democratic meetings are abolished and there is a clear shifting of power on the farm. • Squealer is used to placate the other animals. o Squealer represents ‘The Pravda’, and is the propaganda machine of the pigs.

Start filling in these tables. • You must do this in their groups of four – each person chooses 2 characters and researches them. • You must have your novels open, finding at least two quotes for each character. • When each person has made comprehensive notes on their 2 characters, give feedback to each other in their groups and all fill in all of the boxes.

Animal Farm vs History • • Old Major = Karl Marx Mr. Jones= Czar Nicholas II Napoleon= Joseph Stalin Snowball= Leon Trotsky Squealer= Propaganda Department Boxer= Working Class Moses= Religion Mollie= Czar Supporter

Activator Chapters 6+7 • Constructive opposition and criticism are important to the working of democracy. Is Napoleon's opposition to Snowball's ideas constructive or simply confrontational and negative? Is political discussion in this country constructive or confrontational?

Examples • http: //thedailyshow. cc. com/videos/0 cerfn/the-obamacareapocalypse • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Lfg. SEwj. Aeno

Chapter 6 • Although work on the windmill was voluntary, how does Napoleon ensure that all work on it? Why are the animals still happy to do the extra? • A smear campaign is begun against Snowball. What are things he is accused of doing? Was he guilty of any of these accusations? • What arguments are advanced by Squealer to justify the pigs’ sleeping in beds? • Why does the windmill fall down in the storm? Why does Napoleon blame Snowball?

Chapter 6 • The animals work like slaves. o Isn’t this ironic? They rebelled so that they would be free. Although, is it different when you are working for yourselves rather than for someone else to benefit? • Napoleon hires Mr Whymper the solicitor. o Doesn’t this go against one of the founding principles of animalism? Working with humans? We start to see Napoleon is seriously moving away from their ideals. • Squealer carries on blatantly lying to the other animals. o You have to start to wonder how it is possibly they keep believing his lies. This shows the power that comes with intelligence and the danger of being uneducated. • The pigs move into the farmhouse. o Another departure from the original commandments; they have literally been rewritten. Things really are deteriorating on the farm. • The windmill is blown down… o. . . and Snowball is blamed. Snowball becomes a convenient scapegoat for Napoleon. He can blame any of his own failures on Snowball and deflect attention from his own corruption.

Chapter 7 • Why is it "vitally necessary" to conceal from the outside world the poor conditions on the farm? • In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public… Why does Napoleon withdraw from day to day contact with the other animals? • How is the revolt of the hens dealt with? • What is the point of the incident of the confessions, where those who confess to association with Snowball are slaughtered? Are they guilty?

Chapter 7 • The animals are really starting to feel the pressure o Only Boxer and clover keep working. ‘They were always cold, and usually hungry as well. ’ • Squealer carries on making his ‘excellent speeches’… o … but it’s Boxer and his cry of ‘I will work harder’ which keeps the animals inspired. • Napoleon fools Mr. Whymper o Here we see further evidence of Napoleon’s intelligence and cunning. This is a clear example of propaganda. • Snowball is, once again, used as a scapegoat o Squealer is very cunning in the way he even starts to alter the animals’ memories – ‘that they had remembered, or thought they remembered’. • The ‘confessions’ o This episode is horrific and confusing. However, it links historically to the mock trials in Russia where people were forced to ‘confess’ to things they never did, because they were threatened to do so. It is a show of Napoleon’s violence and tyrannical power. • ‘The Beasts of England’ is banned o This song was a revolutionary song and it stirred the animals up for rebellion in the first place – Napoleon definitely wouldn’t want that happening again, so it is understandable why he bans the song.

In your Groups! Answer the questions! • The first part of the novel – the exposition – will usually prepare us for the conflicts and problems the main character will face, and perhaps indicate or hint at what might cause more conflicts later. • Think about the first chapter. What conflicts have been established so far? • Which of the conflicts you have listed are the most significant as the story progresses? • How are these conflicts resolved by the end of the novel? • In what ways is this novel different from usual in the types of conflicts depicted and the way in which they are depicted?

What’s in a name? Napoleon – Napoleon Bonaparte was a revolutionary leader of France. Many would argue he was tyrannical in his leadership. Hence it is fitting to name this dictator on the farm, after him. Snowball – Napoleon is described as physically darker than Snowball. Therefore, snow being white, adds to the light/dark, good/evil metaphor. Mr. Jones – Jones is a very common name, therefore he could symbolize man in general. Boxer – A boxer is physically very strong, this is appropriate as the character is the most hardworking animal on the farm and displays extreme strength. Mollie – This is a pretty, dainty name and it suits the character well. Mollie is vain and is attracted by ribbons and sugar cubes. Moses – Moses is a biblical name, a man who was seen as a religious leader and prophet. This is fitting as the raven is always trying to tell the animals about ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’. Mr. Wymper – To whimper means to snivel, which is appropriate as Mr Whymer is a sly and simpering lackey for Napoleon. Squealer – An appropriate name for one who ‘squeals’ (the sound a pig makes), in that he is the voice of the pigs, their propaganda machine. The Sheep – They aren’t named because the represent the unthinking mass. They’re easily brainwashed & bleat what they are taught.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE AND COMMENT ON FROM CHAPTER 8: • The rules are changing… o … literally! Somebody (Squealer) is rewriting the commandments to serve the purposes of the pigs. Sadly, the animals are fooled by this and do not see through the cunning of the pigs. • Squealer carries on with his propaganda o We see he uses statistics to confuse and convince the animals. How often do people do this? Use ‘facts’, statistics and research to back up their points, yet we must be careful – the numbers can easily be manipulated to prove whatever you want them to prove. • Napoleon is definitely no longer ‘one of the animals’ o He is clearly setting himself apart and distinguishing himself as superior. He even changes the way he is addressed – very emotive titles: ‘protector…’ / ‘father’ / ‘friend’ – are they true & fitting? • Songs and poems are written about Napoleon o Again, all part of the propaganda machine. This poem is also wonderfully satirical of patriotic rhetoric (there is a worksheet on this poem linked to this lesson plan). • The dealings with the neighboring farms o This parodies Stalin’s dealings with England Germany during WW II.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE AND COMMENT ON FROM CHAPTER 9: • The food supplies continue to diminish o Although Squealer still manages to ‘fudge’ the numbers. • Napoleon orders ‘Spontaneous Demonstrations’ o These demonstrations include marching, speeches, and praise of the glory of Animal Farm. This all sound suspiciously like brainwashing tactics, doesn’t it? . • Napoleon becomes president of the republic o Was this a free and fair election? What does this say about the type of political system of the farm? (Think back to the early lesson on types of political systems. ) • Boxer is sent to the glue factory o This episode is tragic. Not only are the animals blindly lied to and hoodwinked by the pigs (again!), but Boxer, the loyal and hardworking one, is totally betrayed by the pigs. It is heart-breaking and we can almost see Boxer and his fate, as a sad indication of the rotten state of the farm, and how far they have fallen from the ideals laid out by Old Major. • The pigs are now buying whiskey o This is serious ‘misappropriation of funds’ when the animals are practically starving. Can you think of examples of this in current affairs or history?

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE AND COMMENT ON FROM CHAPTER 10: • Years pass, and the farm seems to be doing well o Yet it is only the pigs and the dogs who seem to benefit at all. • The pigs start walking on two legs o This is a complete departure from the original commandments and a shocking development for the animals – it is a distinctly ‘human’ characteristic. • The pigs wear clothes, listen to the radio, smoking pipes… o … all things which were symbolic of human ways. • The commandments are completely changed o The commandments are reduced to: ‘All animals are equal but some are more equal than others’ – obviously this is hugely representative of how far they have departed from equality. The nonsensical nature of it signifies the complete corruption on the farm, and the ability that those in power have, to manipulate language to confuse and deceive. • The pigs and the human interact and socialise o This is a chilling end to the novel, and the way Orwell sets it up is poignant – the animals one the outside, looking in – totally powerless. The fact that they can no longer tell the difference between the pigs and the humans just represents how far the pigs have departed from their ideals, and they have become the exact people they fought against in the beginning – it is a sad tale.