Animal Farm: A Tale of Revolution and Its Aftermath
Animal Farm is a classic novel written by George Orwell, and published in 1945.
The novel is an allegory, a literary form that uses symbols to represent real-life situations.
Background of Animal Farm
Animal Farm was written by George Orwell in the midst of World War II. Orwell was a socialist and had fought against Franco’s fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War, and he was deeply concerned about the elevation of totalitarianism in Europe.
Animal Farm was written as a critique of Stalin’s regime in the Soviet Union, which betrayed the ideals of the 1917 revolution and become a dictatorship that oppressed its people.
The theme of the Animal Farm
The theme of the novel Animal Farm is the dangers of totalitarianism in society.
The novel shows how even a society that starts with dignified ideals, can become corrupted and anti-society.
when power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.
The pigs, first become the leaders of the animal revolution and are initially committed to the principles of equivalency and democracy.
However, as they consolidate their power, they become more and more dictatorial, eventually becoming the very thing they set out to overthrow.
Role of propaganda
Another important theme of the novel is the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion.
The pigs use propaganda to manipulate the other animals, making them believe that the pigs are working for the common good, when in fact they are working for their interests.
Propaganda becomes a powerful tool for manipulating public opinion and it can be used to justify even the most oppressive regimes.
The novel is also a critique of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.
Gorge Orwell was a socialist who had fought in the Spanish Civil War and was disillusioned with Stalinism.
He sketches the Soviet Union, which had started as a revolutionary state, became a repressive dictatorship
In His views, the Soviet Union had betrayed its socialist principles and become an oppressive regime,
which was no different from the capitalist regimes it had sought to overthrow.
George Orwell shows how power corrupts and propaganda can be used to manipulate public opinion.
Summary of Animal Farm Book. George Orwell's classic
Animal Farm is a political allegory that tells the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner and establish a socialist government.
However, as the pigs in charge become more corrupt and oppressive, the animals realize that their revolution has not brought the freedom and equality they had hoped for.
This summary will provide a brief overview of the plot and themes of this classic novel.
Introduction to the setting and characters.
The novel Animal Farm is set on England’s farm, where a group of animals lives under the rule of their human owner, Mr. Jones.
The Pigs are the main characters the pigs, who become the leaders of the animal rebellion.
The story begins with the animals becoming fed up with their mistreatment and deciding to overthrow Mr. Jones and take control of the farm themselves.
Summary of animal farm chapter 1
Summary of animal farm chapter 2
Summary of animal farm chapter 3
Summary of animal farm chapter 4
Summary of animal farm chapter 5
Summary of animal farm chapter 6
Summary of animal farm chapter 7
Summary of animal farm chapter 8
Summary of animal farm chapter 1
At the beginning of the novella, the animals on Manor Farm gather to hear a speech from Old Major, a prize boar who wishes to share his wisdom with them before he dies. He tells them that their lives are miserable, as they are born into slavery, worked incessantly, and then slaughtered mercilessly when no longer useful. Major blames their suffering solely on their human oppressors, who exploit the animals and take the products of their labor for themselves. He urges the animals to overthrow their human owners and achieve a perfect comradeship among themselves. Major teaches them a song called “Beasts of England” that describes the utopian animal community of his dream. However, the tranquility is broken when Mr. Jones, the farm owner, fires a shot into the barn, and the animals go to sleep.
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing
Summary of animal farm chapter 2
Old Major, a wise pig, died in his sleep, and for three months, the animals secretly prepared to take control of the farm from Mr. Jones, their human owner. The pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, and a persuasive pig named Squealer, taught and organized the animals. They spread a philosophy called Animalism among the animals, with the pigs answering the animals’ questions. Many animals initially found the new philosophy hard to understand, but the pigs were patient and persistent.
Moses, a raven who talked about Sugarcandy Mountain, where animals go when they die, became a problem for the pigs. The pigs worked hard to convince the other animals that Moses was wrong. Moses was idle, but many animals still liked the idea of Sugarcandy Mountain.
The Rebellion occurred earlier than anyone expected and was surprisingly easy.
Mr. Jones and his companions had become lazy and neglectful, and Mr. Jones had become a drunk. One day, Mr. Jones forgot to feed the animals, and they attacked the men when they tried to whip the cows. The animals then chased Mr. Jones and his men from the farm.
Afterward, the animals destroyed all the evidence of their enslavement and took over the farm. They sang “Beasts of England” and admired the farmhouse. Mollie, a vain horse, wanted to stay inside, but the other animals scolded her. The pigs revealed that they had taught themselves to read and painted the seven key commandments of Animalism on the side of the big barn. The animals gathered the harvest, but the cows had not been milked in some time, and the pigs had already taken the milk.
Summary of animal farm chapter 3
The animals on the farm work hard during the summer to harvest crops. The pigs come up with ways for the animals to use human tools and everyone works together to gather a huge harvest. The strong horse Boxer does most of the hard work and becomes respected by the other animals. They hold meetings to discuss new policies and try to improve life on the farm. Snowball and Napoleon have different opinions and argue a lot. Snowball creates committees to teach the animals to read and write. Although many animals struggle to learn, they make progress. Napoleon takes some puppies to raise them himself and the other animals start to notice that the pigs are taking all the milk and apples. Squealer explains that the pigs need these things to think and work well, so the animals agree to give them up for the good of the farm.
Summary of animal farm chapter 4
In the summer, the news about Animal Farm spreads across the county. The neighboring farm owners, Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick are scared that their animals might rebel too. But their rivalry stops them from working together against Animal Farm. In October, Mr. Jones, with some men from the other farms, tries to attack Animal Farm. Snowball and Boxer lead a successful ambush, with only one sheep losing its life. The animals find Mr. Jones’s gun and decide to fire it twice a year to celebrate their victory. Boxer feels guilty for unintentionally killing a human, but Snowball tells him not to. The animals award medals to Snowball and Boxer.
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
Summary of animal farm chapter 5
Mollie, one of the horses on Animal Farm, starts to become a problem. She comes to work late, associates with men from nearby farms, and doesn’t follow the rules of Animalism. Eventually, a man lures her away with sugar and she leaves the farm to pull his carriage. The other animals never mention her again.
During the cold winter, the animals hold their meetings in the barn. Snowball and Napoleon constantly argue, with Snowball being a better speaker but Napoleon being better at canvassing support. Snowball has the plan to build a windmill to generate electricity and make farming easier, but Napoleon opposes it. The animals are divided on the issue and Napoleon urinates on Snowball’s plans.
At a meeting, Snowball gives a passionate speech in favor of the windmill, but Napoleon suddenly calls in nine dogs with brass-studded collars to attack Snowball and drive him off the farm. Napoleon announces that meetings will now only be for ceremonial purposes and that the pigs will make all important decisions.
Squealer explains to the confused and disturbed animals that Napoleon is making sacrifices for their benefit and that he’s the cleverest animal, so he should make decisions.
The animals are placated but still question Snowball’s expulsion. Squealer explains that Snowball was a traitor and criminal, and eventually the animals accept this. Three weeks later, Napoleon supports the windmill project, and Squealer explains that Napoleon never really opposed it,
The animals are divided on the issue and Napoleon urinates on Snowball’s plans.
At a meeting, Snowball gives a passionate speech in favor of the windmill, but Napoleon suddenly calls in nine dogs with brass-studded collars to attack Snowball and drive him off the farm. Napoleon announces that meetings will now only be for ceremonial purposes and that the pigs will make all important decisions.
Squealer explains to the confused and disturbed animals that Napoleon is making sacrifices for their benefit and that he’s the cleverest animal, so he should make decisions.
The animals are placated but still question Snowball’s expulsion. Squealer explains that Snowball was a traitor and criminal, and eventually the animals accept this. Three weeks later, Napoleon supports the windmill project, and Squealer explains that Napoleon never really opposed it, he just used it as an excuse to get rid of Snowball. The animals accept this explanation without question.
THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS
1. Whatever goes up two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four 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 any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.
Summary of animal farm chapter 6
The animals on the farm work very hard to get enough food and build a windmill. They are told that working on Sundays is voluntary, but if they don’t work, they will get less food. Boxer works especially hard and does the work of three horses. Building the windmill is difficult, but they finally figure out how to break the stones they need. The animals have enough food to eat, but they need things like iron, nails, and oil that they can’t make themselves. Napoleon hires a human to help with trading, which surprises the other animals. The pigs start living in the farmhouse and sleeping in beds. A storm destroys the windmill, and Napoleon blames Snowball and offers a reward for whoever kills him. The animals have to rebuild the windmill, and Napoleon gives a speech to convince them to do it.
Summary of animal farm chapter 7
During winter, the animals of Animal Farm struggle to rebuild the windmill that was destroyed in a storm. In January, they face a shortage of food and try to hide it from the neighboring human farmers. Napoleon, the pig leader, makes a deal to sell 400 eggs a week to obtain food for the animals. However, the hen’s rebel, and Napoleon responds by cutting their food supply, leading to the death of nine hens.
Later, Napoleon and his followers blame Snowball, another pig who was exiled from Animal Farm, for sabotaging their work and forming an alliance with the human farmer Jones. Squealer, a pig, convinces the animals of Snowball’s treachery, and Napoleon stages a purge of animals who are accused of conspiring with Snowball. The dogs, Napoleon’s enforcers, tear out the throats of the accused animals, including those who rebelled against Napoleon’s egg-selling deal.
Some animals, including Boxer, a strong horse, are confused by the events but remain loyal to Napoleon and work even harder.
Squealer announces that “Beasts of England,” a revolutionary song that the animals used to sing, is no longer relevant, and gives them a new patriotic song written by a pig named Minimus. The animals are not as inspired by the new song as they were by “Beasts of England.”
The animals are deeply shaken by the purge and begin to question the current state of Animal Farm, wondering how it could have turned out this way.
The only good human being is a dead one
Summary of animal farm chapter 8
After the executions, the animals realize that the rule “No animal shall kill any other animal” now says “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” The animals think they must have remembered it wrong. The animals work hard to rebuild the windmill, but it’s tough. Napoleon becomes the leader and has lots of titles. They try to sell some leftover timber to either Mr. Frederick or Mr. Pilkington.
The pigs teach the animals to hate whoever they are not selling to. Mr. Frederick ends up buying the timber, but the money he gave Napoleon is fake. Mr. Frederick thrashes Animal Farm and the windmill.
The animals fight back and win, but some animals are hurt. The pigs find a whiskey and get drunk.
The next day, Comrade Napoleon looks sick, but he gets better. Squealer falls from a ladder while painting the commandments, and the animals think they remembered it wrong again.
Summary of animal farm chapter 9
The animals are tired, but they work hard to rebuild the windmill even though Boxer, a strong horse, is seriously hurt. The animals get less food than before, but the pigs and dogs still get enough to eat. Napoleon, a pig, orders a schoolhouse to be built for the piglets, even though the farm doesn’t have much money.
The pigs start to have events called Spontaneous Demonstrations, where the animals listen to speeches and have fun. Napoleon becomes president of Animal Farm, and the pigs say that Snowball, another pig, was actually on Mr. Jones’s side during a fight.
Moses the Raven comes back to the farm and talks about Sugarcandy Mountain. Boxer gets sick and collapses while working, and the pigs say they will take him to the hospital.
But Benjamin, a donkey, reads the cart’s writing and finds out that Boxer is going to be turned into glue. Boxer dies, but the pigs say that he died praising Animal Farm.
Later, the animals hear the sounds of a party coming from the farmhouse and think the pigs bought more whisky, even though they don’t know where the money came from.
Summary of animal farm chapter 10
In Animal Farm, the pigs and dogs are living a comfortable life while the other animals work hard. The pigs explain that they are doing important work like filling out forms.
The animals still believe in their goal of a world free from humans with equality for all animals. One day, Squealer teaches the sheep a new chant and the animals hear a horse neighing in terror. When they go to investigate, they see Squealer and Napoleon walking on two legs and carrying whips.
The animals are shocked to see that the Seven Commandments have been changed to say that some animals are more equal than others. The pigs invite neighboring human farmers to inspect Animal Farm and the farmers are impressed by the pigs’ ways of making the animals work harder on less food. Napoleon announces that Animal Farm will now be known as the Manor Farm, and the pigs and farmers play cards together.
However, a quarrel breaks out, and the animals realize that they can no longer tell the pigs and humans apart.
Short summary of the book Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animal Farm is based on, the Russian Revolution and its aftermath.
The novel opens on a farm, where the animals overthrow their human owner and establish a society based on the principles of animalism, where all animals are equal.
However, the leaders of the revolved union, become corrupt, and the society they create is oppressive and unequal.
At the beginning of the novel, a meeting is held by the old boar, Old Major, where he urges the other animals to rise against their human oppressors.
Old Major dies shortly after, but the animals take up his cause and, led by the pig’s Napoleon and Snowball, successfully overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones.
The animals establish a new society based on the principles of animalism, where all animals are equal and work for the common good.
The pigs take on the role of leaders, and Snowball becomes the head of the committee that runs the farm.
Society, in the beginning, seems to be working well.
The animals work hard, and their efforts are rewarded.
But, as time goes on, the pigs become more and more powerful, and their behavior becomes increasingly corrupt.
They rewrite the history of the revolution to make themselves the heroes and the other animals the villains. They also begin to live in the farmhouse, a privilege they had denied to the other animals.
The turning point of the novel comes when Napoleon, with the help of his vicious dogs, drives Snowball off the farm and declares himself the sole leader.
Napoleon begins to make decisions without consulting the other animals, and society becomes more and more unequal. The pigs become the ruling class, and the other animals become their subjects.
The pigs begin to live in luxury while the other animals work harder and suffer.
The most important theme of Animal Farm is the corrupting influence of power.
The novel shows how the pigs, who started as revolutionary leaders, become more and more corrupt as they gain power. They use power to oppress the other animals, rewrite history, and live in luxury.
Can you not understand that liberty is worth more than just ribbons?
Message Of Animal Farm
Animal Farm serves as a cautionary tale that underscores the dangers of absolute power and the corrupting influence it can have on even the most well-intentioned individuals.
Through its allegorical retelling of the Russian Revolution, the novel reveals how the idealism and lofty goals of revolutionaries can quickly devolve into oppressive regimes that bear little resemblance to the original vision.
Ultimately, the book serves as a reminder that vigilance and an unwavering commitment to principles of equality and justice are necessary to prevent the abuses of power that have plagued societies throughout history.
