Animal Farm - Key plot details

1. Old Major, the prize boar, calls a secret meeting of all the farm animals on Manor
Farm. He states that a rebellion against their human master, Mr Jones, will one day
come.
2. A cow starts the rebellion by walking into the store-shed. The animals end up
chasing Mr Jones off the farm.
3. Now they are free, the animals all agree on the Seven Commandments that they will
live by. The farm is renamed 'Animal Farm'. There is hope for a better future.
4. The pigs start to order the other animals around and take more food than they
should.
5. The animals bravely fight off a human attempt to retake the farm, this becomes
known as 'The Battle of the Cowshed'.
6. The animals set to work building a windmill and Napoleon takes charge.
7. Napoleon reduces the rations and rights of the animals and starts breaking the
commandments. There is another invasion by the men and the windmill is blown
up. Boxer collapses whilst rebuilding it for the second time.
 8. Napoleon and the other pigs learn to walk on their hind legs, wear human clothes
and carry whips. Despite all their hard work, the animals of the farm are right back
to where they began, hungry, scared and exploited by those in charge.

Animal Farm - Characters overview

The characters in Animal Farm can be split into three groups - the humans, the pigs and the other
animals. The humans are the villains, thoughtless and neglectful. The pigs are scheming, clever
and forceful and replace the humans as villains. The other farmyard animals are trusting, passive
and hardworking - they are the heroic victims of the novel. Each group represents a different
element of the Russian Revolution in 1917.

Main characters
 Old Major
 Napoleon
 Snowball
 Boxer

Secondary characters
 Mr Jones
 Squealer
 Benjamin

Minor characters
 Clover
- the mother figure of the farm. A kind and caring horse that sees the faults in
Napoleon’s rule but like Boxer, lacks the words to express herself.
 Thedogs - there are good dogs: Bluebell, Jessie and Pitcher, then there are Napoleon's
dogs that he uses to police the farm. They represent the secret organisations of the
police.
 The hens - they bravely protest about their eggs being taken.
 Mollie - a horse that is happy to be ruled by humans.
 Moses - Jones' pet raven, also a preacher.
 The young pigs - they speak out against Napoleon and are executed as a result.
 Thesheep - they interrupt debate on the farm with chants of "four legs good, two legs
bad". They play a crucial role in Napoleon's rise to power.
 Mr Pilkington - an 'easy going' gentleman farmer who spends most of his time hunting.
 Mr Frederick - a tough farmer who fights to get what he wants.
  Mr Whymper - a lawyer that the pigs hire.

 Old Major in Animal Farm

 Old Major is Mr Jones' prize boar. He gathers all the animals together in the big barn to
make a speech. He tells the animals that mankind and Mr Jones are the 'enemy', it is their
fault that the animals' lives are miserable. He points out how cruel the men are to the
animals - consuming without producing. He says that one day a rebellion will come - the
animals will overthrow mankind and live in harmony.
 Old Major is very intelligent, well-respected, an excellent speaker and an inspiration
to the animals. He ends his speech by teaching the animals a song called Beasts of
England. It is about a time when animals are free and humans are overthrown. He dies
shortly after giving his speech and the other pigs take what they learnt from him and
create 'Animalism', a set of rules for animals to live by.

How is Old Major like

Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

[Old Major] was so It is clear that the others respect

Every other animal is highly regarded on the Old Major. So much so that they
Well- willing to go out of their farm that everyone was will even lose some sleep to
respected way to hear Old Major's quite ready to lose an hear his thoughts. Rest time
speech. hour's sleep in order to must have been very precious
hear what he had to say. during Mr Jones' rule.

Good During his speech, Old "Why then do we Old Major persuades the
speaker Major uses a range continue in this animals that he is right by
linguistic miserable condition? using emotive words like
techniques such as part Because nearly the 'miserable' to pull on the
 How is Old Major like
Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

whole of the produce of

our labour is stolen from animals' heartstrings. He also
of rhetoric to persuade
us by human beings. uses questions and inclusive
and inspire the other
There, comrades, is the pronouns like 'comrades' and
animals.
answer to all our 'our' to involve them in his ideas.
problems."

"I have had a long life, I

have had much time for Old Major has had a long time
thought as I lay alone in to consider the 'nature of life'.
Old Major has lived a
my stall, and I think I During this time he has
long time and learned
Intelligent may say that I learned so much that he is
many lessons from his
understand the nature of confident that he understands it
experiences.
life on this earth as well 'as well as any animal now
as any animal now living.'
living."

 Social and historical context


 Old Major is partly based on Karl Marx (left) and Vladimir Lenin (right)
 Old Major is partly based on Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Karl Marx was a German
philosopher who lived during the 19th-century. His ideas formed the basis
of communism - his ideas are collectively known as 'Marxism', like 'Animalism' in the
novel. He developed theories on how power structures in society keep people under
control. Vladimir Lenin was a Russian revolutionary who established a form of Marxism
in Russia in the early 20th-century.
 Analysing the evidence
 Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the
tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be
our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why,
work day and night, body and soul for the overthrow of the human race! That is my
message to you comrade: Rebellion!Old Majo
 Napoleon in Animal Farm

 Napoleon is a threatening and 'fierce looking' Berkshire boar. He is one of the three
pigs that take Old Major's ideas and turn them into 'Animalism' - a system of thought that
encourages the animals to rebel. He is not a gifted speaker but is known for getting his
own way. He also manages to get the support of the sheep, he encourages them to chant
'four legs good, two legs bad' during debates, preventing others making their points.
 He takes two litters of puppies from their mothers and brings them up himself. Once they
have grown up he uses them to take control of the farm. After he has done this, he and the
other pigs start to break the Seven Commandments that the animals agreed to live by. He
eventually becomes as much of a tyrant as Mr Jones ever was and exploits the other
animals.

How is Napoleon like

Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

He said very quietly that The sense of threat in the way

The way Napoleon the windmill was Napoleon speaks 'very
makes his point during nonsense and that he quietly', is sinister and
Threatening
meetings carries advised nobody to vote menacing, there is a hint that he
threat. for it, and promptly sat is planning something and he
down again. does not need to raise his voice.

Hypocritical Napoleon often Napoleon announced that Napoleon uses the word
contradicts himself there would be work on 'voluntary', yet the fact that it
or 'Animalism' in the Sunday afternoons as will result in reduced rations
messages he puts out well. This work was means that there is no
through Squealer. strictly voluntary, but any choice for the animals - he is
animal that absented contradicting himself.
himself from it would
 How is Napoleon like
Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

have his rations reduced

by half.

Napoleon has become a

The dogs promptly tore
tyrant. He is capable of having
Napoleon abuses his their throats out, and in a
his 'comrades' put to death to
power to the point terrible voice Napoleon
Tyrant protect his position. When he
where he even kills demanded whether any
'demands' to know of more
some animals. other animal had
confessions we can imagine the
anything to confess.
other animals cowering in fear.

 Social and historical context


 Joseph Stalin, Soviet communist leader
 Napoleon is based on the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin. Stalin was involved in the
Russian Revolution of 1917 and came to rule Soviet Russia after the death of Vladimir
Lenin in 1924.He ruled until his death in 1953. During his time in power, the country was
gripped by famine and fear, millions of people starved to death and those who opposed
him were imprisoned or killed.
 The name also evokes the French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte (1776-1821), who
seized power after the French Revolution, crowned himself Emperor and ruled France
until 1815.
 Analysing the evidence
 Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once a fortnight. When he did
appear, he was attended by not only his retinue of dogs but a black cockerel that marched
in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter, letting out a loud ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’
before Napoleon spoke. Even in the farmhouse, it was said, Napoleon inhabited separate
apartments from the others.

Snowball in Animal Farm

Snowball is one of the key pigs who take the teachings of Old Major and turn them into a way of
thinking called 'Animalism'. He is an intelligent and animated pig. He comes up with new ideas
and cares about the working animals. His plans and ideas revolve around providing education
and better conditions on the farm. He is also a brave fighter, organising the animals during 'The
Battle of the Cowshed'.

Napoleon does not like Snowball's ideas and so has him chased off the farm by his guard dogs.
We do not see Snowball after this incident. He is used by Napoleon as a scapegoat - anything
that goes wrong on the farm is blamed on him. Napoleon also convinces the animals that
Snowball was never brave during the battle and was actually on Mr Jones' side.

How is
Snowball like Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

Snowball shows He himself dashed straight for 'He himself' emphasises

his bravery Jones. Jones saw him coming, that Snowball worked alone with
Brave during raised his gun, and fired. The no thought for his own safety,
the 'Battle of the pellets scored bloody streaks running straight for Jones and
Cowshed'. along Snowball's back... injuring himself in the process.

Snowball's eloquence had

Snowball shows The image of sentences 'glowing'
carried them away. In glowing
his speaking gives the impression that his words
Good sentences he painted a picture
skills when are beautiful and shining, the fact
speaker of Animal Farm as it might be
addressing the he 'painted' a picture suggests
when sordid labour was lifted
animals. that he is an artist with words.
from the animals' backs.

Caring Snowball's idea Snowball conjured up pictures Snowball wants the other animals
for a windmill of fantastic machines which to be 'at ease', relaxed and happy.
shows he puts the would do their work for them He also values their education,
 How is
Snowball like Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

preferring that they 'improved their

whilst they grazed at ease in the
other animals minds.' He shows genuine
fields or improved their minds
first. concern for the animals' well-
with reading and conversation.
being.

Social and historical context

Snowball represents Leon Trotsky

Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was a political theorist, revolutionary and a leader of
the Red Army. After the Revolution he was involved in Russian foreign affairs and policy
making. He opposed Stalin's decisions and eventually was forced into exile from the Soviet
Union in 1929. He resided in Mexico.

He was assassinated by a Soviet agent in 1940. Most of the family members he left in the Soviet
Union were arrested and killed.

Analysing the evidence

Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon, whom Mr
Jones was breeding up for sale. Napoleon was a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the
only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation of getting his own way.
Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but
was not considered to have the same depth of character.Description of Snowball and Napoleon

Boxer in Animal Farm

Boxer, a horse, is a tragic hero. He is a hard worker, strong, loyal and caring. He also fights
bravely against the humans. Unfortunately, he is too loyal, the pigs take advantage of this and
work him until he collapses. Then they sell him to the horse slaughterer so that they can buy
more whisky. Whenever something goes wrong, he blames himself and vows to work even
harder.
His favourite sayings are 'Napoleon is always right' and 'I will work harder'. He is the strongest
animal and could easily fight off the pigs and dogs. He never does though, as he is too used to
taking orders.

How is Boxer like

Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

Boxer believes everything that

Napoleon tells him. The language
Boxer shows that he
is simple and reflects Boxer's
is trusting in "Napoleon is always
Trusting naivety, he is the strongest
his loyalty to the right."
animal on the farm but does
pigs.
nothing when conditions get
worse.

To see him toiling up the This description of Boxer is very

slope inch by inch, his emotive and inspirational. It
Boxer's efforts to breath coming fast, the shows how hard he works. The
Great make the tips of his hoofs clawing image of him dragging huge
worker windmill show he is at the ground, and his rocks whilst dripping with sweat
a great worker. great sides matted with shows his great strength. He
sweat, filled everyone with never complains or lacks
admiration. motivation.

Limited Boxer is uneducated He set his ears back, Unfortunately, Boxer, like a lot of
 How is Boxer like
Evidence from the text Analysis
this?

the other animals, except the pigs,

shook his forelock several lacks an education. Orwell uses
and struggles to times and tried to marshal Boxer to show that without the
intelligence express himself and his thoughts; but in the benefit of learning, he cannot
his thoughts. end he could not think of express himself and so he will
anything to say. never be able to speak out against
the pigs.

Social and historical context

Russian shipworkers, around 1900

Boxer represents the peasant workers of Russia. They were exploited by the Tsar Nicholas II
who ruled from 1894 until his expulsion in 1917. The workers were kept in a position where they
never earned enough money to pay for food or accommodation.

The Revolution of 1917 sought to address this problem but only led to more hardship and
starvation under the rule of Stalin.

Analysing the evidence

Boxer, who has now had time to think things over, voiced the general feeling by saying: "If
Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." And from then on he adopted the maxim,
"Napoleon is always right," in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder."Description
of Boxer

Mr Jones in Animal Farm

Mr Jones, from the 1954 film

Mr Jones is the owner of Manor Farm. He neglects the animals, spends most of his
time drinking and reading the newspaper and not feeding them. He is taken by surprise
by the animals when they fight back against him and his men, so much so that he is
thrown off the farm.

He tries twice to take back the farm but both attempts fail. He ends up dying in a home
for alcoholics.

How is Mr Jones Evidence from the

Analysis
like this? text

Mr Jones, of the
Mr Jones fails to Manor Farm, had This shows that Mr Jones was 'too drunk' to
look after the locked the hen- remember to shut all the doors. By leaving
Uncaring animals properly, houses for the night the 'popholes' open, the chickens would
putting himself but was too drunk get very cold, showing a lack of interest in
before them. to remember to shut their wellbeing.
the popholes.

Here, Old Major is saying that when the

"As for the dogs,
Old Major speaks dogs are 'old and toothless'. Mr Jones should
when they grow old
of Mr Jones' be looking after them but instead he 'drowns
and toothless, Jones
cruelty in his them in the nearest pond' as soon as they are
Cruel ties a brick round
speech - drowning no longer of use to him. The image of
their necks and
the dogs when him tying a 'brick round their
drowns them in the
they get too old. necks'demonstrates his cruelty and
nearest pond."
brutality.

Mr Jones could be likened to Tsar Nicolas II. Jones is the reason for the Rebellion in the
same way Tsar Nicholas II was, in simple terms, the cause of the Russian Revolution.
Squealer in Animal Farm

Squealer is Napoleon's spokesperson

Squealer is another of the three most important pigs. Like Snowball he is clever and a good
speaker and he is excellent at persuading the other animals. He ends up being Napoleon's
spokesperson - he delivers his orders, explains his choices and tells lies to support Napoleon.

He delivers propaganda to the other animals. It is also hinted that he reports back to Napoleon
about what the other animals say.

Evidence from
How is Squealer like this? Analysis
the text

Orwell suggests that The others said of This description suggests that
Squealer is persuasive Squealer that he Squealer is capable of persuading
Persuasive
through the description of could turn black anyone of anything, a skill
his appearance and actions. into white. Napoleon puts to good use.

Squealer is deceptive when

"Suppose you had Squealer describes the idea of a
he explains to the other
decided to follow windmill as 'moonshine' – a word
animals why Napoleon
Snowball with his that suggests the idea was fantasy.
changed his mind about the
moonshine of However Napoleon still decides to
windmill. On one hand
Deceptive windmills - build one. Describing Snowball as a
Squealer supports
Snowball, who, as ‘criminal’ is also deceptive as the
Napoleon’s plans to build
we now know, was animals still remember when he
the windmill but criticises
no better than a fought bravely at the Battle of the
the same suggestion from
criminal?" Cowshed.
Snowball.

Benjamin in Animal Farm

 Benjamin is a pessimistic donkey

Benjamin is an old and pessimistic donkey. No one on the farm knows exactly how old he
is but it is hinted that he has been around for a very long time. He is never enthusiastic when
things go well for the animals; likewise, he is never surprised or upset when things go wrong.
He often gives vague answers. Some might say that he is a realist.

He is close friends with Boxer and plans to spend his retirement with him. He calls all the
other animals to help when Boxer is being taken away by the horse slaughterer.

How is Benjamin like this? Evidence from the text Analysis

It is not until we have

finished the novel that it
becomes clear that Benjamin
has seen rebellions come
Benjamin is often vague and go in the past and he
with the other animals. For "Donkeys live a long knows that the happiness
example, when they ask if time. None of you has they feel after the Rebellion
Vague
he is happier now Mr Jones ever seen a dead will be short-lived. His
has gone he doesn’t give a donkey." comment that they have
straight answer. never seen a ‘dead donkey’
is a hint that he has seen
similar events in the past
and so he is not as excited
as the other animals.

Pessimistic Benjamin’s responses are He said, life would go on Benjamin’s suggestion that
often negative, he doesn’t as it always had gone on life ‘always’ goes on ‘badly’
 How is Benjamin like this? Evidence from the text Analysis

reveals that he has a

pessimistic view on life, he
share in the enthusiasm of does not see the Rebellion,
the other animals even in - that is, badly. the windmill or victories in
their victories. battle as being positive
things – he sees them as
struggles.

By this point in the novel it

Only old Benjamin
becomes clear
In the end, it turns out that professed to remember
that Benjamin was realistic
Benjamin was right to be so every detail of his long
when he was negative
negative about the life and to know that
about the Rebellion. He is
Rebellion. Although things never had been,
right to believe that things
Realistic conditions seemed better nor ever could be much
will never change, they are
initially – they soon went better or much worse –
'unalterable' this explains his
back to ‘normal’. Benjamin hunger, hardship, and
attitude toward the changes
was not negative, just disappointment being, so
on the farm and why he is
realistic. he said, the unalterable
never as enthusiastic as the
law of life.
other animals.

1.

Detailed plot summary -

Old Major inspires the animals to rebel
Old Major delivers a speech to all the farm animals. He points out that their lives are difficult,
full of hardship and that they live in slavery because of the way Farmer Jones treats them.
According to Old Major 'All men are enemies. All animals are equal' and one day there will be a
rebellion. He then teaches the animals a song called 'Beasts of England'. The song is about
animals overthrowing man and being free.

Animalism is established
Old Major dies three nights later and three pigs, Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer take Old
Major's teaching and turn it into a way of thinking called 'Animalism'.
The animals rebel
The rebellion comes when Mr Jones forgets to feed the animals and a fed-up cow pushes her way
into the store-shed to look for food. The rest of the animals go in to help themselves and Mr
Jones and his men try to get the animals back in line but the animals chase them off the farm - it
belongs to them now. The animals rejoice in their victory. They change the name of the farm to
'Animal Farm' and decide on seven commandments to live by that focus on animal equality and
avoiding behaving like Jones.

Snowball paints the commandments on the barn, in a scene from the 1954 film

Life is good after the rebellion

The animals are happy, they work well together and more efficiently than Mr Jones ever did.
Boxer the horse always makes a huge effort, his motto is 'I will work harder!'. The pigs begin to
teach the others to read and write. It is hinted though that Napoleon steals some milk for himself
after the first day's harvest.

The pigs educate the others

The pigs learning to count, from the 1954 film
Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, often argue during the meetings. Snowball sets up
'committees' focused on education, reading and writing. He reduces 'Animalism' to one idea for
the simpler animals - 'four legs good, two legs bad' - and the sheep regularly chant it. Napoleon
however, thinks educating the old animals is a waste of time, he focuses on the youngsters; in
particular a litter of nine puppies that he takes away from their mother to educate them himself.

The pigs begin to take more food

At this stage, the pigs start taking any extra apples and milk for themselves, some animals
complain but Squealer persuades them that if the pigs don't get the extra food they need, Jones
might return. This is enough to make the other animals agree with him. The inequality between
the pigs and the others begins here.

Mr. Jones tries to take back the farm

Jones and his men try to retake the farm but the animals fight against the invasion. The fight
becomes known as 'The Battle of the Cowshed'. Awards are given for bravery to Snowball and
Boxer.

The animals vote on the windmill

Snowball suggests building a windmill. Napoleon thinks they should spend their time building
up food stores instead. As the animals are about to vote on the matter, Napoleon calls his dogs
into the barn. They are now fully grown and they chase Snowball away.

Napoleon and the pigs break the commandments

Napoleon takes over the farm, from the 1954 film
Supplies and food run short and the pigs start trading with the humans. They move into the
farmhouse, sleep in beds and get up an hour later than the other animals. An incident occurs with
some hens who protest against unfair treatment and refuse to hand their eggs over. Napoleon
stops their food and nine of them die as a result. After this, Napoleon holds show trials, where
any animal that had spoken against him has to publicly confess their 'crimes' and is then killed.

The men invade and blow up the windmill

The animals finish the windmill for the second time, but with longer working hours and less
food. During another attempted invasion by the men the windmill is blown up. The pigs then
break another commandment by drinking alcohol to celebrate the victory of the invasion. The
farm is proclaimed a republic and a president is 'elected' - but there was only one candidate to
vote for, Napoleon.

Boxer collapses and is sold to the horse slaughterer

Boxer falls whilst re-building the windmill. The pigs claim they will look after him but sell him
to a horse slaughterer. Squealer lies to the other animals, telling them that Napoleon ensured that
Boxer got the best treatment possible. The pigs use the money from the sale of Boxer to buy
whisky.
The pigs become just as bad as Mr Jones

The pigs start behaving like humans

Time moves on and the pigs grow fatter whilst the other animals work harder and are given less
food. They now can't remember if they were better or worse off under the rule of Mr Jones. The
pigs learn to walk on two legs and have adopted all of Mr Jones' bad habits that Old Major told
them to avoid in his speech. They invite the humans they once fought against to the farm.
Napoleon declares that the farm will be called 'Manor Farm' again, the animals watching the
meeting cannot tell the difference between the humans and the pigs.

Animal Farm - Themes overview

Animal Farm is a didactic text - Orwell aims to teach the reader a number of lessons on:

 class
 equality and inequality
 power, control and corruption
These themes are explored through the events and characters in the novel, and are an allegory for
the Russian Revolution.
The animals' unhappiness represents class struggle, this leads to the Rebellion which offers some
equality. Then the pigs' actions allow inequality back on the farm.

The theme of power and control is explored throughout the novel and is highlighted by the
characters' relationships on the farm.

The themes are political and explore what happened within Russian society in 1917 onwards.
Orwell originally subtitled the novel 'a fairy story' suggesting he intended it as a fable.

Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution

It is important to remember that even though the novel is based on events that took place in
1917, the themes are still relevant today.

Class in Animal Farm

The animals on Animal Farm, like the Russian working class, broke free of their chains
Before the Revolution of 1917, Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia. The ruling classes had money and
power, whilst most of the population were poor, exploited peasant workers or from the working
class. These people lived in terrible conditions and what they farmed was taken from them
leaving them to face starvation and poverty.

The Revolution that came in 1917 sought to overthrow the Tsar and change the balance of
society to give power back to the working class. The plot of Animal Farm closely parallels these
events.

In Animal Farm, Orwell uses the animals to highlight the hardships of the working classes. He
uses Mr Jones as a symbol for the Emperor - to highlight how lazy and neglectful the Tsar was.
The animals each represent a different section of society at the time - they are a metaphor for
what happened to the people.
The animals, like the working class of Russia, had short, difficult lives, working to produce
things that the ruling class would take for themselves. The Rebellion on the farm seeks to change
this, but the revolutionary pigs soon adopt the ways of the ruling class that they sought to
abolish.

How is the theme of class shown in the novel?

In Animal Farm, Orwell explores class through:

 the hardships of the animals during Mr Jones’ rule

 the exploitation of the animals by Mr Jones
 the exploitation of the animals by the pigs after they take control
How does Orwell show
 Evidence Analysis
this?

"No animal in England

During Old Major's speech, The contrast of the lack
knows the meaning of
he describes the difficulties of 'happiness' and
happiness or leisure
the animals face including 'leisure' and abundance
after he is a year old.
Hardships of being fed only enough food of 'misery' and
No animal in England is
the animals to survive, being worked 'slavery' in an animal's
free. The life of an
until their 'last breath' and life helps to emphasise
animal is misery and
then slaughtered with the hardships of the
slavery: that is the plain
'hideous cruelty'. animals.
truth."

Old Major uses a

"…how many of those
rhetorical question to get
In his speech, Old Major eggs have ever hatched
Exploitation of the hens to consider
says that the animals' into chickens? The rest
the animals by how Mr Jones has
produce is sold by Mr Jones have all gone to market
Mr Jones exploited them and how
and only he profits. to bring in money for
he has sold their eggs
Jones and his men."
for his own profit.

Squealer emphasises the

"It is for your sake that
word 'your' to try and
The pigs take any extra we drink that milk and
suggest that the pigs eat
Exploitation of apples and milk for eat those apples. Do
the food for the other
the animals by themselves, rather than you know what would
animals' benefit. The pigs
the pigs share them out with the happen if we pigs failed
exploit the others by
other animals. in our duty? Jones
threatening the return
would come back!"
of Jones.

Analysing the evidence

Question

How does Orwell explore class in Animal Farm?

Equality and inequality in Animal Farm

Russian peasants in a Moscow market, 1900

In Animal Farm, Orwell uses the animals and their actions to make the reader think about
equality and inequality. Before 1917, the majority of Russian people suffered from great
inequality - they had far less money and food than the ruling classes.

Likewise, before the rebellion in Animal Farm Mr Jones takes everything that the animals have
away from them. After the Rebellion the animals are free from the tyranny of Mr Jones and seek
to establish equality amongst themselves.

One of the Commandments is 'All animals are equal'. However, this equality is short-lived and
the pigs begin to bend the rules until inequality returns to the farm.

How is the theme of equality and inequality shown in the

novel?
In Animal Farm, Orwell explores equality and inequality through:

 the inequality between the animals and mankind

 the equality that the animals seek to establish after the rebellion
 the inequality that begins again after the pigs take control

 How does Orwell show this? Evidence Analysis

Animals During Old Major's speech he "Man serves the This short and blunt sentence
and talks about how 'no animal is interest of no shows Old Major's opinion
mankind free' and that life for them is creature except about the inequality between
'one of slavery' and that 'man is himself." men and animals.
the only creature who
  How does Orwell show this? Evidence Analysis

consumes without producing'.

After the rebellion, the animals A simple sentence but

agree on Seven hugely effective. There is no
The "All animals are
Commandments that they will room for argument or debate
rebellion equal."
now live by - to make sure here - the intention of the
everything is fair and equal. animals is very clear.

"You would not rob

Squealer argues here that
us of our repose,
without 'repose' the pigs can't
When the pigs take control they would you,
carry out their work and so
The pigs move into the farmhouse and comrades? You
Mr Jones will
taking sleep in beds - creating would not have us
return. Squealer uses
control inequality between themselves too tired to carry out
personal pronouns to create
and the other animals. our duties? Surely
a difference between the
none of you wishes
pigs and the other animals.
to see Jones back?"

Analysing the evidence

Question
How does Orwell explore equality and inequality in Animal Farm?

Power and control in Animal Farm

Farmer Jones tried to keep the animals under control

Power and control is one of the most important themes in Animal Farm. Orwell explores political
power - Mr Jones owns the farm and the animals and uses his men and whips to keep them under
control and maintain his power.

Orwell shows that the animals have the power to challenge Mr Jones' control and take over the
farm - using power in a positive way. He then explores how the pigs
use rhetoric and propaganda to establish themselves in power and take control of the farm. It is
interesting that the working animals, especially Boxer the horse, have great physical power but
they don’t use it to break free from the control of the pigs.

Old Major is partly based on Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Karl Marx, was a German
philosopher who lived during the 19th-century. His ideas formed the basis of communism - his
ideas are collectively known as ‘Marxism’, like ‘Animalism’ in the novel. He developed theories
on how power structures in society keep people under control. Vladimir Lenin was a Russian
revolutionary who established a form of ‘Marxism’ in Russia in the early 20th-century.

Orwell explores the idea of power leading to corruption. Many of the characters in the novel are
eventually corrupted by the power they have, particularly the pigs, as they manipulate their
position of leadership to exploit other animals.

How is the theme of power and control shown in the novel?

In Animal Farm, Orwell explores power and control through:

 Mr Jones exploiting his power and treating the animals badly

 the rebellion and how the animals use their power to take over the farm
 the pigs and how they cleverly control the other animals

 How does Orwell show this? Evidence Analysis

Old Major teaches the The animals sing about

animals a song called Beasts the devices Mr Jones
of England in response to Mr Bit and spur shall rust uses to keep his power.
Mr Jones Jones treating them badly. The forever, Cruel whips no The 'bit and spur' and
song is about animals more shall crack. 'whips' are used to cruelly
overthrowing man and being keep the animals under
free. control.

...this sudden uprising of

The animals surprise the
creatures whom they
men with their 'sudden'
The animals fight back were used to thrashing
The change in behaviour - it
against the men and take and maltreating just as
rebellion frightens the men to see
control of the farm. they chose, frightened
the animals using their
them almost out of their
power.
wits.

The pigs The pigs take charge and begin Squealer spoke so Between Squealer being
taking to control the other persuasively, and the so 'persuasive' and the
control animals. Napoleon uses three dogs who happened dogs so 'threatening' the
Squealer and the dogs to stop to be with him growled so pigs control the
the animals' questions about threateningly, that they animals by preventing
  How does Orwell show this? Evidence Analysis

accepted his explanation them questioning their

the windmill.
without further questions. decisions.

Analysing the evidence

Question
How does Orwell explore power and control in Animal Farm?

Use of form in Animal Farm

The form of a novel is the type of text and genre the writer chooses to write in. Animal
Farm has a number of elements to its form and genre.
Animal Farm could fit into the genre of a fairy story, fable, allegory or satire.

On the surface the novel is very simple, a narrative with a lesson that is suitable for children.
When seeing the narrative as a metaphor or allegory it becomes more complex, the reader needs
prior knowledge to appreciate the novel on this level.

Genre
 Fairy story - the idea of talking animals and the simple written style are elements that fit
this form.
 Allegory - the farm and the animals are an extended metaphor. The farm represents
Russia and its experience of revolution in the 1900s. Mr Jones and the animals
represent the Russian leaders and people of the time.
 Fable - a fable is a story that teaches a lesson or moral. Orwell uses the actions of the
animals to teach the reader lessons about equality, power, corruption and freedom.
 Satire - Orwell satirises the political leaders of Russia in the 1900s.

The narrator
The novel has a third person omniscient narrator, we see and know everything that happens and
hear the characters' thoughts. This gives the reader an overview which allows us to come to our
own conclusions about events on the farm.

How to analyse form

Question
Explain how Animal Farm is allegorical.
Use of structure in Animal Farm
When analysing the structure of Animal Farm remember:

 the novel is written in 10 chapters

 it can be divided into three sections
 the narrative is circular
Animal Farm follows a simple structure. It is written in 10 chapters that can be divided into three
sections:

 the Dream
 the Rebellion
 Napoleon’s regime
Each chapter tells a story in its own right and has an 'ending', which makes the story easy to
follow. It also allows the reader a chance to reflect about the lessons taught in each chapter.

We can see this my looking at the ends of some of the chapters:

Chapter one
He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom, and let fly a charge of Number
6 shot into the darkness. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting
broke up hurriedly. Everyone fled to his own sleeping-place. The birds jumped onto their
perches, the animals settled down in the straw, and the whole farm was asleep in a moment.End
of chapter one
After the excitement of Old Major's speech, the ending of chapter one reminds the reader that Mr
Jones is a tyrant. The reader wants to know if the rebellion Old Major spoke of will ever happen.

Chapter three
The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. So it was agreed without
further argument that the milk and the windfall apples (and also the main crop of apples when
they ripened) should be reserved for the pigs alone.End of chapter three
At the end of chapter three, the reader begins to see the cracks in the newly founded 'Animal
Farm'. There's a chance to think about the lesson on equality that Orwell is trying to teach. The
reader wants to read on to see if the pigs make any more unfair changes to the farm.

Have a look at the end of each chapter. How does Orwell end each one? What do you think he's
trying to say at the end of each chapter? How does the reader respond?

The narrative could be described as circular - this means that it ends as it began, with the
animals being oppressed by a cruel leader.
How to analyse structure
Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had
happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to
pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.End of
chapter 10
Question
Why did Orwell choose to write Animal Farm as a circular narrative?

Use of language in Animal Farm

The language Orwell uses in Animal Farm is simple, clear and accessible. Description
and dialogue are kept to a minimum and Orwell avoids sentimentality - even the most heart-
breaking sections of the text are very direct in style. He focuses on telling the story, allowing the
reader to concentrate on the lessons he wants us to learn. Through the pigs, Orwell shows
how rhetoric can be a powerful tool of manipulation.

When analysing the language Orwell uses, you could use this structure:

 What has Orwell done?

 How and why has he done it?
 What effect does it have on the reader?
 How could the words you have chosen to look at be interpreted differently?
 Use a quote to back up your point.
 Avoidexplaining what language devices mean eg no need to say 'a simile is a way of
comparing one thing to another'.

Evidence and explanation of the language used

What How Why Effect

This rhetorical device is used to

To make the other encourage the animals to rebel. Old
"Now, comrades, what
Persuading animals question Major asks the question and then he
is the nature of this life
questions their positions on provides the animals with the answer
of ours?"
the farm. he wants, persuading them that he is
right.

Controlling "Are you certain that Squealer controls This rhetorical device is used to
questions this is not something the others by make the animals doubt themselves.
 What How Why Effect

that you have dreamed,

comrades? Have you questioning their Orwell shows how rhetoric can be
any record of such a memories. used negatively.
resolution?"

Repeating ‘Long live’ helps

emphasise Napoleon’s point that he
Here Napoleon uses wants Animal Farm to continue
"Long live the windmill!
repetition to forever. Whilst this appears to be
Repetition Long live Animal
reinforce his positive, here Napoleon uses the
Farm!"
message. sentiment to make a scapegoat (an
individual irrationally blamed) of
Snowball.

The fact that the ‘horror’, in itself an

The scene when emotive word, ‘burst’ from the
Emotive A cry of horror burst
Boxer is taken away animals gives a clear indication that
language from all the animals.
is very emotive. their fear was so great it almost
exploded from within them.

Orwell uses very In contrast to the emotive language

Boxer was never seen plain language to seen above, Orwell uses direct and
Direct style
again. describe Boxer’s understated language. This helps to
disappearance. make Boxer’s treatment more tragic.

How to analyse language

In order to analyse language you must:

 choose a section from the text to analyse

 select a quote from the text that is relevant to the question and the point you want to make
 consider how the quote reflects character/theme/context
 explore in detail the impact specific words or phrases have upon the reader
 evaluate how effective the author’s choice of language is
Below is an example section from the novel. In this section Napoleon is speaking to the farm
animals. He blames Snowball for the damage the bad weather has done to the windmill.

'Comrades', he said quietly, 'do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy
who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!' he roared in a voice of
thunder. 'Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and
avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion, this traitor has crept here under cover of night and
destroyed our work of nearly a year'Napoleon
Question
Analyse the language used in this quotation. How do the pigs use language to control the
other animals?