EXTRACT 1 – ANIMAL FARM Setting

The setting of Animal Farm is a dystopia. Animal Farm, takes place on a farm in England
Three nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep. His body during an undisclosed time. However, the time, location, and events of the novel are satirical
was buried at the foot of the orchard. This was early in March. of Russia during a major period of Russian political upheaval (1917 - 1945).
During the next three months there was much secret activity. Purpose of the author when he wrote Animal Farm
Major’s speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the Argue the need for a true socialist government and warn the world of the ways in which
farm a completely new outlook on life. They did not know when the socialist ideas threatened the will of these in power who wish to control other people.
Rebellion predicted by Major would take place, they had no reason What literary devices are used to achieve the author’s intentions?
Allegory
for thinking that it would be within their own lifetime, but they saw
Napoleon/Josef Stalin- Snowball/Leon Trotsky- Old Major/Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin -
clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. The work of teaching Squealer/Pravda (Russian Newspaper),
and organizing the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who were Symbolism: The animal farm symbolizes the internal structure of a nation and basic human society.
The barn symbolizes the memory of a modern nation. The Seven Commandments inscribed on the wall
generally recognized as being the cleverest of the animals. Pre-
become gradually altered by the pigs.
eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and The windmill represents the manipulation of the animals by the pigs.
Napoleon, whom Mr. Jones was breeding up for sale. Napoleon was Themes students can mention:
a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on  equality and inequality
the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his  The Societal Tendency Toward Class Stratification
own way. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker  The Abuse of Language as Instrumental to the Abuse of Power
in speech and more inventive, but was not considered to have the  Corruption
 The Exploitation of Animals by Human
same depth of character. All the other male pigs on the farm were
Main idea of the extract:
porkers. The best known among them was a small fat pig named
The death of old Major marks the moment when the animals must begin to put his theory
Squealer, with very round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble into practice.
movements, and a shrill voice. He was a brilliant talker, and when he Characters:
was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side
to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive.  Old Major: Major, who represents both Marx and Lenin, serves as the source of the ideals
that the animals continue to uphold even after their pig leaders have betrayed them. He
The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white. seems to have claimed a false brotherhood with the other animals in order to garner their
support for his vision.
These three had elaborated old Major’s teachings into a complete
 Snowball: The pig who challenges Napoleon for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion.
system of thought, to which they gave the name of Animalism. Based on Leon Trotsky, Snowball is intelligent, passionate, eloquent.
 Napoleon: The pig who emerges as the leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on
Joseph Stalin, Napoleon uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other
animals and consolidate his power.
 Mr. Jones: The often drunk farmer who runs the Manor Farm before the animals stage their
Rebellion and establish Animal Farm. Mr. Jones is an unkind master who indulges himself
while his animals lack food; he thus represents Tsar Nicholas II, whom the Russian Revolution
ousted.
 Squealer: The pig who spreads Napoleon’s propaganda among the other animals. Squealer
justifies the pigs’ monopolization of resources and spreads false statistics pointing to the
farm’s success. Orwell uses Squealer to explore the ways in which those in power often use
rhetoric and language to twist the truth and gain and maintain social and political control.
YOUR OPINON - backup with details from the excerpt QUESTIONS FOR PART 2
1. Meaning - How is language (English) used to communicate the author's -Why did this character do [refer to a character’s action from the literary
message? The language Orwell uses in Animal Farm is simple, clear and extract] in this situation?
accessible. Description and dialogue are kept to a minimum and Orwell – Why did that character respond in such a way?
avoids sentimentality - even the most heart-breaking sections of the text
– How else could he/she have reacted?
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
– What brought about this situation?
pigs, Orwell shows how rhetoric can be a powerful tool of – What happens next?
manipulation. – Why is this scene a key scene in the story?
– What point is the author trying to make?
2. Audience - who would read this work of literature? The author target – How did you react to this scene?
audience was general public in USSR: people whom he wanted to inform – What shocked you about this scene?
about the dangers and logical outcome of Communism during World – If you could change anything in the scene, what would it be? What
War II. effect would your change have?
3. Context - when was the work published? How does this help you
– What does this scene indicate about the culture of the character(s)?
understand it? – Would this scene be possible in your culture?

First Published: August 17, 1945

QUESTIONS FOR PART 3

4. Purpose - what do YOU think are the author's intentions for writing the  To what extent is it relevant for citizens to be informed and educate
work? themselves to exercise their rights?
 To what extent the use of language has an impact on the effectiveness
The novel asks its readers to examine the ways in which political leaders of the delivery of message?
with seemingly noble and altruistic motives can betray the very ideals in  To what extent is authoritarianism acceptable in a society?
which they ostensibly believe, as well as the ways in which certain
members of a nation can elect themselves to positions of great power
and abuse their fellow citizens, all under the guise of assisting them.

5. Variation - How would this language be different if the work were

written today? Or in the past? Or for a young/old/specific audience?