Animal Farm Summary - George Orwell - Schooling Online

Summary

The script retells George Orwell's 'Animal Farm,' depicting a rebellion by farm animals against their human owner. Led by the visionary Old Major, the animals establish their own society with the pigs, especially Napoleon and Snowball, at the helm. As power corrupts, the pigs become tyrannical, mirroring human behavior. The story critiques the corruption of ideals and the cyclical nature of power, ending with the pigs indistinguishable from the humans they once overthrew.

Takeaways

• 🐷 The story of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell is allegorical, depicting a group of animals who rebel against their human owner, Mr. Jones, and establish their own society.
• 📜 Old Major, the prize boar, inspires the animals with a vision of a future free from human oppression, teaching them the anthem 'Beasts of England' and the principles of Animalism.
• 🌾 After the rebellion, the animals rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and establish the Seven Commandments of Animalism, aiming to create a society where all animals are equal.
• 🐷 The pigs, being the most intelligent, take leadership roles, with Snowball and Napoleon emerging as the dominant figures, but their disagreements lead to a power struggle.
• 🔄 The pigs justify their privileged status by claiming they need special treatment to maintain their health and ensure the farm's success, which contradicts the original principles.
• 🐕 Napoleon consolidates power by expelling Snowball, using violence and manipulation to control the other animals and establish himself as the sole leader.
• 🏰 The pigs move into the farmhouse, a direct violation of the commandments, and begin to adopt human-like behaviors and privileges.
• 🛠 The construction of the windmill symbolizes the animals' hard work and the pigs' ambition, but it also leads to conflict and tragedy.
• 💸 Napoleon engages in trade with humans, betraying the early ideals of the rebellion, and uses a lawyer to circumvent the commandments against dealing with humans.
• 🗽 The windmill is destroyed and rebuilt, reflecting the resilience of the animals and the pigs' determination to maintain control, despite setbacks.
• 🐴 Boxer, the loyal carthorse, represents the spirit of hard work and dedication, but his tragic end when he is sold to a glue factory exposes the corruption and betrayal of the pigs.
• 🔁 The pigs' transformation into humans, both in appearance and behavior, culminates in the renaming of 'Animal Farm' to 'The Manor Farm,' revealing the tragic irony that the revolution has come full circle.

Q & A

What is the significance of Old Major's message to the animals?

Old Major's message is significant because it lays the foundation for the animal rebellion. He offers the animals a vision of a future without human tyranny and introduces the concept of 'Animalism,' which promotes equality among the animals and the idea of overthrowing the human oppressors.

Why do the pigs take on a leadership role after the rebellion?

The pigs assume leadership roles because they are considered the most intelligent of the animals, having become literate and developed a system of thought based on Old Major's teachings called 'Animalism.' Their intellectual superiority allows them to organize and manage the farm.

What causes the animals to finally rebel against Mr. Jones?

The animals rebel against Mr. Jones when he and his men forget to feed them, leaving the animals starving. This neglect is the final straw, leading the animals to break into the storeshed for food and violently drive the humans off the farm.

What role does the anthem 'Beasts of England' play in the animals' rebellion?

'Beasts of England' serves as a unifying anthem for the animals, symbolizing their shared struggle and aspirations for a better future. It inspires them to work together in their rebellion against human oppression.

How does Napoleon consolidate power after Snowball is expelled?

Napoleon consolidates power by using force, specifically through the nine dogs he raised in secret, to expel Snowball from the farm. He then abolishes the Sunday meetings where animals could debate and instead takes control of decision-making, presenting himself as the ultimate authority.

What is the significance of the windmill in the story?

The windmill represents the animals' collective effort and their hopes for a better future. However, it also becomes a tool for Napoleon to manipulate and control the other animals. The repeated destruction and rebuilding of the windmill symbolize the futility of their labor under Napoleon's corrupt leadership.

How do the pigs justify their increasingly human-like behavior?

The pigs justify their human-like behavior by subtly altering the commandments of Animalism to suit their actions. For example, they modify the rule against drinking alcohol and living in the farmhouse to accommodate their desires. These changes are presented as being in the best interest of the farm.

What happens to Boxer, the loyal carthorse, and what does it signify?

Boxer, the loyal and hardworking carthorse, is sold to the knacker when he becomes too weak to work. This betrayal signifies the complete corruption of the pigs' leadership, as they prioritize their gain over the well-being of the animals who contributed the most to the farm's success.

How do the final changes to the Seven Commandments reflect the overall theme of the story?

The final change to the Seven Commandments, reducing them to 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,' reflects the story's theme of the corrupting influence of power. It highlights the pigs' complete abandonment of the original principles of Animalism and their transformation into the very tyrants they once overthrew.

What is the significance of the ending where the pigs and humans are indistinguishable?

The ending, where the pigs and humans become indistinguishable, signifies the complete loss of the animals' original revolutionary ideals. It illustrates how the pigs have become just as oppressive and corrupt as the humans they replaced, blurring the line between the oppressors and the oppressed.