Animal Farm Novel Notes George Orwell s Anti-Utopian Novel

Animal Farm Novel Notes George Orwell’s Anti-Utopian Novel Allegory – A story with an underlying meaning Satire – Pokes fun at a serious issue Fable – Animal story with a moral

Chapter 1 § Old Major’s Prophecy - Rebel against Man’s ways as well as Man himself: o Live in a house o Sleep in a bed o Wear clothes o Drink o Smoke o Use money o Engage in trade o No tyranny over other animals

§ IRONY of Old Major as the “visionary”: He has led a pampered life as a prize winning show pig. He has had the opportunity to oversee the situation faced by the others.

Chapter 2 § Napoleon Vs. Snowball: Their descriptions foreshadow a power struggle Snowball – • Good speaker • Inventive • Not as strong as Napoleon– • Fierce-looking • Rarely speaks • used to getting his own way

§ Important Characters: § Squealer – has the ability to persuade others § Boxer/Clover – examples of the “hard-working masses” § Benjamin – intelligent; sees what is happening

§ Sugar Candy Mountain: This represents that idea of “Heaven” No matter how you suffer on Earth, you are rewarded in the “afterlife”. § Communist Belief: No rewards in an “afterlife”. Have to make the most of the here and now. Allowed religion so people would have something to believe in.

§ Pigs’ Ability to Read and Write: Intelligence far above the other animals except Benjamin. § Because of this, they assume the role of ‘organizers’. Very quickly, they take advantage of the situation. They take advantage of the others’ ignorance. § They do attempt to teach the other animals

The Seven Commandments 1. Whatever goes upon 2 legs is an enemy 2. Whatever goes upon 4 legs or has wings is a friend 3. No animal shall wear clothes 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed 5. No animal shall drink alcohol 6. No animal shall kill another animal 7. All animals are equal

§ § Chapter 3 Boxer: selfless concern for others Benjamin: refusal to get involved Sheep: ignorance; very dumb and easily led Use of Propaganda § Squealer is instrumental - good speaker § 1 st use - Disappearance of the milk and apples Sheep’s Maxim – “four legs good, two legs bad”

Propaganda Something written or spoken with the intention of making people believe what you want them to believe Propaganda shares techniques with advertising and public relations

§ An appeal to one’s emotions is the more obvious propaganda method, but there are many other forms: § Flag Waving § Glittering Generalities § Intentional vagueness § Bandwagon § Rationalization § Red Herring § Slogans/Songs § Stereotyping § Testimonial § Attacking the Straw Man

Propaganda Answers: Flag Waving: Connecting person or product with patriotism. Example: Red, white and blue packaging. Glittering Generalities: Words that make something glitter or sparkle while using words that are generic. Often vague but positive. Examples: Do something “in defense of democracy” Democracy has a positive connotation. Or using X product “is the American way. ” Repetition: Attempt to persuade by repeating a message over and over again. Example: Phone number or jingle in commercials

Propaganda Answers: Red Herring: An irrelevant topic is presented in order to get attention away from the original issue. Example: O. J. Simpson couldn’t have murdered his wife. He’s in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. Testimonial: Quotations or endorsements which connect a famous person to the product. Example: Katy Perry uses Pro. Activ. Bandwagon: An appeal to the subject to follow the crowd. Example: Over 99 billion served.

Propaganda Answers: Sweeping Generalization (Stereotyping): Makes an over-simplified statement about a group based on limited information. Example: Teenagers drive too fast, drink too much, listen to nothing but rap music, and have no sense of responsibility! Circular Argument: States a conclusion as part of the proof of the argument Example: President Reagan was a great communicator because he had the knack of talking effectively to the people. Appeal to Numbers, Facts, Stats: attempts to persuade by showing the number of people who think something is true. Example: 9 out of 10 dentists use Crest toothpaste

Propaganda Answers: Name-Calling: The opposite of glittering generalities. Ties a person or cause to a negative image. Example: In a campaign speech, the Congressman referred to his environmentally conscious opponent as a tree-hugger. Plain Folks: the candidate or cause is identified with common people from everyday walks of life. Makes the candidate seem grassroots and all-American. Example: after a speech to wealthy campaign donors, the candidate stops by Mc. Donald’s for a burger and a photo-op

Does Propaganda Work? § Children had to decide between a plain cupcake with frosting or a cupcake with frosting and Spider-Man. § All the kids chose the Spider-Man § when the kids were asked why they chose that one they said they think it tastes better. § Between a banana with Spongebob stickers and a cupcake a good majority chose the banana. § Banana with no stickers and a rock with Spongebob stickers… § Over ½ of the children chose the rock with the stickers to eat for breakfast.

Chapter 4 § Battle of Cowshed: § It was planned (unlike the rebellion) § Enforced the animals’ hold on Animal Farm § Snowball gains power; labeled a hero § Hero 1 st Class: Snowball and Boxer § Where was Napoleon?

Chapters 5 and 6 § Mollie’s Departure: § Used to luxury and not willing to give it up § Material pleasures were more important than freedom § Represents the Aristocracy § She was the only animal with something to lose in the revolution

Napoleon Vs. Snowball § Defense: Napoleon - use of weapons § Windmill: Napoleon - against the idea Snowball - organize animals from other farms Snowball - create electricity to make life easier What Napoleon says: will take too much time from making food What Napoleon means: good idea - feather in Snowball’s cap

§ Snowball’s Slogan - “The 3 Day Week” § Napoleon’s Slogan - “The Full Manger” §Animals too ignorant to make up their minds

Removal of Snowball § Snowball forces a vote on the windmill when the animals are leaning towards him. § Napoleon realizes that if the vote is taken, he will lose § Dogs chase Snowball off. His removal is the 1 st act of violence § Foreshadows more to come § Napoleon tells the animals that Snowball was a traitor and that’s why he was run off From this point on, Snowball will be a Scapegoat for everything that goes wrong v Boxer’s new Maxim: “Napoleon is always right”

Life Under Napoleon – Ch 6 1. No more Sunday debates or voting - pigs will make all decisions 2. Fear factor is increased 3. Windmill is to be built - Napoleon said it was his idea 4. Work on Sundays 5. Engage in trade - Mr. Whymper is the gobetween 6. Pigs move into the house - need a place to work 7. Pigs get up 1/2 hour later than others 8. Pigs sleep in beds 9. Windmill is destroyed - blamed on Snowball; death sentence placed on him

q. First Commandment Change - “No animal shall sleep in beds with sheets” Clover questions this

Chapter 7 § Changes in Napoleon § Few public appearances § Spoke through Squealer § Always guarded - Paranoia! § Chicken Rebellion § Facing starvation - pigs decide to sell eggs for food § Chickens refuse Squealer’s appeal - propaganda fails § Chickens destroy their own eggs - WHY? § Chickens’ rations stopped. Give in after 5 days - 9 dead

§ Snowball as the Scapegoat: § Squealer announces that Snowball led the attack on them at the Battle of Cowshed. § He was in league with Jones from the beginning § Written document found in the house, but only pigs can read it v. Rewriting history - Napoleon saved the day at Cowshed § Boxer questions Squealer § Finally agrees because Napoleon is always right § Squealer now distrusts Boxer

§ Scene of Bloodshed: § Four pigs - Napoleon distrusts them because they sided with Snowball. § Probably admitted their actions because a DEAL was made § Didn’t realize they would be killed § Why would they admit to being traitors? § Mass hysteria, brainwashing § Boxer doesn’t understand: vows to work harder § Clover begins to realize something is wrong § Life isn’t what she expected - continues to work hard.

Abolishes “Beasts of England” • Napoleon says they no longer need a song of rebellion • Napoleon fears a rebellion against himself!

Chapter 8 Napoleon as a Leader § § Celebrate his birthday Formally addressed Given credit for all good things More paranoid - more guards, food tasting q. Second commandment change - “No animal shall kill another animal without cause”

Battle of the Windmill § Sell timber to Fredrick to buy food § Napoleon accuses Fredrick of giving counterfeit money § Frederick and friends attack Animal Farm § Windmill is blown up - Animals “win” § 1 cow, 3 sheep, 2 geese die § Boxer is wounded

Aftermath of the Battle § Squealer tells them that they’ll build again § Boxer is worried he will not be strong enough to do it all again § Squealer announces Napoleon is dying What was really wrong? q. Third Commandment Change - “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess”

§ § Pigs drink whiskey Retirement pasture turned into a barley field Pigs buy equipment for a still Squealer falls while changing the commandment § No one catches it but Benjamin § He says nothing!

Chapter 9 § Boxer § Ailing health - refuses to quit working § Near retirement age - 12 years old § Privileges of the Pigs § § § Schoolhouse built for the piglets Piglets not to play with other animals Other animals have to give pigs the right of way Pigs wear green ribbons on their tails Crops sold to buy luxuries for the pigs

§ Form a Republic § Animal Farm acts as a country of its own § Napoleon as president - his wishes become law § More info on Snowball - he actively fought with Jones; wounds were made by Napoleon § Return of Moses § Moses returns and preaches about Sugar Candy Mountain § Although Napoleon warns others not to listen, Moses is allowed to stay and given food and beer § Why? SCM keeps the animals’ minds off their troubles prevents a rebellion

Death of Boxer § § § § Collapses while working - plans to retire Napoleon makes arrangements at a hospital Benjamin makes everyone aware that they are taking Boxer to the knackers Boxer is too weak to escape Squealer announces that Boxer died at hospital Vet bought knackers’ van Pigs bought a case of whiskey and held a party - money from sale of Boxer

Three Reasons for Boxer’s Death 1. Pigs make money - buy whiskey 2. Pigs save money - don’t have to feed him anymore 3. Pigs didn’t trust him Why doesn’t Benjamin do anything? - He is too afraid. The pigs are too powerful. He realizes he will be killed if he causes trouble. IT IS TOO LATE!

Chapter 10 § Windmill - Complete § Used as a grain mill not for electricity for the animals § Pigs use money for themselves § Final Changes in the Pigs § Walk on hind legs § 4 legs good, 2 legs better § Carry whips § Use phones § Magazines § Smoke § Wore clothes

q. Final Commandment Change: “All Animals are equal…. but some are more equal than others” The majority of animals new to Animal Farm (born or bought after the revolution) § Happy to live free from man § Too stupid to really understand the commandment’s true meaning

§ No animal has retired § Reflect - Pigs began getting their way using Propaganda. As time went by, they used the fear factor to keep control and the need for Propaganda lessened. § Finale - The animals can’t tell the difference between the pigs and men. It wasn’t a LITERAL similarity - the pigs’ behavior was like man. § Full Circle - Life is no better now than it was under Jones (possibly worse). Through corruption and greed, the pigs have totally taken advantage of and controlled their “comrades”

Resolution Totalitarianism is dangerous. It doesn’t work. Don’t attempt it.

Review 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Characters and Their Symbolism Mr. Jones…………………. . Czar Nicholas II Old Major…………………. . Karl Marx/Lenin Animalism……………. . ………Communism Snowball………………. . Trotksy Napoleon…………………. . . …………. Stalin Moses………………. Religion Boxer/Clover……. …Hard Working Masses Squealer………. . Propaganda/Pravda

9. Squealer…………. . . …. Propaganda/Pravda 10. Mollie………………. Aristocracy 11. Benjamin……………. . . …. Older Generation 12. Muriel……………. . ………Educated People 13. Pigs…………. Communist s 14. Dogs……………. . . ……K (9) GB 15. Animals…. . . ………. Brainwashed Followers 16. Frederick………………. . Hitle