Animal Farm Chapter 1 summary and characters

Seite 1

Summary

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

The story takes place on a farm somewhere in England. The story is told by an all-knowing narrator in the third person. The action of this novel starts when the oldest pig on the farm, Old Major, calls all animals to a secret meeting. He tells them about his dream of a revolution against the cruel Mr Jones. Old Major has a dream that the animals should take over the farm and share the wealth and resources amongst all the animals for a fair and equal society.

The chapter ends with a song that Old Major has composed where he sets out an idealistic vision where animals across the world are no longer oppressed by humans and are in charge of the land. As all the animals of the farm begin to learn the song, they keep singing it which wakes Mr. Jones who shoots his shotgun out into the dark believing the noise of the animals to be the result of a fox in the farmyard.

Characters

The majority of the main characters are introduced within the first chapter of the novella. Match the name and breed of animal to the quotations below.

“He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout but he was a majestic looking pig with a wise and benevolent appearance.” – Karl Marx

“He was a large, rather fierce looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker but with a reputation for getting his own way.” – Stalin the dictator

“A more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but he was not thought to have the same depth of character.” Lenin

“a stout motherly mare approaching middle life. She had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal” The Workers

“An enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together. A white stripe down his nose gave him somewhat stupid appearance but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work.” The Workers

“The oldest animal on the farm and the worst tempered. He seldom talked and when he did it was usually to make some cynical remark. Nevertheless, he was devoted to Boxer.” The cynics/opponents of Communism

“could read somewhat better than the dogs and sometimes used to read to the others …” educated supporter of Communism

“She began flirting her white mane hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with.” Lazy

“He was Mr Jones’ especial pet, was a spy and a tale bearer, but he was also a clever talker. The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did not work.”

“A small, fat pig with very round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble movements and a shrill voice. He was a brilliant talker, and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail, which was somehow very persuasive.” Trotsky

Moses the raven Muriel the goat Benjamin the donkey Mollie

Boxer Clover Old Major Squealer Snowball Napoleon

Old Major’s Speech

A rhetorical device is the technique of using language to convey an opinion in a persuasive manner.

Rhetorical Question – “If we do not stop using so much fossil fuels, will there be a planet left for future generations?”

Emotive Language – “Imagine being in their position; destitute and sick.”

Sound Patterns –

Use Alliteration “The cold, calculating and callous cretins will not stop unless we do something.”

Use Assonance “This would be a fine time to finish.”

Description and Imagery – (simile, metaphor, word choice and personification)

“Delay any further and it would be like World War III.”

The ‘rule of three’ – “I ask you; is this just, right or fair?”

Hyperbole – “This has been proven a million times before not to work.”

Reading back through Old Major’s speech, pick out one example for each of the rhetorical devices and label it.

Questions

1. According to Major, what is the cause of all the animals’ problems?

2. Using your own words as far as possible, what does Old Major suggest the animals do in order to be free?

3. Using your own words as far as possible, explain what Old Major means when he states “The soil of England is fertile, its climate is good, it is capable of affording in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals that now inhabit it.”

4. Re-read ‘Beasts of England’. Summarise what each verse of the song means.

Old Major as Karl Marx – The role of Allegory

Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels printed the ‘Communist Manifesto’ in 1848 to highlight ongoing class struggle seen across much of Europe and the problems of capitalism* and a prediction of what could happen if communism was adopted as a political system.

In addition, it features the idea that capitalism will be replaced by socialism and eventually communism.

The second section of the manifesto ends with a short list of demands to encourage a classless and equal society including:

* the abolition of land ownership by private owners

* making all people liable to labour

* free education for all children

* all food and resources to be shared.

The manifesto believed that the role of the worker was to lead the ‘revolution’ and to overthrow the current ruling classes.

Task – Using evidence from Old Major’s speech, show how the character of Old Major makes a similar set of demands as the manifesto to encourage a revolution.

*Capitalism – where a country’s rich control the industry and trade for profit and not the state/government.

Summary

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

Three days later Major dies, but the speech gives the more intelligent animals a new outlook on life. The pigs, who are considered the most intelligent animals, instruct the other ones. During the period of preparation two pigs distinguish themselves, Napoleon and Snowball. Together with another pig called Squealer, who is a very good speaker, they work out the theory of "Animalism".

The revolution starts some months later, when Mr Jones comes home drunk one night and forgets to feed the animals. They break out of the barns and run to the house, where the food is stored. When Mr Jones sees this he takes out his shotgun, but it is too late for him; all the animals trample over him and drive him off the farm. The animals destroy all instruments that have been used to suppress them.

The same day the animals celebrate their victory with an extra ration of food. The pigs make up the seven commandments, and they write them above the door of the big barn. They run thus:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.

2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings is a friend.

3. No animal shall wear clothes.

4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.

5. No animal shall drink alcohol.

6. No animal shall kill another animal.

7. All animals are equal.

The animals also agree that no animal shall ever enter the farmhouse, and that no animal shall have contact with humans.

Before beginning

the harvest the cows need to be milked. Napoleon volunteers and while the others are in the field he drinks the milk.

Foreshadowing

In chapter one when Old Major is making his speech the animals take their seats and it is noted that:

“First came the three dogs… and then the pigs who settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform.”

1. How does this give an indication that the Communist ideal that Old Major proposes may be difficult to achieve?

2. Find two more examples from the first two chapters that show that Communism will not work and explain why you have come to this conclusion.

The Pigs

For each of the two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, pick three adjectives from the list below and pick out evidence from the text that show this. You may use the same adjective to describe both pigs.

Essay Writing Skills – Homework 1

An effective introduction requires:

* Title of the text studied

* The name of the writer or director

* reference to the question – reword the question to fit your introduction.

e.g.

In the novel, ‘Kidnapped’, Robert Louis Stevenson creates the fascinating character of Alan Breck Stewart through his use of characterisation and his portrayal of the key themes of honour, loyalty and friendship.

The title of the text is __________________________________________________

The writer of the text was ______________________________________________

The question set was ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

TASK - Write an introduction for both of the questions appropriate for ‘Animal Farm’ below on lined paper.

“Choose a novel or short story in which foreshadowing of future events is an important feature. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the authors use of foreshadowing is presented and how it impacts our understanding of the text.”

“Choose a novel or a short story in which the author creates a fascinating character.

By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the author has created this

character and why you found him/her so fascinating.”

Summary

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

The animals begin the harvest, and with the pigs ingenious solutions to the practicalities of animals harvesting, they exceed all previous year’s harvest.

With the notable exception of Mollie and the cat, all animals work hard to complete the tasks of harvest with the pigs leading and explaining what to do. Boxer is seen to be the hardest worker and adopts ‘I will work harder!’ as his personal motto.

The new flag is unveiled with a green background to represent the fields and the white hoof and horn to represent the animals. After each flag raising ceremony, the animals gather to debate and set new policies. Snowball and Napoleon are the loudest speakers and often disagree.

Snowball establishes several committees with the aim to improve the animal’s welfare and whilst most committees fail, his reading and literacy scheme is deemed a success. As some animals cannot remember the seven commandments, Snowball reduces them to one maxim: “Four legs good, two legs bad.”

Napoleon does not take part in Snowball’s committees and when Jessie and Bluebell have puppies, he takes them away to train them in the barn loft.

Around this time, the animals discover the pigs are taking all the milk and apples to eat themselves but Squealer persuades the animals that they are needed for the pigs’ brains.

The Pigs

Add to your notes on the pigs by choosing three adjectives from the box below for the three pigs and find evidence from the text to justify it.

Find three examples of rhetorical devices that Squealer uses in his speech at the end of the third chapter and write them down.

Summary

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

Napoleon and Snowball has sent out pigeons to spread the word of Animalism on neighbouring farms. The rumours of ‘Animal Farm’ encourage other animals to start displaying disobedience to their farm owners.

Mr. Jones sits getting drunk whilst the owners of the two adjacent farms initially dismiss what is happening on ‘Animal Farm’. However, they are compelled to spread wild rumours after witnessing their own animals changed behaviour.

The three farmers unite to try and reclaim ‘Animal Farm’ and march on carrying weapons. The pigeons carry the news of the impending ‘invasion’ to the animals who organise themselves under the command of Snowball who has read a book on the military tactics of Julius Caesar.

In the skirmish Mr. Jones shoots dead a sheep and injures Snowball who has led the charge against the farmers. Snowball’s tactics mean that the farmers are vanquished with minimal casualties. Boxer is extremely distraught as he believes he has killed one of the farmhands and Snowball reassures him that this happens in war.

The animals celebrate their victory.

Allegory

Find evidence from the text that shows the use of allegory throughout chapter 4 of ‘Animal Farm’ and match them to the historical events and real world leaders.

* Russia encourages other countries to adopt communism through propaganda

* Other countries try to discredit communism

* Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi party (untrustworthy, cruel etc.)

* Winston Churchill, leader of capitalist Britain

* Russians and foreign governments unsuccessfully fought Lenin/Stalin/Trotsky government in the October Revolution

Snowball

In chapter four, Snowball is shown not just to be a great orator (speaker) but a great military leader too.

It is important, in light of what transpires later on in the book, that detailed notes of Snowball’s actions are taken.

You are to make a detailed timeline of the Battle of the Cowshed with evidence from the text of Snowball’s actions including:

* How he planned for the attack

* How he led the charge

* How he was involved in the battle

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

Mollie is increasingly a burden on the farm; arriving late for work and accepting treats from the adjacent farms’ workers. This is against the doctrines of Animal Farm and eventually disappears only to be spotted pulling a cart and accepting treats from a publican. Her name is not mentioned by the other animals on the farm.

Snowball and Napoleon’s arguments come to a head over the proposed building of a windmill with Snowball proving to be the better speaker and debater with Napoleon gaining support through canvassing between meetings. Snowball argues that the technology would allow the farm to generate electricity and ease manual labour. Napoleon vehemently disagrees as he believes the hard work would get in the way of planting crops to provide enough food for the farm. Napoleon goes as far to urinate on Snowball’s windmill plans to show his disdain

Snowball presents his finalised plans at a meeting in the barn with a passionate speech to which Napoleon gives a brief and uninspiring retort. As Snowball continues to gain the animals votes on the windmill project, Napoleon lets out a whine and nine savage dogs chase Snowball off the farm at the command of Napoleon.

Napoleon announces a regime change where the pigs will decide all and he is making a sacrifice in taking leadership responsibilities. Confused by this, the animals question the exile of Snowball. Squealer persuades the animals to agree that ‘Napoleon is always right’, that Snowball’s efforts in the Battle of the Barn where greatly exaggerated and that Napoleon wanted to build the windmill all along. The dogs’ growls help to accept all this without question.

The Pigs

Add to your notes on the pigs by choosing three adjectives from the box below for the three pigs and find evidence from the text to justify it.

Snowball

Persuasive – ‘Snowball’s eloquence had carried them away’

Intelligent – ‘within a few weeks Snowball’s plans… were worked out’

Articulate – ‘Snowball often won over the majority with his brilliant speeches’

Admired – ‘They listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures’

Napoleon

Devious – training the puppies to be his guard

Tough – ‘what the animals should be doing… is training themselves with guns’

Blatant – ‘suddenly he lifted his leg and urinated on the plans’

Squealer

Persuasive – ‘tactics Comrades, tactics’

Forceful – ‘Loyalty and obedience are more important’

Dishonest – ‘here Squealer looked very sly’

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

The animals work 60 hour weeks in an attempt to build the windmill, which is proving to be back breaking work.

The pigs explain to the other animals that they have to trade with the neighbouring farms. The common animals are very upset, because since the revolution there has been a resolution that no animal shall trade with a human. But the pigs ensure them that there never has been such a resolution, and that this was an evil lie of Snowball.

Shortly after this decision the pigs move to the farmhouse. The other animals remember that there is a commandment that forbids sleeping in beds, and so they go to the big barn to look at the commandments. When they arrive there they can't believe their eyes, the fourth commandment has been changed to: "No animal shall sleep in bed with sheets". And the other commandments have also been changed: "No animal shall kill another animal without reason", and "No animal shall drink alcohol in excess".

Some months later a heavy storm destroys the windmill, which is nearly finished. Napoleon accuses Snowball of destroying the mill, and he promises a reward to the animal that gets Snowball of ‘Animal Hero: Second Class’.

Questions on Chapter 5

1. How does Squealer persuade the animals that ‘Napoleon is always right’?

2. What methods does Napoleon use to maintain his position once Snowball has fled?

3. Why does Mollie leave?

4. Orwell says that Squealer’s argument was ‘unanswerable’. Do you think it was? Why?

Questions on Chapter 6

5. ‘All that year the animals worked like slaves’. Explain the comparison.

6. Why does Boxer resolve to work harder than ever?

7. What difficulties did the animals experience in building the windmill?

8. How does Squealer convince the others that Mr. Whymper’s involvement is necessary?

9. What does the pigs moving into the farmhouse represent?

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

During an incredibly hard winter, the animals face starvation as the outside world waits for news of the farm’s failure. Napoleon employs Mr. Whymper to spread tales of the farm’s sufficiency to the human world in an effort to avoid invasion.

The hens are told to give up their eggs for sale and demonstrate against this. Only after some die of starvation do they give up their eggs for sale.

Squealer and Napoleon spread word that Snowball has been visiting the farm and subverting their labour. Squealer tells the farm that Snowball has sold himself to Frederick and that he was in league with Mr. Jones from the start.

One day in spring, Napoleon calls a meeting of the animals, during which he forces confessions from all those that have questioned him – the four pigs from chapters 5 and 6 and the three hens who lead the demonstration – and has them executed in the farmyard by the dogs.

Eventually, the singing of ‘Beasts of England’ is banned and a new song by the poet pig Minimus is adopted. The animals find the song less meaningful than their previous anthem.

The Pigs

Make notes on the lies and propaganda that Squealer and Napoleon promote throughout this chapter, adding to your notes on the character.

Include notes on:

* Their actions

* Their lies

* The propaganda they spread and what reason they have for doing so

Animalism

What are the key points in this chapter that show that the realities of Napoleon’s leadership has lost the true meaning of what the animals rebelled for?

Why do the dogs attack Boxer and what does this represent?

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

After the executions, the commandment now reads “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause” and the animals believe that their memories must be faulty and forgot the final two words.

Napoleon adopts the title ‘Leader’ and a dozen other complimentary titles and Minimus paints a poem on the side of the barn proclaiming Napoleon to be a great leader.

Napoleon organises the sale of timber between Frederick and Pilkington. Each time one farmer appears ready to buy the timber, Squealer has the animals hate the other and claim that Snowball was hiding on their farm. Eventually, the timber is sold to Frederick but it turns out the five pound note is a forgery. Frederick then attacks the windmill and destroys it with dynamite. Several animals are killed and Boxer is seriously injured.

Soon after the pigs find whisky in the basement, and that night, the animals hear merriment. The pigs appear to be suffering from the effects of the whisky the next day and that night, Squealer is found at the bottom of the ladder by the barn with a paint brush in his trotters. The commandment about animals not drinking now reads “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess”.

1. What purpose is served by the production figures Squealer reads to the animals?

2. How is Napoleon becoming more and more like a typical dictator?

3. Compare/contrast the poem “Comrade Napoleon” to “Beast of England.”

* What are the main differences in terms of the content?

* What is the message of each poem?

* Why does this change happen?

The Pigs

Add to your notes on the pigs including how they are now acting at this point within the novel.

The Setting

What does the harsh winter that the farm experiences suggest about what happened in Russia before the Second World War?

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

Rebuilding the windmill begins and it is evident that Boxer is now struggling with the work and looking forward to retirement.

Food grows even scarcer though the pigs and dogs still receive larger rations. Squealer continues to produce statistics proving that, even with this ‘readjustment’, the animals still have more food than when owned by Mr. Jones. Squealer states that the pigs and dogs need the extra nourishment for the sake of the whole community.

Animals begin to complain about the conditions but are always drowned out by the sheep chanting ‘Four legs good, two legs bad!’.

In April, Animal Farm is declared a republic and Napoleon wins the presidential election – he is the only candidate. On the same day, new evidence comes to light that Snowball’s involvement with the Battle of the Cowshed was that he fought on the side of the humans and cried “Long live Humanity!” whilst charging into battle.

Boxer’s health deteriorates and the pigs announce that they will send him to a hospital. When the cart arrives, Benjamin reads the sign on the cart and announces that Boxer is being taken to a glue makers to be killed. The animals cry out to Boxer to escape and they hear his feeble attempts to escape as he is carted away. The pigs claim that Boxer was in fact being taken to hospital and that the cart was bought from a glue maker’s factory for the hospital. That night the pigs appear to have enough money to buy a crate of whisky.

Boxer's Death

The death of boxer marks a particularly tragic point within the novel. Make notes on how Orwell creates a tense and dramatic scene from the point where the pigeons carry the news of Boxer's collapse. Include:

o Imagery to show Boxer finally beaten

o Sentence structure/Punctuation to show the panic of the other animals

o Word Choice to show sympathy for Boxer

o Word Choice linked to violence and death

The Pigs

Make a note of three lies that the pigs tell during this chapter and the effect that this has on the novel.

Make notes on the summary from the following information:

After many year, those animals that have not died of old age recall the days before the Rebellion which is now a ‘dim tradition’. Whilst the animals accepted what Clover told them of the Rebellion, few animals understood the concepts or ideals behind it.

The farm is prosperous and well organised with the new windmill powering a corn mill instead of generating electricity. The dreams of electric lights and heaters for the animals’ stalls have faded and Napoleon states that hard work and living sparingly was the best way to live. Though the farm is richer, the Common Animals see little change in wealth, conditions or rations as the pigs and dogs prosper and appear to complete little work.

Squealer takes the sheep off for the day in summer to be under his supervision and that night the animals are shocked to see Squealer and the rest of the pigs walking on their hind legs. Napoleon carried a whip in his trotter and before the animals can react the sheep start chanting ‘Four legs good, two legs better!’. The final commandment on the barn wall reads ‘all animals are equal’ but with the addition ‘but some animals are more equal than others’. The pigs listen to the radio, read magazines and begin to wear clothes.

One day, the neighbouring farms’ owners arrive to inspect Animal Farm and show their admiration of how they have optimised production whilst handing out less food than other farms. Pilkington adds that he wishes to adopt similar strategies on his farm. Napoleon assures his guests that the pigs never wished to quarrel with the humans and wants to conduct business in a peaceful manner.

The animals no longer address each other as ‘Comrade’, pay homage to Old Major or salute the flag. These customs have been recently outlawed. The farm’s title now reverts to Manor Farm also.

That night, the pigs and farmers play cards and an argument erupts when Napoleon and Pilkington both play the ace of spades, and accuses each other or cheating. The watching animals can no longer tell which cardplayers are pigs and which are human.

Questions

1. How do the animals feel about their social order?

2. How does Orwell show that by the end of the novel, the animals realise that things have not changed for the better?

The Pigs

Make notes on the final transformation of the pigs and the effect that this has on the novel – who do they represent, has anything really changed on the farm? Etc.

Themes: an idea or aspect of life that is present in writing developed through language, characterisation, narrative and irony.

* His attitude towards Boxer potentially killing a human

Themes: an idea or aspect of life that is present in writing developed through language, characterisation, narrative and irony.Greed

" ‘Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.’ " Chapter 1

“ ‘Never mind the milk, comrades,’ cried Napoleon, placing himself in front of the buckets. ‘That will be attended to…I shall follow in a few minutes. Forward, comrades! The hay is waiting.’ …when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared.” Chapter 2

“The word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.” Chapter 9

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” Chapter 10

Leaders and followers

“Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted on to oppose it.” Chapter3

“The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogans, ‘Vote for Snowball and the three-day week’ and ‘Vote for Napoleon and the full manger’.” Chapter 5

“often as they lay in the field they would all start bleating ‘Four legs good, two legs bad!’” Chapter 3

“Then there came a moment when the first shock had worn off and when, in spite of everything … they might have uttered some word of protest. But just at that moment, as though at a signal, all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of – ‘Four legs good, two legs better!’” Chapter 10

“ ‘I will work Harder… Napoleon is always right’ “ Chapter 7

For the following themes, use your notes and the novella to find three quotations to illustrate each theme:

Betrayal

1.

2.

3.

Propaganda and communication

1.

2.

3.

Structure

One way of analysing the narrative structure of a text was developed by a German academic named Gustav Freytag. He developed a way of recording any narrative from any text in a way that would be simple to deconstruct.

Rising action

In the rising action, a series of related incidents build toward the point of greatest interest. The rising action of a story is the series of events that begin immediately after the exposition (introduction) of the story and builds up to the climax. These events are generally the most important parts of the story since the entire plot depends on them to set up the climax, and ultimately the satisfactory resolution of the story itself.

Falling action

During the falling action, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist unravels, with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist. The falling action may contain a moment of final suspense, in which the final outcome of the conflict is in doubt.

Task – Complete the Freytag Pyramid Diagram worksheet including events from the novella to illustrate the structure.