Animal Farm PDF

Animal Farm
Study Guide by Course Hero
Animal Farm is written in the past tense.

What's Inside
ABOUT THE TITLE
Animal Farm takes its name from the book's setting, Manor
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 Farm, which the rebellious animals rename Animal Farm when
they seize control.
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 2
h Characters .................................................................................................. 3 d In Context

k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 5
c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 10 The Russian Revolution and Its

g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 22 Aftermath
l Symbols ..................................................................................................... 24
On its surface, Animal Farm seems to be a simple tale about
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 25 talking animals on a farm—a children's story, some might think.
But this surface is the allegory, or story with a hidden political
b Motifs .......................................................................................................... 26 meaning, of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the civil war that
followed (1918–20), and the later rise of Stalin's dictatorship in
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 26
the Soviet Union. The novel draws clear parallels between
Josef Stalin and the pig Napoleon. To serve his own ends,
Napoleon distorts Old Major's idealized dream of equality and
j Book Basics
brotherhood for all animals as he rules the farm. In the same
way, Stalin distorted the ideals of Marxist communism to feed
his own desire for power and control in the Soviet Union. While
AUTHOR Marxist communism gave workers control of production,
George Orwell Stalin's version gave the state control of production, paving the
way for totalitarian rule. Stalin was an active participant in the
YEAR PUBLISHED
Revolution of 1917, which overthrew Russia's Tsar Nicolas II.
1945
Stalin remained a high-ranking member of the government
GENRE under Vladimir Lenin, the first head of the Soviet Union after
Allegory, Satire the revolution. Then Stalin led the Communist Party in the
Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953. In the same way
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR in which Napoleon finds himself in conflict with the intellectual
Animal Farm has a third-person omniscient narrator. Snowball, Stalin battled Leon Trotsky, who had essentially
served as Lenin's second-in-command, for the direction of the
TENSE
party and the Soviet Union after Lenin's death in 1924. After
Animal Farm Study Guide Author Biography 2
driving Trotsky into exile in 1929, Stalin took full control of the
party and the country. a Author Biography
Once Stalin took control of the Soviet Union, he focused on
George Orwell is the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, who was
eliminating any perceived threats to his power, culminating in
born on June 25, 1903, to British parents in India. His mother
the Great Purge of the late 1930s during which he had millions
separated from her husband, a poorly paid civil servant, shortly
of people, including his political opponents, imprisoned or
after their son was born. Blair's mother took him and his sister,
killed. In 1939 he entered into an alliance with Hitler (which
Marjorie, back to England, where Blair was educated. In 1911 he
ended in 1941 when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union). In the
began boarding school in Sussex, attending on scholarship. In
meantime Stalin and his close supporters remained
1917 Blair went to Eton, one of Britain's premier secondary
comfortable while the people of the Soviet Union suffered
boarding schools, also on scholarship. His poverty relative to
deprivation and hardship, both during wartime and after. The
the other students in these environments introduced him to the
government used propaganda to inspire loyalty in the
class divisions that would inform his politics and his writing.
populace, and as in the world of Animal Farm, where
propaganda failed, fear and intimidation succeeded. After Eton, Blair opted to serve in Burma (now Myanmar) with
the Indian Imperial Police instead of attending university. His
experiences in Burma inspired his lifelong opposition to
Adult Satire imperialism, later reflected in his novel Burmese Days (1934). In
1928 Blair resigned from his post and returned to England. He
Animal Farm was Orwell's first novel to enjoy wide commercial lived among the lower classes in London's East End upon his
success. However, when it was first published booksellers return, giving rise to his first book, Down and Out in Paris and
placed it in the children's section of their stores because they London (1933). The conditions described in this book, which
did not realize it was adult satire, or a work that makes use of straddles the line between fact and fiction, are so bleak that
literary techniques, such as humor, irony, or hyperbole, to Blair adopted the pen name George Orwell to distance himself
criticize a figure, event, or issue. Orwell himself traveled from and his family from them.
store to store convincing them to shelve it with adult books,
Orwell's experiences with the working classes led him to
where it remains categorized.
embrace the concept of economic equality for all, and in the
The novel continues to have contemporary relevance. While 1930s he dabbled in socialism, which in turn led him to travel to
the specific content of the novel addresses Soviet Russia, it Spain in December 1936 to fight in the Spanish Civil War
also serves as a broader cautionary tale by showing how a (1936–39). He joined the forces of the Republican government,
corrupt and selfish leader who uses fear and ignorance to gain backed by the United States and the Soviet Union, in
control can lead to a totalitarian government. In this way the opposition to Francisco Franco's Fascist regime. After Orwell
novel warns against complacency in the populace. Orwell was wounded in battle by a sniper, the communist forces in
wrote the following response to a query from fellow political Spain, supported by Josef Stalin, accused him of betraying the
writer Dwight Macdonald: "Of course I intended it primarily as a anti-Fascist cause, and Orwell and his wife had to flee the
satire on the Russian revolution. But I did mean it to have a country. This experience left him with an ongoing aversion to
wider application in so much that I meant that that kind of Stalin's brand of communism.
revolution (violent conspiratorial revolution, led by
Orwell spent part of World War II as a correspondent for the
unconsciously power-hungry people) can only lead to a change
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which further fed his
of masters. I meant the moral to be that revolutions only effect
distaste for totalitarian regimes. His experiences in Spain and
a radical improvement when the masses are alert and know
as a BBC reporter created the political leanings that shaped
how to chuck out their leaders as soon as the latter have done
his two best known works: Animal Farm (1945) and 1984
their job." In this respect Animal Farm continues to have
(1949). Both texts offer scathing criticism of the ways the
relevance for citizens who live under all forms of government.
socialist and communist ideals of equality had been warped by
totalitarian regimes. Orwell died on January 21, 1950, in
London, England.
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Animal Farm Study Guide Characters 3
h Characters Boxer
Boxer the horse believes every problem can be solved with
hard work and persistence. His strength and work ethic make
Napoleon the building of the windmills possible, and he is a mighty asset
in battle. All the animals look up to him because his belief in
Not a very strong public speaker, the pig Napoleon rules the Animalism is pure and his intentions are good. However, his
farm through strong-arm tactics and cunning. He makes the lack of intelligence and his naiveté cause him to follow the pigs
farm prosperous but keeps most of the wealth for himself, blindly, and they "reward" his hard work by selling him to a
working the other animals with a level of efficiency that slaughterer when his health fails. Boxer represents the
borders on the brutal. He is ruthless toward his enemies, proletariat, or working-class people.
ordering the executions of those who dare to cross him.
Napoleon represents Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
Old Major
Snowball The old boar who originates the principles of Animalism and
encourages the rebellion, Old Major, is revered by the animals.
Snowball is a pig on an equal footing with Napoleon after the He dies shortly after presenting his vision to the animals, so he
rebellion, and his intelligence and planning ability become does not live to see how his fellow pigs corrupt his ideals over
assets to the farm. His use of military strategy wins the Battle time. Old Major is often interpreted to represent Karl Marx or
of the Cowshed, and he originates the plans for the windmill. Vladimir Lenin.
His popularity and his ability threaten Napoleon's ambitions, so
Napoleon exiles him from the farm and makes him a scapegoat
when things go wrong. Thus his achievements are erased, and
history is rewritten to vilify him. Snowball represents the
Benjamin
banished Russian leader Leon Trotsky.
Possibly the most intelligent animal on the farm, the donkey
Benjamin is prevented from becoming useful to the rebellion by
his cynicism and belief that nothing ever really changes. He
Mr. Jones might have the capacity to educate the animals about the pigs'
intentions, but his silence allows the pigs to take over
Mr. Jones's neglect and mistreatment of his animals spark unimpeded.
them to rebel against him. After the animals take over the farm,
the threat of his return is used to keep the animals from
protesting and allows the pigs to get their way. Mr. Jones
represents Tsar Nicholas II.
Squealer
Squealer the pig acts as Napoleon's mouthpiece, persuading
the animals that the pigs are working in everyone's best
interests. He presents information, such as false statistics, that
misleads the animals into believing what he says is true. He is a
master of propaganda, modeled after the Nazi propagandist
Joseph Goebbels, and his energetic speaking style makes him
an appealing orator.

Animal Farm Study Guide Characters 4
Character Map
Squealer
Masterful manipulator
of language; pig
Serves
Snowball
Mr. Jones
Intellectual leader, later
Ousted farm owner; human
Enemies banished; pig
Rivals
Napoleon
Totalitarian ruler of Animal
Farm; pig
Exploits,
has killed
Inspires
Boxer
Old Major
Idealist and hardest
Wise revolutionary; pig
worker; horse
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Animal Farm Study Guide Plot Summary 5
Full Character List Jessie

Jessie and Bluebell are Mr. Jones's dogs
who give birth to the puppies who grow
up to be Napoleon's enforcers.
Character Description
Mollie is Mr. Jones's mare who values
Mollie her own appearance and the favor of
Napoleon is the totalitarian pig leader of
humans over the principles of the farm.
Napoleon Animal Farm who exploits the other
animals to maintain his own power.
Moses is a trained raven who tells the
Moses animals stories of a heavenly afterworld
Snowball is an early pig leader of Animal
called Sugarcandy Mountain.
Snowball Farm whose conflicts with Napoleon
lead to his dishonor and exile.
Frederick is the owner of a neighboring
farm who becomes Napoleon's enemy
Mr. Jones is the drunken, neglectful Mr. Frederick
when he cheats the pigs and attacks the
Mr. Jones proprietor of Manor Farm, overthrown by
farm.
his animals.
Pilkington is the owner of a neighboring

Squealer is Napoleon's second pig in
Mr. Pilkington farm who eventually becomes
Squealer command, who spins stories and
Napoleon's ally.
propaganda to keep the animals in line.
Mr. Whymper is a lawyer retained by the

Boxer is the hardworking horse whose
Mr. Whymper pigs to conduct their business
Boxer devotion to Animal Farm earns him the
transactions with other humans.
respect of all the animals.
Muriel is a goat who, aside from

Old Major is the boar whose vision for a
Muriel Benjamin and the pigs, is the only animal
Old Major world where animals are free inspires
on the farm who is fully literate.
the rebellion.
Sheep are useful spreaders of

Benjamin is a cynical donkey who is at
propaganda that can be relied upon to
least as clever as the pigs but refuses to Sheep
Benjamin stop debates or potential protests with
get involved with the rebellion, even
their chanting.
when he sees things going wrong.
Jessie and Bluebell are Mr. Jones's dogs
k Plot Summary
Bluebell who give birth to the puppies who grow
up to be Napoleon's enforcers.
Clover is a working horse who is Boxer's Animal Farm presents the history of a small farm in England.
Clover companion and is as devoted to the After a lifetime of oppression at the hands of their human
cause of Animalism as he is.
masters, the animals of Manor Farm hear from one of their
oldest denizens, a boar known as Old Major. He shares his
Dogs are the animals most closely
vision for a future in which all animals are free and control their
Dogs aligned with the pigs, who serve as the
pigs' guards and enforcers. own destinies, working to provide for themselves, not for the
humans who have enslaved them. He urges the animals to
Hens are egg producers for the farm prepare for the day when the rebellion will come and they can
Hens who, at one point, attempt a rebellion, make his vision a reality. Three days later Old Major dies, but
with disastrous results. his dream lives on among the animals, especially the other pigs
who follow his instructions and prepare for rebellion. Two pigs,
Snowball and Napoleon, take the lead in preparing a formalized
version of Old Major's teachings they call Animalism.

The rebellion takes place much sooner than the animals Work on the farm and the new windmill continues at a rapid
originally plan. Three months after Old Major dies, Mr. Jones, pace. After a long period of negotiation with neighboring
Manor Farm's owner, gets drunk and forgets to feed the farmers, Frederick and Pilkington, Napoleon sells a pile of
animals. Accordingly they riot. They expel Jones from the farm timber to Frederick despite the animals' reservations about this
and dispose of his tools, which they see as instruments of farmer. Frederick pays for the timber with counterfeit money
oppression. They resolve to bring in the year's harvests and launches an attack on their farm. The windmill is destroyed
themselves and inscribe Seven Commandments of Animalism in the battle, but the animals are able to fend off Frederick and
on the wall of the barn to provide guidance as they forge his men, so the pigs declare a victory for Animal Farm.
ahead, learning to govern themselves. Some months after the Although their spirits are crushed, they recommence rebuilding
rebellion, Mr. Jones and his men return to the farm and attempt the windmill.
to reclaim the property, but under Snowball's leadership the
animals repel the attack, and Jones disappears for good. As the year wears on, the animals continue to work hard for
little food as the pigs enjoy luxuries in the farmhouse. The
After this clash with Mr. Jones, known as the Battle of the animals never question this arrangement. Boxer the horse,
Cowshed, Snowball and Napoleon come into conflict, highly respected for his work ethic, collapses while working on
disagreeing over nearly every facet of life on the farm. Their the windmill, and the pigs claim to make arrangements to send
conflict peaks when Snowball proposes construction of a him to a local veterinary hospital. The "ambulance" that arrives
windmill, which Napoleon claims to oppose. When the animals actually bears the logo of the local horse slaughterer, and the
gather to vote on the windmill project, Napoleon unleashes animals create an uproar once they realize what is happening.
nine dogs he has trained in secret, and Snowball flees the farm. Taken away from the farm, Boxer dies, but the pigs maintain
A few weeks later Napoleon announces they will build the their story that he was sent to a hospital, claiming the van was
windmill, explaining that his opposition to the project was just a a recent acquisition for the hospital that had not yet been
ruse to get rid of Snowball's negative influence on the farm. repainted. Taken in by this explanation, most of the animals
settle back into their lives of hard work and little food.
As the windmill project progresses, all the animals except the
pigs work grueling hours of physical labor, none as hard as Some years after Boxer's death, the farm and the pigs have
Boxer the horse. Food runs short but the animals persevere, become very prosperous, but the animals' lives remain much
driven by the pride of working for themselves. To make up for the same, filled with hard labor and few rewards. Their sole
the food shortages and obtain other farm supplies, Napoleon consolation is the memory of the rebellion and the knowledge
announces plans to begin trade with other farms. The animals that they serve themselves, not humans. They lose this last
are skeptical about this plan but follow his lead. consolation when the pigs begin to wear clothes, walk on two
legs, and regularly do business with humans. The pigs change
In November of the second year after the rebellion, the almost- the name of Animal Farm back to Manor Farm and deny that
finished windmill collapses during a spell of bad weather. the rebellion ever took place. When the animals peek into the
Napoleon and the pigs blame Snowball for sabotaging the windows during a dinner party the pigs host for some
project, though no hard evidence exists for his involvement. neighboring human farmers, the animals are unable to tell the
This event sets a precedent that allows the animals to blame difference between pigs and men. The animals finally see that
Snowball's scheming for every misfortune that befalls the farm. their rebellion has changed nothing.
The animals spend the winter working to rebuild the windmill,
and some hens stage a protest when Napoleon expands
orders for eggs to trade with other farms. Food continues to
run in short supply for the animals. A few months later the
hens, along with a number of other animals who confess to
colluding with Snowball, are publicly executed as traitors. The
other animals become frightened and alarmed, even though
they accept the pigs' justification that those executed were
traitors to the farm and to Animalism.

Plot Diagram
Climax
7
Falling Action
6
Rising Action
5 8
4
9
3
Resolution
2
1
Introduction
7. Boxer is sent away to slaughter as the animals protest.

Introduction
1. Old Major introduces ideas about animal rebellion.

Falling Action
8. Pigs walk on two legs and begin wearing clothes.
Rising Action
2. Animals rebel against Mr. Jones and take over the farm.
Resolution
3. Battle of the Cowshed occurs; Mr. Jones tries to take farm.
9. At party, animals unable to tell the humans and pigs apart.
4. Snowball and Napoleon compete for leadership of the farm.
5. Napoleon expels Snowball and takes total control.
6. Animals defend farm against Frederick's attack.
Climax

Timeline of Events
March
Animals hear Old Major's dream of a world where all

animals are free from human oppression.
June
Animals rebel against Mr. Jones and establish their own

rule, renaming the farm Animal Farm.
October
Mr. Jones and his men attempt to reclaim the farm but
are defeated at the Battle of the Cowshed.
Early Spring
Conflict between Snowball and Napoleon peaks over

windmill; Napoleon forces Snowball to flee.
Late Summer
Napoleon announces plans to begin trade with other

farms, and the pigs populate the farmhouse.
November
The windmill, near completion, collapses, and Snowball is

blamed for sabotage.
Early Spring
Napoleon executes animals who confess to working with

Snowball to sabotage the farm.
Autumn
Frederick double-crosses Napoleon on a timber sale and

attacks the farm.
Summer
Boxer the horse collapses while working, and the pigs

sell him to the local knacker for slaughter.
Some Years Later

Pigs fully assume the role humans once held on the farm,
wearing clothes and walking on two legs.

Animal Farm Study Guide Chapter Summaries 10
c Chapter Summaries Analysis

Mr. Jones is introduced as a drunkard, which prevents him
from properly closing the small doors, or pop holes, of the
Chapter 1 henhouse on the night of Old Major's meeting. Mr. Jones's
drinking habits also prevent him from properly caring for his
animals. Although on this night the open doors in the henhouse
Summary give the hens a means to attend the meeting in the barn, the
open doors could have just as easily allowed a predator access
After Mr. Jones, the drunken owner of Manor Farm, goes to to the sleeping birds.
bed for the night, the animals gather in the large barn to hear a
The order in which the animals sit at the meeting significantly
message from Old Major the boar. They gather around his bed
foreshadows the hierarchy that will emerge on the farm after
on a raised platform at the front of the barn, with dogs and pigs
the animals take over. The dogs are already close to the pigs,
at the front, sheep and cows behind them, followed by the
and both species take places of privilege at the front of the
horses. Muriel the goat and Benjamin the donkey are at the
crowd. Even though Mollie is late to the meeting, she takes a
back. The hens occupy the windowsills, and the pigeons sit in
place near the front, which speaks to her own, ultimately
the rafters. Mollie, a mare who pulls Mr. Jones's carriage,
misguided, sense of entitlement. The horses Boxer and Clover
arrives late but takes a place at the front. The only animal
sit near the middle of the crowd, which indicates they are team
absent from the meeting is Moses, Jones's pet raven.
players. Benjamin the donkey is arguably the smartest animal
Old Major begins his speech saying his own death is coming in the room, but he remains near the back because he does not
soon and explains how his age gives him a special want to be involved in the meeting or the revolution.
understanding of the nature of life. He says the lives of the
Old Major's speech indicates all the ways the animals could
animals are filled with misery and exploitation. Animals work for
benefit if they get away from Man's control. His urgings for
little food and are killed when they are no longer useful. The
unity among the animals reflect his idealized vision of how he
products of their labor, even their own offspring, are taken
thinks the world should be, and he assumes the animals will be
away from them. Old Major believes Man is the cause of this
able to preserve equality and unity; he believes none of them
bleak existence because Man consumes without producing
will step into the void of power left behind when Man is
anything. Old Major encourages the animals to band together
overthrown or use the new structure to benefit only
and prepare for a rebellion to overthrow Mankind.
themselves. In the allegorical parallels with the Communist
When rats come into the barn during the meeting, some of the Revolution in Russia, Old Major is commonly seen as an
dogs attack them. At this point the animals hold a vote and analogue to Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin, both of whom set
determine that rats and other wild creatures are their forth an idealized world in which all workers were equal,
comrades as well. After this decision Old Major describes a equally owning the means of production and equally enjoying
dream he had of a world in which animals are free, which the fruits of their own labor. Both communist ideals and Old
brings him back to a song from his childhood, "Beasts of Major's dream disregard the seductive nature of power and the
England." A key verse includes the lines, "Soon or late the day willingness of some humans, or animals, to exploit a system
is coming,/Tyrant man shall be o'erthrown,/And the fruitful that could give them advantages.
fields of England/Shall be trod by beasts alone." He teaches
the animals this song, and they sing together until they awaken
Mr. Jones, who drunkenly responds by firing his rifle into the Chapter 2
night. This commotion ends the meeting.

Napoleon tells them not to worry. When the animals return

Summary from the hayfield, they notice that the buckets have
disappeared.
Old Major dies three days after the meeting takes place,
passing peacefully in his sleep. The animals bury him in the
farm's orchard. In the three months that follow, the most
intelligent of the animals begin meeting regularly, organizing for
Analysis
the rebellion, even though they don't know when the rebellion
Old Major's death contrasts sharply with the violent and brutal
will begin. As the pigs take the lead in these early preparations,
deaths at the hands of Men, which he describes at the
among them two leaders emerge: Napoleon and Snowball. A
meeting. This ending allows him the dignity that befits the
third pig, Squealer, becomes well known for his powers of
founder of Animalism. Because the rebellion originated with
speech and persuasion. These three pigs work together to
Old Major, and because the pigs are the only animals besides
formalize Old Major's ideas into a system of ideas they call
Benjamin who can read and write fluently, it makes sense that
Animalism. This philosophy helps convince the animals to
they take the lead in organizing the rebellion and running the
consider a rebellion. Some wonder why they should work for a
farm afterward.
rebellion that might not happen in their lifetimes, especially
when Moses the raven promises them they will go to a land of Moses and his tales of Sugarcandy Mountain parallel a religion.
plenty called Sugarcandy Mountain when they die. Boxer and Moses's name makes this connection clear, as he shares his
Clover prove helpful in winning the animals over to the cause name with the Biblical prophet who led the Hebrews out of
because the animals believe the horses are so trustworthy. servitude in Egypt and presented them with the Ten
Commandments. In Animal Farm, these are replaced with the
As it turns out, the rebellion does come within the animals'
Seven Commandments of Animalism. Sugarcandy Mountain
lifetimes. Having lost a lawsuit, Mr. Jones continues to neglect
seems like a heaven, a place of leisure and plentiful food, the
the farm and drink too much. One Saturday in June, Jones gets
animals' reward in the next life for hard work and suffering in
inebriated in the village; neither he nor his workers return to
this one. Communism rejects such religious ideals because
feed the animals. The cows break into the store shed, and the
these beliefs provide the workers with a reason to endure
animals help themselves to the grain inside. When Mr. Jones
suffering rather than the motivation to overthrow their
and his men return and try to stop the animals, the animals
oppressors so they can improve their lot in this life. Karl Marx
fight back. Mr. Jones, his family, and his men flee the farm. The
called religion the "opium of the masses," meaning that it dulls
animals, seeing what they have accomplished and realizing
people's thinking so they remain content with their lot.
that they are now free, destroy the farmer's tools and the
Obviously, such thinking runs counter to the process of
symbols of their bondage, such as bits, nose rings, and halters.
rebellion, so Moses's speeches are not helpful to the animals'
Touring the farmhouse, they see the luxuries inside, such as
ultimate goals.
featherbeds and carpets. On the barn wall they write the basic
tenets of Animalism as Seven Commandments: In the parallel to the Russian Revolution of 1917 presented in
Animal Farm, Mr. Jones, his family, and his men represent Tsar
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
Nicholas II and his family. However, in the more generalized
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
critique of communism the novel presents, Jones and his men
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
represent the entire ruling class that not only neglects the
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
needs of the poor, but makes its fortunes on the labor of the
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
working classes. In the same way that all revolutions are won
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
and lost, the farmers underestimate the physical strength and
7. All animals are equal.
numbers of the animals, so the farmers lose in direct
They change the farm's name to Animal Farm and resolve to confrontation.
bring in the harvest themselves, faster and better than Jones

Likewise, the renaming of Manor Farm to Animal Farm mirrors
ever did. Just before the animals move out to the hayfield to
the decision of the Russian communist government to rename
harvest, the cows need milking, so the pigs do the job. When
the country following the revolution and ensuing civil war.
the animals wonder what will be done with the buckets of milk,

Russia became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the meetings because they disagree a lot. The meetings end
(U.S.S.R.) or Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. with the animals singing "Beasts of England," and then the
animals use Sunday afternoons for rest and relaxation.
The Seven Commandments form the cornerstone of the
animals' new way of life, so it is important for them to have The pigs attempt to teach the other animals to read and write,
these close at hand. Even though most of the animals cannot but few of the animals learn the alphabet beyond several
read, having the commandments posted for all to see instills a letters. Instead, since most of the animals cannot read or
sense of pride in the animals and creates a sense of legitimacy memorize the commandments, Snowball shortens them to a
for the new regime. single slogan: "Four legs good, two legs bad." The sheep
become fond of chanting this slogan, doing so for hours on
end. Napoleon takes nine puppies from Jessie and Bluebell into
Chapter 3 his own care with the promise to take full responsibility for
their education.
Summary
Analysis
The animals work hard to harvest the hay, and the yield proves
The scope of the pigs' influence and control over the farm
to be the largest in the farm's history. They also complete it
becomes evident as the animals settle into a routine. The pigs'
two days earlier than Jones and his crew ever did. The pigs do
supervision of the harvest, giving orders from behind the
not participate in the actual labor but supervise the workers
horses, seems eerily similar to the position humans once
and modify the necessary tools so the animals can use them.
occupied on the farm. Their decision to keep the choice bits of
Boxer, whose physical strength is a great asset, and Clover are
produce from the farm, the apples and the milk, also reflects a
the most productive. All of the other animals do their parts as
sense of privilege. The excuse that they need the extra
well, down to the ducks and hens who pick up stray bits of hay
nutrients establishes inequality at the outset because it implies
to prevent any waste.
that mental labor is more important and difficult than physical
The summer after the revolution is a satisfying time for all the labor. The animals grumble about this situation, which means
animals because they can enjoy the fruits of their own they sense its unfairness, but Squealer silences them with the
labor—most of them, anyway. After the harvest, the animals question that will become his trump card: Do you want Mr.
finally discover the milk is going into the pigs' mash, and when Jones to come back? That is the last thing the animals want. In
the apples begin to ripen, the pigs claim those as well. an instance of dramatic irony, this statement covers up the fact
Squealer argues that the pigs do not enjoy milk and apples but that some of the pigs' practices are exactly like Jones's, so in a
need the extra sustenance to carry them through all the brain sense he has already returned.
work of managing the farm to ensure that Mr. Jones does not
The primary obstacle to equality that all the animals face is
return. Otherwise, rations are provided to the animals
their inability to read and write. This situation alone gives the
according to their needs, and everyone does his share of work,
pigs a tremendous advantage. They have a skill set the other
except for Mollie and the cat. Often neglectful of their duties,
animals don't have or understand, so the "brain work"
they somehow always have convenient excuses. Motivated by
argument seems legitimate to them; they don't know what
the cause of Animalism, Boxer seems to work harder than
"brain work" actually involves. The pigs make only a cursory
ever. Benjamin continues to work as he always has—no more,
effort to educate the animals. Rather than continue the reading
no less—but offers no opinions about the rebellion or its
and writing lessons, they quickly reduce the Seven
aftermath.
Commandments to a single simplistic slogan. Not only does
Sunday mornings are reserved for a ceremony that involves this lack of literacy allow the pigs to maintain their advantage,
saluting the farm's flag (a hoof and horn on a green field), but the pigs set up a headquarters for themselves in the
followed by a meeting in the barn. Here the pigs put forth plans harness room so they can study books from the farmhouse,
for the coming week's work and present resolutions on which expanding their knowledge while the other animals' remains
the animals can vote. Napoleon and Snowball debate during limited.

As is the case with many totalitarian regimes, the leaders do others from neighboring farms, attempt to retake Animal Farm.
not expend their energies trying to fully educate the populace, In the ensuing battle, Snowball takes the lead. Deriving
because it is in their best interests to keep the populace strategies based on his readings of Julius Caesar, he directs
relatively ignorant. Uneducated citizens lack the ability to think the defense and counterattack. He launches two waves at the
critically about what their leaders tell them. Even in current intruders and then instructs the animals to retreat, luring the
slang, the term sheep describes mindless followers, so it men deep into the farm as a trap. During the battle, Snowball is
makes sense that the sheep become the animals on the farm injured by some pellets from Jones's gun, and a sheep is killed.
who most enjoy chanting the new slogan, "Four legs good, two Boxer knocks a farm boy unconscious with a hoof. Thinking
legs bad," without really considering what it means. Similarly, the boy is dead, the horse is racked by guilt. All the animals
pigs are gluttons who take more than they deserve or should take part in the battle except for Mollie, who hides in her stall
have. after the first gunshots.
With these facts in mind, Benjamin may be the most troubling The animals celebrate their victory by singing "Beasts of
character of all. He reads and writes as well as any of the pigs, England" and raising their flag. They bury the dead sheep and
and he observes the events on the farm with a critical eye. He award him the newly created honor, Animal Hero, Second
appears to understand what is happening, that the pigs are Class. Boxer and Snowball receive Animal Hero, First Class for
taking advantage of the situation. At the same time, he is given their bravery in the event, now called the Battle of the
over to cynicism and the belief that nothing will ever really Cowshed. The animals display Jones's rifle, which he dropped
change, so he does not bother to get involved. In this way, he is during the men's retreat, as a trophy by the flagstaff. They
similar to many educated citizens, under any form of agree to fire it on the anniversaries of the battle and their
government, who decline to participate or assume leadership rebellion.
because either it is too much trouble or they feel defeated by
the system.
Analysis
Chapter 4 The pigs' attempts to spread the message of their rebellion to
other farms mirrors the effort of the Soviet Union to spread
communist ideals around the world in the early 20th century.
Other countries, including the United States, made their own
Summary special efforts to contain these messages and counter the
spread of communism in Asia, Africa, and South America. The
Snowball and Napoleon work through the summer to spread
same was true in England throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and
word of the rebellion, sending out pigeons and teaching
1940s. Even after World War II and Animal Farm's publication
"Beasts of England" to animals on neighboring farms.
(1945), this struggle and the Cold War became defining
Meanwhile, Mr. Jones tells his side of the story at the village
features of 20th-century history. Many of the scenarios
pub. The other farmers, especially Mr. Frederick and Mr.
politicians presented to counter the growth of communism
Pilkington, ignore Jones's problems and are more interested in
touched upon the same topics the farmers presented: famine,
how they might take advantage of the situation. They also
shortages of goods, torture. While the farmers' predictions
worry about potential rebellions on their own farms. To deter
have not come true at this point in the novel, many of them will
their own animals from revolting, they tell stories of fighting,
by the end.
starvation, and even cannibalism and torture at Animal Farm.
However, the other animals in the county don't believe the As of right now, however, the animals still believe their farm is
humans' version of events, and small acts of rebellion take superior to any run by humans. They are willing to fight to
place all around. "Beasts of England" becomes popular among preserve their way of life. Snowball's leadership in the Battle of
the animals throughout the countryside despite threats of the Cowshed is notable because he is the only pig whose
punishment. actions are specifically identified in the narrative. Without
Snowball's strategies, the animals might not have defeated the
In October Mr. Jones and his men, along with a handful of
human intruders. Whatever actions the other pigs take during

the battle, including Napoleon's, are not notable enough to Napoleon escalates as Snowball introduces more plans for the
warrant specific mention, although the pigs do appear to be farm's improvement and forms a number of committees to
active in the battle rather than supervisory. implement these suggestions. Snowball's power comes from
the popularity of his speeches during meetings, but Napoleon
Furthermore, Snowball's ideals about Animalism are decidedly has more success raising support among the animals on a day-
pure. When Boxer experiences his crisis of conscience, to-day basis.
thinking he has killed the boy, Snowball scolds him for feeling
guilty, saying the only good human is a dead one. This The conflict between the two pigs comes to a head when
exchange raises an additional conflict of ideals. Boxer's Snowball introduces his plan to build a windmill on the farm.
commitment to Animalism is as total as any animal's on the The windmill could help the animals with their labor by running
farm, yet he is strongly opposed to taking life, even human life. machinery and providing electricity for the farm. Snowball
The exchange raises the question of whether violence is ever sketches out complete designs and publicly proposes his plan.
acceptable, even for a justifiable end. In spite of the apparent benefits, many of the animals are put
off by the intense labor the project will require. The conflict
Mollie's notable absence from battle once again underscores leads to a vote between Snowball's plan to build a windmill and
how she is really not as drawn to Animalism as the others. In Napoleon's proposal to continue in their present manner. The
many ways she has reason to resist. Her life under Mr. Jones two pigs also clash over the best way to defend the farm, with
was relatively good. She had a place of honor as his public Snowball favoring a continued propaganda campaign and
horse; she was decorated with ribbons and rewarded with Napoleon supporting the expanded use of weapons.
sugar cubes. If Jones and his family are the ruling class, Mollie
represents the upper class, not herself a ruler but still one who Before the vote Snowball makes a detailed speech in favor of
benefits directly from the rulers. She is reluctant to lower her the windmill, outlining its many benefits. Napoleon is less
living standards for the ideals of Animalism. Like many persuasive with words. Instead, he unleashes nine dogs—the
members of the human upper classes who faced the puppies he took from Jessie and Bluebell to raise and
upheavals of communist revolution in their countries, Mollie is educate—and these dogs chase Snowball away from the farm.
not greedy or power-hungry, but she's had a good life under At the next meeting Squealer explains how getting rid of
the old system. Not cut out for hard physical labor, she has no Snowball was done for the animals' own good because
reason to desire change or to risk herself to preserve the new Snowball was a bad influence. He caps off his speech by
order. asking if the animals want Jones back. Three weeks after
Snowball's expulsion, Napoleon announces the windmill project
will proceed.
Chapter 5
Analysis
Summary Mollie's disappearance reflects a phenomenon disturbingly
common in Soviet Russia and other totalitarian regimes.
Mollie repeatedly shirks her duties. One day Clover spots her
Clearly she is not falling into line with the party's ideas, which
talking to one of Pilkington's men near the farm's fence. Clover
breeds suspicion about her intentions and activities. After
also believes Mollie allowed the man to pet her. Searching
Clover investigates her comrade and, presumably, reports her
Mollie's stall, Clover finds a stash of sugar cubes and ribbons.
findings to the pigs, Mollie disappears. The animals never
Three days later Mollie disappears from the farm. The pigeons
mention her again. Often during the years of Soviet rule,
report seeing her wearing a ribbon and attached to a cart near
neighbors informed on neighbors for breaking with party
a local pub. The pub's owner is said to have been stroking her
protocol, and those neighbors disappeared, often into the
nose and feeding her sugar.
gulag, the secret prison system. Similar scenarios played out
On the farm the animals have given the pigs authority to make under other totalitarian regimes as well, including Nazi
all decisions, although these determinations still have to be Germany. It is possible that Mollie really did go live with the pub
approved by a majority vote. Conflict between Snowball and owner, but it is not impossible—especially considering

Napoleon's show of force toward Snowball later in the will ultimately improve the animals' lives. His skepticism about
chapter—that she met a much worse fate. the revolution is born from his idea that the revolution will not
substantially change their lives in the long run. Here his
The power shift in the pigs' favor that has been building since cynicism deepens to show that even when presented with two
the rebellion is now complete. The animals have already given different choices on an equal footing, he refuses to engage
the pigs the authority to make decisions, and the voting with the choice because he believes the alternatives are
process seems to be nominal since many of the animals do not essentially no different. His thinking lives up to the donkey's
really understand the voting process anyway. Now that reputation as a stubborn animal: in refusing to acknowledge
Napoleon has revealed his secret weapon, the nine dogs he the possibility of a better option, he ensures there will not be a
has trained to attack, he can rule by force if necessary. Since better option.
the Battle of the Cowshed, Snowball is clearly the cleverer, or
at least the more studious, of the two. That difference is even
clearer in his proposal to build the windmill. Napoleon cannot
hope to compete with Snowball's intellectual capabilities, so he
Chapter 6
uses force instead. The difference in their approaches appears
in their ideas about the farm's defense as well, where Snowball
favors the use of words to persuade others to the farm's cause
Summary
while Napoleon favors defending the farm with force.
In their first year under Napoleon's rule, the animals work 60-
With Snowball out of the picture, Napoleon is free to claim hour weeks; however, they are consoled by the belief that they
Snowball's ideas for himself. When Napoleon announces the are still working for their own benefit, even when Napoleon
windmill project will go forward, he reveals what his real announces "voluntary" working time on Sunday afternoons.
problem with Snowball was. Snowball's ideas are better than Despite the long hours, the harvest is less successful than the
his own, so Napoleon saw him as a threat. This meeting also previous year, and the animals miss planting some
signals the end of voting on the farm, as the windmill goes supplementary root crops that would have fed them through
forward without an actual vote from the animals. Without the winter. The reduced yield results from the windmill
bringing the project back to the animals for ratification, construction project, which presents many unforeseen
Napoleon simply issues a decree. This fiat is how decisions will problems. For example, even though the farm has a large store
be made on the farm from now on, yet none of the animals of sand and cement, the animals lack the ability to use tools for
seem to notice, or they are too intimidated by the dogs to building. While the farm also has a quarry with plenty of stone,
protest. the only way the animals can break the large stones into
pieces suitable for construction is to drag each boulder to the
The conflict between Napoleon and Snowball closely top of the quarry, drop it back to the bottom, and hope it
correlates with the conflict that emerged in the Soviet Union breaks.
after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924. Josef Stalin and Leon
Trotsky were both ranking members of the Communist Party Boxer makes the entire windmill project possible by working
and the Soviet government under Lenin. Stalin was well known tirelessly to drag stones from the quarry, even getting up early
as a strong man. Trotsky, with an intellectual reputation, was a and staying late in addition to his other duties. His belief in the
popular leader in the party. After Lenin died Trotsky openly project, in Animalism, and in Comrade Napoleon is unshakable.
opposed Stalin, which ultimately led to Trotsky's 1929 exile. In
At the same time, the animals discover they need other items
1940 one of Stalin's men assassinated Trotsky in Mexico. Just
the farm cannot produce, such as fuel oil, nails, horseshoes,
as Snowball's removal from the farm solidifies Napoleon's
and machinery for the windmill. These needs force the farm to
control, Trotsky's departure from the Soviet Union ensured
engage in trade with humans so the animals can earn money to
Stalin's control of the country by removing his most serious
buy the necessary items. At a meeting, four young pigs
opposition.
question this plan, but they are quickly silenced by growling
Benjamin stays out of the voting and the debate about the from Napoleon's dogs and chanting by the sheep. Napoleon
windmill because he believes neither Snowball nor Napoleon announces that he will make the sacrifice of dealing with the

human lawyer, Mr. Whymper, who will handle the trade affairs. Even if questioning Napoleon did cross the animals' minds,
While this arrangement makes them nervous, the animals also they have little recourse at this point. Napoleon tolerates no
find they enjoy watching one of their own give orders to a challenges to his edicts and decisions. When the four young
human. pigs hesitate over the trade issue, Napoleon threatens them
with his dogs and allows the sheep to drown out their
The pigs move into the farmhouse. Muriel and Clover question questions. The threat of force and the use of propaganda, such
whether this act is permitted by the Seven Commandments as slogans, are common strategies totalitarian leaders use to
because they seem to recall the commandment prohibiting maintain power. This incident shows that even other pigs are
animals sleeping in beds. Squealer points out that the full not immune to Napoleon's tactics. At the same time, Napoleon
commandment only prohibits animals from sleeping in beds needs to pacify the animals, so he deploys Squealer to explain
with sheets, since all animals have beds but a sheet is a human that the Seven Commandments do not prohibit trade. Unlike
invention. This explanation seems to settle the matter. the earlier interpretation of the commandment regarding
sleeping in a bed, Squealer is technically telling the truth here.
By November the windmill is finally near completion, but the
The Seven Commandments do not explicitly prohibit trade.
animals must pause construction because the weather is too
However, they do say that creatures who walk on two legs are
damp and windy to mix concrete and set stones into place.
the animals' enemies, so not doing business with them is
One night the animals awaken to a loud cracking sound, which
certainly implied.
turns out to be the windmill collapsing. Napoleon blames the
failure on Snowball, saying he must have sneaked into the farm In the context of history, the pigs' decision to do business with
and sabotaged the project. As proof, he sniffs some footprints, humans on other farms parallels the Soviet decision to form
declaring them to be Snowball's. He then offers the honor of alliances with European nations and the United States prior to
Animal Hero, Second Class to any animal who finds and kills World War II. At different times during the 1930s, Stalin
Snowball. He additionally offers a bushel of apples to any considered allying himself with both Germany and the United
animal who brings Snowball in alive. He then announces they Kingdom. The uncertainty of where Stalin would place his
will begin rebuilding the windmill immediately. country's considerable military might caused unrest on all
sides.
Analysis Given the weather conditions, it is more likely the windmill

collapsed due to design flaws and forces of nature than
The so-called voluntary Sunday workday is actually mandatory. sabotage. At the same time, Napoleon does not want the
Animals who do not participate in the Sunday work time have animals to question the feasibility of the design, the quality of
their rations cut in half. This reduction is so substantial that the the construction, or especially his own decision to proceed, so
apparent choice is not a real choice at all. However, the illusion he must find another source on which to fix the blame.
keeps the animals happy. The animals are also content Snowball is the obvious scapegoat here, the one to blame
because they believe they have at least the same amount of when anything goes wrong, whether or not he is actually
food as they had before the rebellion, and they do not have to responsible. With a clear, common, identifiable enemy trying to
support five humans as well. This consolation distracts them stop the windmill, not nature itself, Napoleon knows the
from the fact that they are supporting many more than five animals are more likely to buy into rebuilding it. They can
pigs who have now moved into the farmhouse to live like believe they are defying a threat, not engaging in a futile task.
humans. Squealer takes advantage of the animals' poor
memories and complacency when he covers up the first
change of the Seven Commandments with his explanation Chapter 7
about animals not being allowed to use bedsheets. They other
animals still trust the pigs because they believe "four legs
good," meaning no animal would ever lie to them. Their belief in
Animalism means the prospect of deception does not even
Summary
cross their minds.
Work continues on the windmill through the bitter winter

because the animals want to prove themselves to the humans themselves, the animals try to sing "Beasts of England," but
who doubt them. These same humans say the windmill Squealer tells them the song is now banned, replaced with a
collapsed because the walls were too thin, but the animals new song swearing allegiance to Animal Farm.
continue to believe Snowball is responsible. However, they also
decide to rebuild the windmill with thicker walls, which means
they need more stone. Collecting the stone in winter weather is Analysis
slow and difficult, impeding their progress. Only Boxer and
Clover, with their unshakable work ethic, keep up the animals' The animals all agree that the outsiders can't know what is
spirits. really going on with the farm's food supply because that would
leave them open to another attempt from the humans to take
Other problems abound. In January an improperly planted over the farm. They cooperate with the plan to keep the
potato crop fails, leaving the farm with a severe food shortage. humans from finding out the truth.
Despite near-starvation, Napoleon and the animals work
frantically to conceal the shortage from the outside world. Snowball becomes a useful scapegoat for the pigs to cover
Rumors of famine are already circulating among the humans, their own mismanagement of the farm. Blaming Snowball is so
so confirming these rumors would put the farm in danger. The useful for deterring questions about the windmill collapse, they
animals are instructed to talk about increased rations when Mr. blame him for everything that goes wrong on the farm.
Whymper is around. Still, Napoleon makes arrangements to sell However, when a misplaced key that Snowball has allegedly
more of the hens' eggs so the farm can buy grain to make up thrown down a well turns up under a sack of meal, it becomes
for the shortfall in their stores. obvious that Snowball's involvement is just a fiction. He is likely
not coming to the farm at all, but the animals seem to ignore
Wanting their eggs to become chicks, the hens rebel, laying this fact. Many of Snowball's alleged crimes are food-related:
their eggs in the henhouse rafters so they fall to the floor and missing corn, upset milk pails, broken eggs. The cows even
break. Napoleon responds by withholding the hens' rations, but claim Snowball comes to their stalls and milks them at night.
their resistance still lasts for five days. Nine hens die of Blaming Snowball can be a way for the animals to cover up
starvation, but Napoleon makes sure the other animals are told some of their own shortcomings, such as reduced milk
they died of disease. production. It is also possible the pigs use Snowball to cover
for their own activities. If a pig is seen eating bark from a tree
Although Snowball has not been sighted directly, rumors swirl
or taking corn or milking a cow at night, it makes sense to
that he is hiding on either Pilkington's or Frederick's farm,
claim the malefactor is Snowball instead of creating suspicion
depending on which farmer Napoleon is leaning toward doing
among themselves.
business with—or not—at any given time. Later the pigs claim
Snowball has been returning to the farm at night to cause The pigs are so committed to the Snowball ruse, they rewrite
mischief—stealing corn, upsetting milk pails, eating bark off their history of the Battle of the Cowshed. Snowball has been
fruit trees. All the bad things that happen are blamed on called the hero of that battle, and his strategies made victory
Snowball, even if the true causes become apparent later. possible. Yet Squealer convinces the animals that Snowball
Eventually Squealer announces Snowball has sold himself to was working for Mr. Jones the whole time, serving as Jones's
Frederick and says Snowball was always in league with the guide through the battle. This story further discredits Snowball,
humans, even fighting for Jones at the Battle of the Cowshed. illustrating the animals' willingness to believe anything the pigs
tell them. They don't remember their own history or even take
Later, Napoleon uses the threat of Snowball to eliminate some
the time or trouble to try to recall what really happened, so
of his enemies. During a meeting, he sends his dogs after the
they are open to whatever story the pigs feed them.
four pigs who question his trade plans, the hens that have
rebelled over the eggs, and a few other animals who confess As the executions prove, scapegoating Snowball is also a good
to working with Snowball. All of these animals are executed way for Napoleon to keep the other animals in line through
immediately. This violence stuns the other animals, especially intimidation. Some of the animals confess to being in league
Clover. After the executions, she and the other animals gather with Snowball, perhaps in a futile effort to save themselves, or
on the knoll where the windmill stood. In an attempt to comfort perhaps because they have been brainwashed sufficiently to

believe Snowball truly made them lay eggs in the rafters or Pilkington and spreads rumors about Frederick's plans to
urinate in the drinking water supply. However, the stunned attack the farm. Other rumors circulate about Frederick's
reaction the animals have to the executions shows they did not cruelty to his animals, which makes the animals want to attack
expect such carnage. The killings parallel Stalin's Great Purge his farm and overthrow him, but Squealer advises them against
during the 1930s, in which hundreds of thousands of "rash action."
government opponents or perceived opponents were
executed or imprisoned. The most disturbing part of the More misfortunes, including the appearance of weeds in the
animals' reaction to the executions is that despite their despair wheat crop, continue to be blamed on Snowball, still said to be
over these events, they are still convinced they are better off hiding on Frederick's farm. A gander who says he knew that
now than they were with Mr. Jones, revealing how brainwashed Snowball mixed weed seeds in with the wheat confesses and
or fearful, or both, the animals have become. commits suicide. The pigs revise the story of the Battle of the
Cowshed again, this time to reveal Snowball's active
cowardice.
Chapter 8 After all of these rumors and stories, the animals are shocked
to learn that Napoleon has sold the timber to Frederick and
has been negotiating with Frederick in secret all along. He
Summary spread the stories about selling to Pilkington only to get
Frederick to meet his price. The rumors about Frederick's farm
After the executions, the animals question (away from the pigs likely came from Snowball, who apparently is actually hiding on
and dogs) whether these events fall in line with the Seven Pilkington's farm. Once they hear the whole story, the animals
Commandments; they think they remember one of the are proud of Napoleon's negotiating prowess and also
commandments stating that no animal shall kill another animal. impressed that he is savvy enough to demand cash payment
After some investigation, Muriel the goat reads the instead of a check.
commandment on the wall aloud, and they discover it actually
reads, "No animal shall kill another animal without cause." The With the windmill finished and the timber sold, the machinery
animals decide these two words justify the executions of the for the windmill can be purchased, and all their dreams can
apparent traitors since their actions gave Napoleon cause. come true. However, three days after the sale Mr. Whymper
tells Napoleon that Frederick's money is counterfeit and he has
The general conditions for the animals continue to be harsh, as cheated them all. Napoleon pronounces a death sentence on
the workload of rebuilding the windmill and regular farm duties Frederick and prepares for an attack the next morning. The
requires additional effort. Although the animals believe they are animals are outmatched, and the men have guns. The animals
getting no more food than they did under Mr. Jones, Squealer send a message to Pilkington, who refuses to help. The battle
presents weekly numbers that seem to prove they are actually culminates when Frederick and his men blow up the finished
getting more food and are better off. At this point Squealer is windmill. The animals, who have retreated, are outraged by this
doing most of Napoleon's public speaking. Napoleon has act and counterattack vigorously, suffering casualties but
isolated himself in the farmhouse, away from even the other driving the humans from the farm. The pigs declare a victory
pigs, and rarely appears in public. When three hens confess to and hold a ceremony celebrating what they call the Battle of
plotting to assassinate Napoleon in summer, he becomes even the Windmill.
more isolated, adds more guard dogs, and gets a food taster.
The hens are executed. The pigs circulate poems and songs The animals, however, are crushed by the loss of the windmill
praising Napoleon as the savior and protector of all the and don't understand why the pigs want to celebrate. Squealer
animals. convinces them the battle is a triumph because the animals
held on to the farm, but they are not fully convinced until
Napoleon's negotiations with the other farms become more Napoleon speaks to them. The fallen animals are given a
complicated as he plans to sell a pile of timber to either funeral, and the rest of the animals receive extra rations.
Pilkington or Frederick. Frederick wants the timber but won't
meet Napoleon's price, so Napoleon announces plans to sell to A few days after the battle, the pigs discover whisky in the
farmhouse and drink it. The morning after, the pigs announce

Comrade Napoleon is dying, but he seems to feel better by toward Pilkington, he maligns Frederick, playing each side off
evening. That night the animals hear a noise in the barn and against the other to get his way. Furthermore, saying each
find Squealer unconscious on the ground next to a ladder and man's farm is harboring Snowball creates only more hostility
a paint can. One of the Seven Commandments now reads, "No among the animals. The changing stories about Snowball's
animal shall drink alcohol to excess." location reveal that no one knows where Snowball is, or the
pigs have killed Snowball already and are using him as a kind of
bogeyman for their own purposes. Given the shady way
Analysis Napoleon deals with both farmers, it should not come as a
shock that Frederick betrays him and Pilkington refuses to
The animals fail to remember their own history, and the pigs come to his aid during the Battle of the Windmill. The two
take advantage of this fact. Squealer's weekly presentations of farmers have been opposed to Animal Farm from the
numbers regarding the food supply do not reflect the truth. beginning, anyway. If the pigs had adhered to their own
Numbers can be manipulated to prove different results, so purported belief system—"Four legs good, two legs bad"—they
having the capacity to question the sources and methods of might have avoided the trouble. The entire episode illustrates
creating statistics is important. Of course the animals don't how Napoleon is really more interested in his own advantage
have this capacity. The changes to the commandments and than he is in animal power.
the faulty statistics illustrate how blind trust, a lack of
education and attention to detail, and apathetic participation in Napoleon's dealings with Pilkington and Frederick parallel
government all combined can result in ongoing exploitation and Stalin's negotiations with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s and then
the abuse of power. The animals do not have much recourse Winston Churchill, Britain's prime minister, in the 1940s. Stalin
toward the pigs at this point, anyway. After they discover entered an alliance with Hitler in 1939 just as Napoleon entered
Squealer in the barn, they may guess what the pigs have been an agreement with Frederick. Hitler nullified his pact with Stalin
up to with the commandments, but with the dogs at the pigs' when he invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 just as Frederick
beck and call, the animals are too intimidated to do anything. betrayed the terms of his deal with Animal Farm. The Soviet
army suffered massive casualties repelling the German
As if to add insult to (literal) injury, the pigs declare the Battle advance just as the animals suffered heavy losses in the Battle
of the Windmill a victory worth celebrating in spite of the of the Windmill. Both the Soviets and the animals were
losses the animals have suffered. This characterization ultimately successful in keeping what they had.
negates the months of hard labor and deprivation the animals
have endured to build and then rebuild the windmill. Boxer, the During the 1940s, Russia and Britain were official allies in
most steady of them all, has even suffered a serious injury in World War II, but Stalin and Churchill kept secrets from each
the battle. Now the animals know they will have to construct other. Stalin did not let the extent of his vindictive purges, such
the windmill again. When Squealer's arguments don't work to as his extensive killings of kulaks (members of the rich Russian
convince the animals of the victory, Napoleon buys them off peasant class) be known. Churchill, on his side, did not tell
with meager treats: an apple for each animal, an ounce of corn Stalin that he and Roosevelt had decided not to open a second
for each bird, and three biscuits for each dog. These are small front against Hitler in France in 1942, which they earlier had led
rewards for such a heavy loss. As for the pigs, they celebrate Stalin to believe and which would have helped Russia defend
by drinking themselves sick, breaking another of the Seven itself better.
Commandments; then they revise it behind the animals' backs
to fit their own behavior. No matter how egregious and obvious
the pigs' hypocrisy becomes, the animals do not react. Here Chapter 9
Orwell underscores just how dangerous a combination passive
citizens and unscrupulous dictators can be.
The negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington illustrate the

Summary
strength of propaganda in manipulating public opinion. When
The hoof Boxer split during the Battle of the Windmill takes a
Napoleon leans toward doing business with Frederick, he puts
long time to heal, but he refuses to take any time off work. The
out negative publicity about Pilkington. When he inclines

animals have already started rebuilding the windmill, and Boxer Sugarcandy Mountain, the pigs officially declare his stories lies,
knows he is essential to the project. He refuses to let the other but they also provide the bird with a daily ration of beer.
animals see his pain and wants to see the windmill well
underway before he retires, even though Clover and Benjamin In late summer, near his time of retirement, Boxer collapses
caution him not to overexert himself. The original plans for near the windmill site. A lung has given way, and the animals
Animal Farm allow horses to retire at 12 years with a pension of rush to the pigs for help. Squealer comes to the site after 15
corn and hay, and Boxer's 12th birthday is coming up this year. minutes with word that Napoleon is making arrangements to
send Boxer to a veterinary hospital in the village. Clover and
Conditions on the farm remain harsh, as the animals continue Benjamin escort Boxer to his stall and stay with him while they
to undertake both farm and windmill-building duties through aren't working, comforting him and keeping flies away. Two
the winter. In addition the four sows litter a total of 35 days later, while they are in the fields, a van comes to take
piglets—all Napoleon's—so there are many more mouths to Boxer away. The animals rush to see him off, but only Benjamin
feed. These pigs need to be educated, so work also begins on can read the writing on the side of the van. He sees that it
a schoolhouse in the farmhouse garden. The expenses of the belongs to the local horse slaughterer. Benjamin yells out the
school and of machinery for the windmill, in addition to the truth to the other animals, and Clover shouts a warning to
other farm necessities, demand increased production of goods Boxer. Boxer tries to kick his way out of the van, but he is too
for sale and trade. Rations are reduced—or to use Squealer's weak to do so.
word, "readjusted"—for everyone except pigs and dogs, but it
doesn't seem to matter because he produces reams of figures Three days later, the pigs announce that Boxer died in the
to prove the animals are getting more food and working hospital. Squealer claims to have been with Boxer at the very
shorter hours than before. He also has numbers to prove that end and that Boxer's last words were "Long live Comrade
their drinking water is better, they're living longer, more of their Napoleon! Napoleon is always right!" Squealer also refutes the
offspring are surviving infancy, and they have more straw and story that Boxer left in the horse slaughterer's van, claiming the
fewer fleas in their stalls. The animals believe him because veterinarian just bought the van from the local knacker and had
their memory of what life was like with Mr. Jones in charge has not yet repainted it. The animals are relieved to hear this story
simply faded, and despite the cold, hunger, and long hours, and happy to hear that Napoleon paid for Boxer's medical
they are free animals, not slaves to a human. That freedom expenses. Later, Napoleon announces that it is not possible to
alone makes everything seem better. The animals also enjoy bring Boxer's remains back to the farm for burial, but he will
the many songs, speeches, and processions that are now part send a wreath of laurels down to Boxer's grave in the village.
of farm life. In late summer the farm is declared a republic, and

A few days later, a van delivers a large crate to the farmhouse,
an election is held for president, although Napoleon is the only
which the animals learn is full of whisky, and the pigs hold a
candidate.
memorial banquet in Boxer's honor, with just themselves in
In the meantime the pigs live comfortably. They use barley to attendance. There is much noise in the house that night.
brew beer, and Napoleon keeps sugar on his table. They

appear to be gaining weight. They also keep candles and
lamps in the house, although to save oil, lanterns are no longer
Analysis
allowed in the stalls. Also, the pigs are allowed to wear green
Squealer's arguments have ceased to even make much sense.
ribbons on their tails on Sundays. Other changes are apparent
He claims that completely identical rations would be "contrary
in the social order of the farm. The new piglets are not allowed
to the principles of Animalism," a statement that negates the
to mingle with the other animals, and the other animals must
most basic principle of Animalism: equality. He has expanded
yield to pigs when they meet on a path.
the type and amount of statistics he offers the animals,
The pigs also offer one more revision to Snowball's history, showing them how all aspects of their lives are better now than
claiming that he actually led the human forces into battle. they were with Mr. Jones. The animals believe these claims
Napoleon, not Mr. Jones's gun, inflicted the wounds on because they lack the knowledge to refute them and also
Snowball's back. Many of the animals claim to have witnessed because they need to believe these claims. Otherwise, their
these events firsthand. When Moses returns with his stories of rebellion and the suffering they have experienced would be for

nothing. far more comfortable than the truth. As with the weekly
numbers, to reject Squealer's lie would mean accepting that
In contrast, the pigs no longer do much at all to justify or cover they now live under the control of pigs who would sell even
up the fact that they live far more comfortably than the other their most loyal worker to slaughter. The animals need to
animals. The animals do not seem to notice, or do not choose believe they have suffered for something, that their lives since
to observe, that many of the luxuries the pigs enjoy, such as oil the rebellion are better, and that the rebellion had real
lamps in the house, come at the animals' expense. Napoleon is meaning. Living conditions in communist countries, including
committed to building a schoolhouse for the young pigs so the Soviet Union, have historically featured extreme
they can be educated, whereas no such plans are being made deprivation for the masses while the leaders lived in luxury.
for the other animals, and educating the young pigs alone will Like the animals, the common people cling to the ideals of their
ensure only pigs will remain in power for generations to come. revolution because they either fear the punishment that comes
Additionally, the growing numbers of pigs actually mean the with protest or they can't face that the leaders they have
animals may be worse off than they were under Mr. Jones. The trusted would exploit them so completely.
exact number of Jones's men is never specified, but his family
definitely had fewer than 35 members, which is now the
number of piglets in the farmhouse, let alone the adult pigs.
The animals are clearly providing for a much larger number of
Chapter 10
pigs than they had of humans.
To make up for the deprivation the animals must endure, the Summary
pigs have arranged plenty of distractions in the form of
demonstrations, parades, songs, and speeches. Napoleon's After many years, most of the animals who fought in the
election creates the appearance that the animals have a say in rebellion have died, except Clover, Benjamin, Moses, and some
the way the farm runs, but it is only an illusion because pigs. The animals now on the farm have known life under only
Napoleon is the sole candidate. Only a few of the animals seem the pigs' rule, and the ideals of the rebellion are abstract
to recognize these events and demonstrations waste hours notions to them. Although the farm is larger now with more
they could be working on any of the many projects the pigs animals, and the farm appears prosperous, the living conditions
have put forth. for everyone other than the pigs remain as dismal as ever.
Squealer continues to present numbers to tell the animals how
In a similar vein, the pigs have allowed Moses to return to the good they have it, but their primary comfort and pride lies in
farm although he was never officially expelled. The pigs the fact that they are part of the only farm in the country
publicly scorn Moses, but they also essentially pay him a daily owned and operated by animals.
salary of beer to soothe the animals with his stories of
Sugarcandy Mountain. The animals enjoyed the stories in Mr. During the summer, Squealer takes the sheep away to teach
Jones's days because they were a distraction from the them a new saying, which is revealed on the day the pigs also
harshness of their lives, and it is the same now that their lives reveal a new trick to the animals. The pigs walk on their hind
are even harsher under the pigs. legs. The animals are terrified and amazed by this
development, but before they can respond, the sheep unveil
Over the years since the revolution, the pigs have betrayed the new chant, "Four legs good, two legs better!" Napoleon
nearly all of the ideals Old Major put forth in his speech. They also begins carrying a whip in his trotter.
have modified the Seven Commandments, sold the hens' eggs
that were meant to become chicks, and with Boxer, committed Around the same time, the Seven Commandments disappear
another evil previously attributed to humans alone: sending an from the wall of the barn, replaced by a single commandment:
animal off to slaughter once he has outlived his "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than
usefulness—not just any animal, either, but the most loyal and others." The pigs order a radio and magazine subscriptions,
devoted follower of Animalism. The lie Squealer tells about the and they start wearing Mr. Jones's clothes.
knacker's van is almost laughably transparent, but the animals
About a week after the pigs start walking on two legs, they
believe it because they still trust the pigs and because the lie is
host a dinner party for the local farmers. The animals watch

Animal Farm Study Guide Quotes 22
the dinner party through a window while Mr. Pilkington makes a enemy of the people is not one socioeconomic class or
toast praising the methods and efficiency of the farm. another, but totalitarianism. So many revolutions have followed
Napoleon thanks Pilkington and takes the opportunity to dispel a similar pattern: a rebellion takes place to overthrow a
any rumors still circulating about the farm, including that the government only to be replaced by leadership ultimately as
animals call each other "comrade" or salute a boar's skull on bad or worse.
Sunday mornings. He also announces the farm will now be
known by its original name, Manor Farm. At this, the
disheartened animals move away from the window toward their
g Quotes
stalls. The noise of raised voices draws them back to the
house where they see the pigs and men fighting, but now they
cannot tell which is which. "No animal in England knows the
meaning of happiness or leisure
Analysis after he is a year old. No animal in
The pigs' transformation of the farm becomes more complete England is free. The life of and
as time passes. Now only a few animals remember the
rebellion firsthand, let alone life before the rebellion, so the
animal is misery and slavery: that
pigs are free to abandon Animalism's last lingering principles. is the plain truth."
They begin to live fully the same way as humans, walking on
two legs, wearing clothes, and consorting with true humans
— Old Major, Chapter 1
socially. Erasing the last bits of the rebellion's history, they bury
Old Major's skull, get rid of the flag, and paint over the Seven
Commandments. It's as if the rebellion never took place. At the start of his speech, Old Major describes the lives the
animals of England, and indeed the world, face. Their existence
These events remove the last bit of comfort and illusion from is bleak and devoid of joy. This is the life that he dreams the
the animals' lives. They have clung to the knowledge that as animals will escape. While this view appears at the beginning of
bad as things may seem, they do not work for humans, only for the novel, it remains an equally true description of the animals'
themselves. The final scene, in which they can no longer tell lives at the end.
the difference between pigs and men, finally erases that
illusion for the animals. They do work for humans, essentially.
They held a rebellion to overthrow a set of unjust and greedy
"Whatever goes upon two legs is
rulers, and ultimately end up with just another group of unjust
and greedy rulers. Benjamin's claim at the beginning of the an enemy. Whatever goes upon
story, that nothing much will ever change for the animals,
four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
proves true—although it is easy to wonder if this is a self-
fulfilling prophecy. And remember also that in fighting
From the historical perspective, this sequence of events is not against Man, we must not come to
uncommon. The Russian Revolution was simply an early 20th-
resemble him."
century example that struck Orwell hard because it was initially
so full of promise yet turned out so be so disappointing. The
communists overthrew the ruling class because its members
exploited the workers, but then Stalin and his followers simply
exploited the workers themselves, eliminating anyone who In the animals' quest to overcome human rule, Old Major issues
disagreed with them and living in comfort. Orwell's message is a caution against becoming friendly with humans or, worse,
clear. As England's Lord Acton famously said, "Power tends to becoming like them. Like many of his other statements, this is a
corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The true caution the pigs will not heed; they become more and more like

Animal Farm Study Guide Quotes 23
the humans as they gain more power over the farm. When Boxer believes he has accidentally killed a farm hand
during battle, he is deeply sorry, revealing his gentle and kind
nature. Even though he believes humans are the enemy, and
"Weak or strong, clever or simple, even accepts that violence may be necessary to defend the
farm, he draws the line at killing. Squealer tells the animals that
we are all brothers. No animal Napoleon would like to let them make their own decisions but
sometimes they make wrong decisions.
must ever kill any other animal. All
animals are equal."
"Comrades ... do you know who is
responsible for this? Do you know
This statement distills Old Major's philosophy to its purest the enemy who has come in the
essence. Animals must think of themselves as brothers and night and overthrown our windmill?
sisters and relate to one another in unity and equality if the
revolution is to succeed. SNOWBALL!"
— Napoleon, Chapter 6
"Donkeys live a long time. None of
you has ever seen a dead donkey." After the windmill collapses, Napoleon blames the exiled
Snowball for the disaster. This strategy unites the animals
against a common enemy and deflects scrutiny from the pigs'
— Benjamin, Chapter 3
own flawed plans and leadership.
Benjamin explains his reluctance to take an active role in the

rebellion or anything else because, in his opinion, very little "I do not understand it. I would not
truly changes in the long term.
have believed that such things
could happen on our farm. It must
"Four legs good, two legs bad."
be due to some fault in ourselves.
— Snowball, Chapter 3 The solution, as I see it, is to work
harder."
Snowball distills the essence of Animalism and the Seven
Commandments into this single, simplistic statement to enable
— Boxer, Chapter 7
the animals to take in these complex ideas more easily.
Eventually the slogan is chanted so frequently that it loses all
meaning. After Napoleon carries out public executions of animals
deemed traitors to the farm, Boxer attempts to understand
what has happened. It is impossible for him to make sense of
how far the farm has strayed from the original ideals of the
"I have no wish to take life, not
rebellion. Boxer is so devoted to his leaders and the ideals he
even human life." believes they represent that he is willing to blame himself for
these events, even though his work ethic has nothing to do
— Boxer, Chapter 4 with the executions. This sentiment echoes his own interior

Animal Farm Study Guide Symbols 24
motto from Chapter 5: I will work harder. powerful emperor of France. A major, as in Old Major, is a high
military rank held by an army officer. Jones is one of the most
common names in English, showing that the farmer represents
"If you have your lower animals to virtually any human. A snowball, associated with winter fun, has
connotations of harmlessness and fragility. A boxer is a
contend with ... we have our lower powerful fighter. A squealer has negative associations with
snitches who tell or "squeal" on people; it is also someone who
classes!"
makes a terrible noise of pain. Finally, Moses is the Biblical
prophet who receives the Ten Commandments from God.
— Mr. Pilkington, Chapter 10
When Pilkington makes this joke at the dinner party with the
pigs, it becomes obvious that the farm is a representation of Milk and Apples
how the upper classes exploit the lower classes in human
society, and it underlines Orwell's feeling that inequality is
rampant in every type of political and economic system. The milk and apples the pigs claim for themselves shortly after
the rebellion represent riches and wealth, to which the pigs
feel a special sense of entitlement. The claim on these extra
"The creatures outside looked foodstuffs is the first of many special privileges the pigs will
claim at the other animals' expense.
from pig to man, and from man to
pig, and from pig to man again; but
already it was impossible to say Windmill
which was which."
— Narrator, Chapter 10 When Snowball introduces the plan for the windmill, it
represents the hope of a better standard of living for all
animals, who will benefit from the electricity the windmill will
The chilling final line of the novel shows the animals realizing
generate. As time rolls on and the windmill gets destroyed and
that the pigs have become so much like the humans they were
rebuilt, it comes to represent the constant hard labor the
trying to defeat that there is no difference between them
animals do for very little benefit. Its destruction is the loss of
anymore. The rebellion has changed nothing. Furthermore,
their hope.
Orwell shows humans as gluttonous pigs, no better than the
worst of the animals. It is a bleak view of humanity.
Old Major's Skull

l Symbols
After Napoleon assumes total control of the farm, he exhumes
Old Major's skull and puts it on display for the animals to salute
Names each week. This represents an attempt to acknowledge both
the past and the roots of Animalism, giving the pigs' regime
authenticity. When the ideals of the rebellion no longer serve
the pigs' purposes, the skull is reburied, and the ritual of
Many of the animals' names are highly symbolic, suggestive of
saluting it is denounced as strange, representing the pigs'
their characters or roles. The historical Napoleon was the all-

Animal Farm Study Guide Themes 25
abandonment of core principles and history.

Deception
Jones's Rifle To maintain their position of power over the other animals,
Napoleon and the other pigs create elaborate lies to cover
their actions. Squealer uses propaganda to convince the
Left behind as Mr. Jones and his men retreat from the Battle of animals they are doing well when, in fact, their lives get worse
the Cowshed, the rifle is a symbol of the animals' victory over as the months and years pass. The pigs secretly change the
their human masters and is fired in celebration of the Seven Commandments and other resolutions from the
anniversaries of their greatest victories, the rebellion and the rebellion, convincing the animals that their own memories are
Battles of the Cowshed and the Windmill. faulty. Using Snowball as a scapegoat for everything that goes
wrong hides the fact that others are really responsible.
m Themes Idealism
Corruption The animals embrace the ideals of Animalism and the equality
and sharing this political philosophy promises them. They
believe in the best intentions of one another, even as the
The pigs who take over leadership of Animal Farm after the practice of Animalism moves away from its noble concept of
rebellion depart from the ideals of Animalism, serving their own free, equal animals working together and sharing the plentiful
interests. The inequalities begin on a small scale—a pail of milk fruits of their labor. Throughout the story the animals remind
here, a bushel of apples there. As the pigs gain more wealth themselves of the beliefs that guided their revolution by singing
and power over time, they change the rules of Animalism to "Beasts of England," which describes their ideal world.
suit their own desires and to maintain their control of the farm,
eventually turning it into a totalitarian society.
Apathy
Exploitation
Two kinds of apathy exist on the farm; both enable the pigs to
assume absolute power. The apathy shown by characters such
Understanding that literacy offers power, the pigs make sure as Benjamin the donkey stems from an ability to see and
that none of the animals except their own young learn how to understand what is happening disabled by a belief that action
read. As the pigs take advantage of their position, using their of any kind will not create change and is, therefore, not
superior education and, later, the physical threat of the dogs, worthwhile. Most of the animals fall victim to a second kind of
the overworked and uneducated other animals find themselves apathy, born of unquestioning trust in the pigs' leadership,
working harder for fewer and fewer benefits. Their efforts which leads to a lack of critical thought that makes them
benefit the pigs more than themselves. susceptible to manipulation and deception.

Animal Farm Study Guide Motifs 26
Marx, Karl, and Frederich Engels. Communist Manifesto.

b Motifs Ballingslöv: Chiron, 2016. Print.
Songs and Chants

The songs and chants the animals sing throughout Animal
Farm function as propaganda, or "biased information used to
promote a particular cause": Major's "Beasts of England,"
Minimus's ode to Napoleon and his revised anthem, and the
sheep's chants. By having the animals chant the same words in
unison, the pigs maintain social control by stripping the animals
of their individuality and keeping them focused on the political
agenda.
Religion and Ritual

As the pigs work to consolidate power, they institute rituals
such as awards, parades, and songs for the purpose of
creating loyalty to the state. As the rituals grow in number, the
working animals become more and more vulnerable and reliant
on the state to define their cultural values.
e Suggested Reading
Brunsdale, Mitzi M. "All Animals Are Equal, but ... : Animal Farm."
Student Companion to George Orwell. Greenwood, 2000.
121-122. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Jennifer Baise.
Vol. 68. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Children's Literature Review Online.
Web. 24 July 2016.
Colls, Robert. "The War That Made Orwell." Salon.com. Salon

Media Group, 2014. Web. 6 Sept. 2016.
Drabble, Margaret. "Of Beasts and Men: Orwell on

Beastliness." On Nineteen Eighty-Four: Orwell and Our Future.
Ed. Abbott Gleason, Jack Goldsmith, and Martha C. Nussbaum.
Princeton: Princeton UP, 2005. 38-48. Rpt. in Twentieth-
Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Kathy D. Darrow. Vol. 276.
Detroit: Gale, 2013. 20th Century Literature Criticism Online.
Web. 24 July 2016.
Bloom, Harold, ed. George Orwell's Animal Farm. New York:

Chelsea, 1996. Print. Bloom's Mod. Critical Interpretations.

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Animal Farm

Study Guide by Course Hero

Animal Farm is written in the past tense.

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 2

h Characters .................................................................................................. 3 d In Context

c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 10 The Russian Revolution and Its

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Other Major Character

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Full Character List Jessie

Pilkington is the owner of a neighboring

Mr. Whymper is a lawyer retained by the

Muriel is a goat who, aside from

Sheep are useful spreaders of

Jessie and Bluebell are Mr. Jones's dogs

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7. Boxer is sent away to slaughter as the animals protest.

1. Old Major introduces ideas about animal rebellion.

8. Pigs walk on two legs and begin wearing clothes.

5. Napoleon expels Snowball and takes total control.

6. Animals defend farm against Frederick's attack.

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Animals hear Old Major's dream of a world where all

Animals rebel against Mr. Jones and establish their own

Conflict between Snowball and Napoleon peaks over

Napoleon announces plans to begin trade with other

The windmill, near completion, collapses, and Snowball is

Napoleon executes animals who confess to working with

Frederick double-crosses Napoleon on a timber sale and

Boxer the horse collapses while working, and the pigs

Some Years Later

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c Chapter Summaries Analysis

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Napoleon tells them not to worry. When the animals return

bring in the harvest themselves, faster and better than Jones

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Analysis Given the weather conditions, it is more likely the windmill

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The negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington illustrate the

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of farm life. In late summer the farm is declared a republic, and

brew beer, and Napoleon keeps sugar on his table. They

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Benjamin explains his reluctance to take an active role in the

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Old Major's Skull

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