| In its first reading, Animal Farm seems like a story with animals that can speak, read, think and communicate with each other but there are hidden meanings and metaphors throughout the book. The story starts in an English farm, “Manor Farm” with a Mr Jones as the owner. One day, the oldest and wisest animal on the farm, a boar, tells his fellow animals about his dream. His dream was to establish Animalism on earth with animals taking care of themselves and their needs without any human masters. He also warns them about not adopting the vices of man e.g. drinking, smoking, trading money etc. After his death, one day the animals revolt and take over the farm, which is renamed as Animal Farm. The pigs become the decision makers, as they were the most intelligent with two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon holding the reins of control. Animalism also had seven rules, namely:
1. Whatever goes upon 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. What happens afterwards is a classic example of corrupted power. Snowball, while making plans to build a windmill, which would improve the conditions on the farm, was attacked and chased out of Animal Farm by Napoleon and a pack of ferocious dogs. What follows was that Squealer, effectively the propaganda manager, changes history by lying to the animals that Snowball was in fact, a traitor, and it was Napoleon who exposed him and chased him out. Through deception and treachery, they turned the animals on Snowball and made them work like slaves, while the pigs and dogs enjoyed themselves. They tried to build the windmill, but it ended up being destroyed every time. It showed the slow change from pigs, to humans. The rules were also changed by the party in power, in this case, Napoleon. They were changed to: 1. Four legs good, two legs better. 2. No animal shall wear clothes. 3. No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. 4. No animal shall drink alcohol to excess. 5. No animal shall kill any other animal. 6. All animals are equal but some are more equal than others. In the story, it shows how the pigs in charge of the farm The book was written in 1943-44 and is a satire on the USSR and communism. There are incidents throughout the novel resembling Russia's 1st War of Independence, 2nd War of Independence, and Stalin coming to power and his ruthless execution of opponents. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 1600-1899 - Political/social activism Yes Plotlet: Animal story Yes Kind of animal: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Animal talks/thinks aloud? Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - a teen Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - a teen Profession/status: How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - below average Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 9 () Farm/Ranch? Yes Farm/Ranch: - farm - ranch - lot of descript of animal care Small town? Yes Small town people: - sinister, like an X-Files Gomer Pyle Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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