Animal Farm Individual Chapters

Chapter 6: Key Scene

"'Comerades,' he said quietly, 'do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!' he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder. 'Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set our plans and avenge himself for his ignominigious expulsion. This tratior has crept here under cover of night and destyoed our work of nearly a year. Comerades, here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball." These parts of the book show the realization of the animals. They start to realize that Napoleon is abusing the commandments and acting like a selfish human, such as Jones. In this scene, it shows the dominace and misuse of power that Napoleon is using in this chapter. It also shows how controlling and power hungry he is, and how unwavering he is to make sure he covers up his mistakes by using Snowball.

Chapter 6: Vocabulary

"Mr Whymper , a solicitor from living in Willingdon, agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world, and would visit the farm every Monday to recieve instructions." (Orwell 45) Intermediary (noun): acting as a go between or a mediator, a middle man.

Chapter 3: Key Scene

"The Pigs had set aside the harness-room as a headquarters for themselves. Here, in the evening, they studied blacksmithing, carpentering, and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. Snowball also busied himself with organising the other animals into what he called Animal Committees. He was indefatigable at this. He formed the Egg Production Committee for the hens, the Clean Tails league for the cows, the Wild Comrades' Re-education Committee (the object of this was to tame the rats and rabbits), the Whiter Wool Movement for the sheep, and various others, besides institution classes in reading and writing. On the whole, these projects were a failure."(Orwell 31). This quote is the key scene of the chapter because it shows many key and main ideas. It shows how all the animals are working hard and together, all doing their own parts. It also shows how that the pigs are already setting themselves apart from and above the other animals, although Snowball really is working hard to make this system, animalism, work, but it is already doomed to fail.

Chapter 10: Summary

After many years, most of the original animals of the rebellion are dead, as well as Mr. Jones. The farm has grown rich, but with the exception of the pigs and dogs, the animals are still the same as before. One day, Squealer takes the sheep with him to the fields. The sheep don't return for a week, and when they do return, the animals find the pigs teaching themselves to walk. Then, instead of the sheep bleating their usual chant of "four legs good, two legs bad", they chant "four legs good, two legs better." Benjamin, puzzled by this, asks Clover to read what the 7 commandments say. However, instead of 7, only 1 remains, "All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others." The pigs soon begin wearing clothes, and becoming more human like by expanding trade and business deals. The animals toil away in fear of the pigs, who now carry whips. Later, when the pigs are dining with Mr. Pilkington and other humans, Napoleon announces that he is changing the farm's name back to Manor Farm. It is then that the other animals truly realize that there is now no difference between the pigs and the humans.

Chapter 1: Summary

Animal Farm begins by introducing a drunken, irresponsible man named Mr. Jones (owner of Manor Farm) doing an awful job caring for his farm and animals. Fortunately, there's a wise animal to look to for guidance on the farm: and superior, elderly pig named Old Major. Old Major addresses the other animals as his comrades, and gives speech. Old Major encourages the neglected animals to rebel against the humans and run the farm themselves. He includes rules that the animals can follow, which will lead to the basic principles of Animalism. Old Major emphasizes the idea of equality for all, which appeals among the animals. At the end of the chapter, Mr. Jones is awakened in the middle of the night and fires into the darkness, when all the animals fled and went to sleep.

Chapter 3: Vocabulary

Cryptic: Definition: Having a meaning that is suspicious or obscure. Example: "None of you has ever seen a dead donkey," and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer" Orwell uses the word cryptic to show that some animals secretly don't completely agree with this new system of animalism.

Chapter 10: Vocabulary

Definition: Sullen or ill tempered "Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever, except for being a little greyer about the muzzle, and, since Boxer's death, more morose and taciturn than ever." The word is used in the text to describe Benjamin's mood.The author uses the word negatively to show the readers how Benjamin feels ill tempered about the way things are run at Animal Farm.

Chapter 8: Summary

In Chapter 8, Napoleon begins to utilize propaganda to its fullest extent, even altering the Commandments of Animalism to justify his executions. He then approves a poem in his honor to be painted onto the same wall as the Commandments. During a ferocious battle, the humans blow up the windmill, which took two years of strenuous labor to build. Napoleon uses Squealer and other propaganda tools to make it seem like the animals have won a great victory under his leadership, even though the it was really just chasing the humans off of the farm after the animals had already lost.

Chapter 6: Summary

In chapter 6 of Animal Farm, Napoleon begins changing the commandments that the animals lived by. He did this only to benefit himself, and to cover up his past mistakes. For example, the pigs could now sleep in beds, as long as there were no sheets, whereas before animals were not allowed to sleep in beds at all. Napoleon told the animals he should be the one sleeping in beds because of his "hard, laborious work". When the windmill was in ruins, Napoleon was in denial that it was becuaseof their poor building, or that the humans destroyed it. He blamed Snowball, using him as a scapegoat, turning the animals against him. They held a prize of food over his head, making the animals want to hate and capture, and turn against him.

Chapter 9: Summary

In chapter 9, after defeating Mr. Fredrick, animals begin to rebuild the windmill. Leading the construction of the windmill is Boxer, a horse who has a split hood. He insists on starting the windmill and working harder until he retires. Even though food supplies begin to diminish, Squealer explains that they have more food and better lives than before. As time passes by, the animals become short on food, while the pigs become fatter. One day during the summer, Boxer fell down and he couldn't get up. Boxer could not get up because his lung was no working properly. So then, Napoleon put Boxer to sleep when he was due to retire. Days later, Boxer was sent on a van to the "hospital". When the animals saw the side of the van, the animals saw that Boxer was being sent to "Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughter and Glue Boiler!" Three days later, Boxer was announced dead in the hospital of Willingdon. Squealer later told the farm animals that he was "sitting" next to Boxer as he was about to die. Afterwards, Napoleon emphasizes that when Boxer died, his last words were "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right". Later that night, a grocery van drove up to the farmhouse and many say it was the pigs who ordered more whiskey.

Chapter 4: Key Scene

In this chapter, the key scene is the Battle of Cowshed. This is also a key scene for the entire book. This battle will either keep the farm as Animal Farm, or change it back to Manor Farm. Basically, this battle decides the fate of the animals. If they lose, the humans will take over, and they will be treated more cruelly than ever. If they win, they will keep their farm and their freedom. The quote for this chapter is "This had long been expected, and all preparations had been made." (Orwell 4) The animals knew this was coming, and they have prepared, because this is a big plot point, that will decide their fate.

Chapter 9: Key Scene

Key Scene: "Late on evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran around the farm that something had happened to Boxer. He had gone alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. And sure enough, the rumour was true. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news: 'Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and cant get up!' About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood. There lay Boxer, between the shafts of the cart, his neck stretched out, unable to raise his head.His eyes were glazed, his sides matted with sweat. A thin stream of blood tricked out of his mouth." Why This Is The Key Scene: This is very important because Boxer was the hardest working animal on the farm, but if he is injured he cannot work anymore. He collected goods around the farm such as hay and stones, which helped the farm civilization immensely. Also, he thought about the other animals need before himself, but without him the animals might not be able to handle the farm alone.

Chapter 5: Key Scene

Scene: "Nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. Too amazed and frightened to speak, all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. He was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were close on his heels. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. Then he was up again, running faster than ever, then the dogs were gaining on him again. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail, but Snowball whisked it free just in time. Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. At first no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. Though not yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had used to do to Mr. Jones. Napoleon, with the dogs following him, now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself." (Orwell 5) Explained: This scene is the key scene of the chapter because in it, a monumental change is made on Animal Farm. Snowball's expulsion causes Napoleon to become the undisputed leader of the farm, meaning that from now on Napoleon will make all the decisions. Napoleon's many ideas, most of which differentiate from the animal body, will change the farm for better or worse; he has already removed the Sunday debates (the animals' right to speech).

Chapter 3: Summary

The animals have been working hard to harvest the hay. Boxer and Clover work the hardest out of the animals. However, the pigs are supervising and don't do any labor. All the animals were happy and in agreement, putting in the same amount of effort. Although, some animals such as Molly and the cat were less willing to work unlike the others. And some animals, like Benjamin, were unsure the new system would work and didn't seem too eager to help out. On Sundays, all the animals paused with their work and would go the Meeting, were coming work was discussed and resolutions set forth. At these meetings, there was often conflict between Snowball and Napoleon during the Meetings. The pigs were the best readers and writers and, under the instruction of Snowball, the animals all tried to learn as well. However, some animals, such as Boxer, were not smart enough to learn, and some, like Mollie, were reluctant and refused to. The seven commandments had to be reduced to a much simpler list for the stupider animals, though it still contained the essential principle of animalism. When it came time to harvest the apples, all the animals were thrilled. However, the pigs declared that the apples, as well as the milk that had disappeared some time ago, should go to the pigs in order to keep them healthy in order to keep the farm running as it is now and to keep Jones from coming back. And none of the animals protested.

Chapter 8: Key Scene

The animals watch in terror as they witness the windmill demolished by the dynamite humans had planted. Two years of work, destroyed instantly. Though the animals were stricken with fear and despair at the invasion, the nefarious act inspires vengeance. The animals turn savage, charging through the humans in frenzied rage, driving them off of Animal Farm. Many casualties were suffered, and worst of all, the windmill was devastated. The battle had resulted in a meaningless victory. This is the key event because it symbolizes the ignorance of the animals and their propaganda-influence on their lives. Unlike Boxer, who understands that the windmill was composed of the farm animals' hard work; the other animals are completely fixed that the eventual destruction of the windmill is merely a setback and the "victory" is much more important. This is the doing of Squealer's cunning ways, and the pig's utilization of the animals' innocence.

Chapter 5: Summary

The chapter starts off with the departure of Mollie. The horse, who has slowly begin to associate more and more with the human population in order to be pampered, is revealed to have left the farm and become a human's workhorse. As winter arrives, the animals meet often in the barn due to the lack of work in the fields. The two pigs Snowball and Napoleon were often the main litigators of these events, disagreeing upon many things. Snowball, who comes up with many innovations for the animals work, was largely successful in these meetings, though Napoleon derides him and recruits the sheep to break into chants during Snowball's speeches. Snowball develops a plan to build a windmill, saying this will ease the animals' labor after a few years of hard work, but Napoleon disagrees. At one particularly heated and deciding meeting, Snowball wins over the majority of the animals to vote for his windmill idea. At this moment, Napoleon summons the dogs he took to raise and they chase Snowball from the farm. Then, Napoleon makes a speech stating that he is abolishing the Sunday debates. The protests of the animals are largely suppressed by the intimidating dogs. Squealer is sent around the farm to spread information, in which he states that Snowball was a criminal and convinces the animals that Napoleon makes all the decisions to benefit the animals. A few weeks later, it is announced that Napoleon wishes the windmill built after all. Squealer is once again sent out to convince the animal body that Napoleon had supported the windmill all along, and that Snowball had stolen what was his idea in the first place.

Chapter 1: Key Scene

The key scene in chapter one was Old Major's speech about animalism. "I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade. All the habits of men are evil. And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind, weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill another animal. All animals are equal." -Old Major, Animal Farm, Page 8, paragraph 4 This is a key event because this is when Old Major explains and outlines Animalism. Animalism is lifestyle that the animals follow and it plays a vital role in the animals' duties over the course of the book. Animalism also relates to Communism because that is how the USSR started just as Animal Farm did.

Chapter 10: Key Scene

The key scene in the chapter was when "There were shoutings, bangings on the table, sharp suspicious glances, furious denials. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously. Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now what had happened to the faces of the pigs. 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" (Orwell, 97). This is the key scene in the chapter because it shows how the pigs have become exactly like the humans. The whole chapter develops the idea of the pigs slowly developing similar characteristics to the humans such as wearing clothes and walking on two legs. This passage represents this by stating how it is impossible to distinguish between the animals and the humans. The whole idea of the Rebellion had been to distance themselves from the humans as much as possible; when instead the pigs had become just like the humans, much as how in the Russian Revolution, Stalin had become like the Czar.

Chapter 4: Vocabulary

The key word in chapter 4 is irrepressible. In the text, the word is used to describe how the song created by Old Major, the Beasts of England was unstoppable for the animals believed it irrepressible. After Napoleon "finishes" the rebellion, he makes Beasts of England illegal to sing because the rebellion has been performed and therefore the song is no longer relevant. The exact text states: "And yet the song was irrepressible. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges, the pigeons cooed it in their elms, and it got into the din of the smithies and the tune of the church bells" (Orwell 27, 28). Based on the context of the book, we can infer that the word irrepressible means: can't be stopped because the animals are described to be secretly humming or singing the song. The animals have a strong connection to this song because they believed strongly in Old Major and his dream for the rebellion of the farm. Overall, irrepressible means to not be able to be controlled or restrained.

Chapter 9: Vocabulary

Unanimously (adv): Define: without opposition; with the agreement with all people involved. Sentence: "There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously." (Page 80) How Its Used: In this chapter, unanimously means that everyone on the farm voted for Napoleon to be elected.

Chapter 5: Vocabulary

Word: Pretext Dictionary definition: a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason. Original sentence: "On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool, where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water." (Orwell 32) Explanation of Usage: It is used to show Mollie's vanity and how she was accustomed to luxury. Mollie uses every excuse and opportunity to view herself, showing how she values her appearance (which represents the luxury she had under Jones) above anything else including work for the overall well-being of the farm. From this, we can infer that Mollie enjoys being pampered, which in this case only humans can bring. This fact is confirmed when Mollie leaves the farm and its ideas of revolution purely for the sake of indulgences such as hair ribbons, beauty, and sugar cubes. In history, Mollie's desire for luxury and her almost immediate departure from the farm represent the bourgeoisie, who fled the USSR (or Russia) a few years after the revolution.

Chapter 1: Vocabulary

cynical~believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity "He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have no tail and no flies." (Orwell, 4) The author uses the word cynical as a negative connotation to show Benjamin has no time to waste with other animals that don't know what they're talking about.

Chapter 8: Vocabulary

unscathed Dictionary Definition: without suffering any injury, damage, or harm "But the men did not go unscathed either"(Orwell 72). The author uses the word "unscathed" to say that even though the windmill was of no longer use to them, the animals were onset that the humans were the main enemy and had to suffer consequences for destroying the windmill because of the influence of the pigs' persuasion.

Chapter 4: Summary

~Snowball and Napoleon make a decision to send the pigeons to neighboring farms in order to spread the word about Animalism (Communism) ~Animals everywhere begin singing Beasts of England and act rebelliously. ~Eventually, pigeons report to Napoleon that Jones is marching towards Animal Farm. ~Snowball turns out to be an amazing strategist and helps fight Jones. ~Snowball is shot and the battle is called "Battle of the Cowshed". ~This also makes Napoleon slightly jealous of Snowball since he is being called noble and may become leader.