Animal Farm
What is Squealer's explanation for forbidding the singing of "Beasts of England"?
"It's no longer needed, comrade," said Squealer stiffly. "'Beasts of England' was the song of the Rebellion. But the Rebellion is now completed. The execution of the traitors this afternoon was the final act. The enemy both external and internal has been defeated. In 'Beasts of England' we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. But that society has now been established. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose."
What phrase always stopped any arguments from the animals?
"Surely comrades, you do not want Jones back?"
What human rituals did the animals use to celebrate their victory?
"The animals had now reassembled in the wildest excitement, each recounting his own exploits in the battle at the top of his voice. An impromptu celebration of the victory was held immediately. The flag was run up and 'Beasts of England' was sung a number of times, then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral, a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech, emphasizing the need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be. The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration, "Animal Hero, First Class," which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. It consisted of a brass medal (they were really some old horse-brasses which had been found in the harness-room), to be worn on Sundays and holidays. There was also "Animal Hero, Second Class," which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep. There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called. In the end, it was named the Battle of the Cowshed, since that was where the ambush had been sprung. Mr. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud, and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse. It was decided to set the gun up at the foot of the Flagstaff, like a piece of artillery, and to fire it twice a year--once on October the twelfth, the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed, and once on Midsummer Day, the anniversary of the Rebellion."
How had the sixth commandment been changed?
'without cause' was added
why there's danger in the public being ignorant and accepting everything told
**
What dream do the animals still have at the beginning of the chapter? What happens to destroy this hope?
A world without humans. /men came to deal with pigs
Which commandment is no longer in effect on the farm?
All animals are equal
What episode causes Squealer to use trickery as a persuasive tactic?
All of the milk kept disappearing and it was discovered that it was saved for all of the pigs. He claimed that they needed it in order to lead the rest of the farm.
The pigs formulate the teachings of Old Major into a system of thought. What is it called?
Animalism
What was the dispute about the defense of the farm? Which plan seems the best to you?
Apart from the disputes over the windmill, there was the question of the defense of the farm. It was fully realized that though the human beings had been defeated in the Battle of the Cowshed they might make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr. Jones. They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the farms more restive than ever. As usual, Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. According to Napoleon, what the animals must do was to procure firearms and train themselves in the use of them. According to Snowball, they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be conquered, the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves.
Why did it finally become necessary for the hens to surrender all their eggs?
Because some hens formed a rebellion and died of a mysterious disease
Why did no one "care to mention" recalling a commandment about animals killing other animals in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs?
Because they did not want to get killed themselves. At this point they learned to just deal with it.
Why were the animals willing to believe the stories Squealer told them about the circumstances of Boxer's death?
Because they were afraid not to believe. And they are just so brainwashed that they believe everything at this point.
Animalism
Communism
To what does this correspond?
Communism / Marxism
Mr. Jones
Czar Nicholas II
Why does Old Major assemble all the animals
He gathered them to tell them about his dream and vision of utopia
What makes Boxer seem particularly human and lovable?
He had remorse and was sad that he killed the boy
How does Snowball show his ruthlessness?
He reassured Boxer that killing for a cause is fine
To what did Boxer attribute the frightening slaughter of fellow animals? What is his solution?
He saw the dogs as violent creatures. He tackled one of the dogs. Napoleon ordered him to let the dog go even though it had murdered."I do not understand it. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. The solution, as I see it, is to work harder. From now onwards I shall get up a full hour earlier in the mornings."
What problems does the raven, Moses, cause?
He spreads lies and rumors about a peaceful afterlife for the animals
What additional information is revealed about Snowball?
He was hiding on one of the neighboring farms. He was also secretly in the farm at night
What is the tragedy of Boxer? If Boxer symbolizes the loyal proletariat, what was Orwell saying about Communism?
How the government does not care about their hard working citizens, but only themselves and does everything to better themselves whatever the cost
What is significant about only the young pigs being educated, and their being discouraged from playing with other young animals?
How the pigs got different treatment. It is literally segregation
How were Spontaneous Demonstrations useful to the pigs? Think of similar examples of crowd events and rituals which please the masses in our world.
It reinforced their power on the other animals. Like demonstrations in the holocaust.
Napoleon
Joseph Stalin
The Dogs
KGB (secret police)
Old Major
Karl Marx
Snowball
Leon Trotsky
Describe life on the farm for the animals. How is this type of life similar to that led by farm laborers who work on someone else's land
Life for the farm animals was not that ideal, comparable to a well-treated slave. They do not like not being in control of themselves.
What does the ending have to say regarding Orwell's attitude toward both Communism and Capitalism? Does either system treat its "lower classes" well in the novel?
Low status=low jobs High status=high jobs Neither treats low status good in any way.
The discovery of pig footprints leading away from the windmill into the hedge is given as proof that Snowball sabotaged the windmill. What is the fallacy in this logic?
Napoleon was the one who blamed snowball, went and sniffed snowball, and then said "Yup, it's snowball"
Had any of the animals retired? Do you think any ever will?
No, no; if they retire they'll probably just die
Did the work on the farm conform to the ideal of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need"?
No, the pigs were hardly doing any work but receiving all of the good food and good treatment
Is the society of Animal Farm a classless one?
No. It was designed to create a fair and equal farm it has developed into a farm with social classes. The pigs were the highest class. It was intended to be, but pigs slowly took over
Who are the main pigs? Who or what do they represent?
Old Major represents Karl Marx. Napoleon represents Joseph stalin. Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. Squealer represents propaganda.
What was one of the strongest motivations for completing the rebuilding of the windmill?
Proving to the humans and snowball and everyone that they could build the windmill. Boxer's statements also gave them motivation
Moses the Raven
Religion (Russian Orthodox Church)
Mollie
Russian Bourge noble class (upperclass)
From where did Snowball give the sound for retreat?
Snowball and Napoleon where sending pigeons to neighboring farms when he gave sound for the retreat.
What is the connection between Squealer's fall from the ladder and the change in the fifth commandment? Who noticed the change?
Squealer changed what the commandment said at night. Only Muriel noticed cause all the other animals are dumb.
What euphemism was used to convince the animals that they were not really receiving less food than they had under Jones?
Squealer talks about of "readjustment", and not of what is really happening, which is a reduction of the food
Describe the power struggle between Napoleon and Snowball. To what does this relate historically?
Stalin and Trotsky's struggle and feud for power
What is significant about the quarrels between Napoleon and Snowball?
That in leadership there is arguing, which is never good for the society as a whole.
The animals divided into two factions. What slogans were devised?In whose opinion would life "go on badly, as it always had"?
The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan, "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on--that is, badly.
How did the animals react when they listened to Napoleon and Snowball?
The animals listened first to Napoleon, then to Snowball, and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed, they always found themselves in agreement with the one who was speaking at the moment.
What will happen to the apples? Why is this important?
The apples will be saved for the pigs It shows how the pigs are getting what is best, whether they deserve it or not.
Why is the phrase "even the pigs joined in at critical moments" important?
The pigs never worked, so if they worked then it must've been important.
The pigs take over like the Bolsheviks did. Why does this seem natural?
The pigs were already the smartest animal, and Old major was the one who told every one of the rebellion initially, it was only natural that his species was to continue his legacy.
What is ironic about the working conditions after the rebellion?
They are the same as before, if not worse
How is Snowball used as a scapegoat?
They blame him for everything, whether he is guilty or not. Napoleon does not want to take the fall for anything that he does wrong.
Explain the final irony at the end of the novel.
They couldn't tell the difference between the pigs and the men; they became the very things they wanted to get rid of. Power can corrupt
How did the hens react?
They did not like what was happening and almost refused
What is ironic about the animals working on the windmill on Sundays?
They did not work on Sundays before Jones left
Describe the battle with Frederick's men and explain how the animals felt immediately after the destruction of the windmill. How did the pigs renew the animals' spirits?
They feel hopeless. They felt like they lost everything. The pigs said that they had won and celebrated for days straight.
How did the pigs use Boxer's death to further promote their aims?
They made up Boxer's last words and how he urged them to go on without him and to work hard for Napoleon.
ideals outlined by Old Major that should prevail after the rebellion
They would be free of humans and their slavery
What was the explanation for trading with other farms? What was the reaction of some of the animals? What was the pigs' answer?
To obtain materials necessary for the better of the farm. Some animals did not like that they were dealing with humans. They convinced the animals that their memories were at fault and they were never opposed to trade and using currency.
Why did Snowball give the sound for retreat?
Trick the humans - It leads the humans to the barn where they are ambushed by the horses, cows and pigs.
What does Benjamin read to Clover?
on the wall read... "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THEN OTHERS"; the seven commandments had become just one
Squealer
propaganda
Squealer's Sunday-morning revelation of the increased production figures is a good example of what?
propaganda (#S)
Benjamin represents
skeptical people in Russia and outside world- weren't sure revolution would change anything, realized that a crazy leader can call himself a communist, knew that communism wouldn't work with power-hungry leaders; remembers every detail, but has remained quiet; bystanders are apart of the problem
What is the motivation of the new government?
the 7 commandments
Which things do the animals want to vanish? Which things do they see as an important part of the utopia to come?
they see humans and everything that symbolizes the humans gone
language can be powerful; a tool
used deceptively
Boxer
working class Proletariat
why the author wrote the book
wrote this book as a coverup to make political commentary
