Animal Farm Audiobook Chapter 6

Summary

In this chapter, the animals of Animal Farm continue to work hard, building the windmill despite numerous challenges. Their labor is marked by Boxer’s unwavering strength and dedication. However, as shortages of supplies emerge, Napoleon decides to engage in trade with humans, contradicting previous resolutions. The pigs move into the farmhouse, further deviating from the founding principles. A disaster strikes when the windmill is destroyed, and Napoleon quickly blames Snowball, issuing a death sentence on him. The animals, though shaken, are determined to rebuild the windmill and press forward with their efforts, united under Napoleon’s leadership.

Takeaways

• 😀 The animals work tirelessly, driven by the belief that their efforts benefit future generations and not humans.
• 😀 Napoleon introduces Sunday afternoon work as 'voluntary,' but any animal that doesn't participate faces a reduction in rations.
• 😀 The construction of the windmill faces significant challenges, including the difficulty of breaking stone, but the animals eventually come up with a solution using gravity.
• 😀 Boxer, with his unmatched strength, plays a critical role in the windmill project, refusing to stop working despite warnings about overexertion.
• 😀 The animals' lives are slightly better than under Jones, as they no longer support humans, but unforeseen shortages arise, including a lack of materials for the windmill.
• 😀 Napoleon decides to engage in trade with neighboring farms to obtain necessary materials, which contradicts the farm's original resolution of no trade with humans.
• 😀 Napoleon uses Squealer to manipulate the animals, assuring them that no resolution against trade ever existed and that they may have just imagined it.
• 😀 Napoleon's decision to engage a human intermediary, Mr. Whimper, helps facilitate trade with the outside world, though the animals are uncomfortable with this new relationship.
• 😀 The pigs move into the farmhouse, and Squealer justifies this by claiming it is necessary for the pigs' intellectual work, even though it contradicts the original rules.
• 😀 When the animals notice the pigs sleeping in beds, Squealer convinces them that the rule against beds only referred to sheets, not just beds themselves.
• 😀 The windmill is destroyed by a violent storm, but Napoleon quickly blames Snowball, calling him a traitor, and announces a reward for his capture, leading the animals to believe Snowball is responsible.

Q & A

What role did Boxer play in the construction of the windmill?

Boxer played a crucial role in the construction of the windmill, using his immense strength to move large boulders and drag them to the top of the quarry. His determination and physical labor were key to the progress of the windmill, and he worked tirelessly, even in his spare time, to ensure the project moved forward.

How did the animals feel about the increased workload in the summer and fall?

Despite the increased workload, including working on Sunday afternoons and enduring harsh conditions, the animals were content and believed their efforts were for the benefit of themselves and future generations. They worked hard, largely motivated by the idea of not working for humans anymore, but for their own future.

Why did Napoleon decide to engage in trade with human farms?

Napoleon decided to engage in trade with human farms to obtain necessary materials for the windmill, such as paraffin oil, nails, iron for horseshoes, and seeds. Although the animals had previously resolved never to trade with humans, Napoleon justified the move by emphasizing the urgency of acquiring these materials for the windmill's success.

What was the animals' reaction to the pigs moving into the farmhouse?

The animals were disturbed when the pigs moved into the farmhouse, as they remembered a resolution against such actions. However, Squealer convinced them that the move was necessary for the pigs, as the brains of the farm, to have a quiet place to work. He also argued that the pigs no longer slept in sheets, only in blankets, which was an acceptable compromise.

What did Squealer say to justify the pigs sleeping in beds?

Squealer justified the pigs sleeping in beds by explaining that the commandment was never against beds, only against sheets, which were a human invention. He argued that a bed was simply a place to sleep, and since the pigs were not using sheets, they were not violating any rules.

How did Napoleon respond to the windmill being destroyed?

Napoleon immediately blamed Snowball for the destruction of the windmill, claiming that Snowball had infiltrated the farm under the cover of night to sabotage their work. Napoleon declared Snowball a traitor and issued a death sentence, offering rewards to animals who captured or killed him.

What was the impact of Snowball being blamed for the windmill's destruction?

The animals were shocked and outraged by the accusation that Snowball had sabotaged the windmill. However, they were convinced by Napoleon's claims and began considering ways to capture Snowball if he ever returned. This marked the beginning of further distrust and scapegoating in the farm's society.

What were the conditions like for the animals as winter approached?

As winter approached, the animals faced a difficult season with a lack of food stores and the destruction of the windmill. Despite these hardships, they continued to work hard, rebuilding the windmill in the winter months, driven by the idea that the windmill's success would ultimately improve their lives.

How did Napoleon manage the trade with humans without directly interacting with them?

Napoleon arranged for Mr. Whimper, a solicitor from Willington, to act as an intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world. Mr. Whimper would visit the farm every Monday to receive instructions, ensuring that the animals did not have direct contact with human beings.

What was Benjamin's attitude toward the windmill, and how did he express it?

Benjamin remained skeptical about the windmill's success throughout its construction. He repeatedly expressed doubt that it would ever work, always muttering cryptically that 'donkeys live a long time.' His refusal to become excited about the windmill symbolized his broader cynicism about the promises made by Napoleon and the leadership on Animal Farm.