Timeline of events in Animal Farm
Chapter 1
- Old Major's speech --> to inspire the animals to rebel from Man, to obtain freedom
- Beasts of England song introduced--> tells animals what they're lives without Man would be like
Chapter 2
- Animals rebel against Jones --> without planning, because they were unfed the whole day
- Pigs come up with the 7 commandments based on Old Major's speech
Chapter 3
- Pigs reserve all the milk and apples for themselves --> start of inequality soon after the rebellion
Chapter 4
- Battle of the Cowshed --> Mr Jones comes back to reclaim his farm. This time, due to Snowball's plans, the animals are well prepared and are victorious
Chapter 5
- Windmill idea suggested by Snowball --> symbolises development and modernisation of the farm. Beneficial because now they can get electricity, warmth, and storage space for their harvest
- Snowball is expelled --> this is the last we see of him in the novel. The path is clear for Napoleon to be the unchallenged leader.
Chapter 6
- the pigs engage in trade on behalf of the farm --> animals realise they cannot be self-sufficient and have to depend on humans for some things --> going against commandment
- the windmill collapses due to strong wind, and the thin walls.
- pigs start living in the farmhouse and sleep on beds --> going against commandments
Chapter 7
- Hen rebellion --> Napoleon wants their eggs to trade with humans for other items.
- Execution of animals who are thought to be plotting with Snowball to overthrow Napoleon
- animals rebuild windmill
Chapter 8
- Frederick and his men attack the farm and destroy the windmill
- Pigs drink alcohol --> going against yet another commandment
Chapter 9
- animals start to rebuild the windmill
- food is even more scarce but pigs still live in luxury
- sale of Boxer to horse- slaughterer
- Napoleon is president and Moses returns
Chapter 10
- the Rebellion is a distant vague memory for most animals
- pigs start walking on legs like humans, and behave like humans
- change in commandments:
1. 4 legs good, 2 legs better!
2. All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others
- meeting with humans on the farm
- ends with animals not being able to differentiate pigs from humans
Friday, March 21, 2008
some notes on dictatorship and totalitarianism
Orwell wrote Animal farm to satirise dictatorship in general.
According to him, all dictators have similar characteristics, some of which include:
1. The pursuit of power
- they are power-hungry and will do anything to maintain it
2. Total control
- dictators insist on wanting to control every aspect of people's lives --> how they behave and also how they think! This makes them feel more secure that no one will rebel against them or even have opposing views from theirs.
3. Hero-worship
- this is what I also refer to as making themselves like a cult-personality.
- the people are required to hero-worship the dictator and regard him as a sort of god.
- e.g. at the bottom of pg 72 --> Napoleon rarely appears in public and when he does, it is in a very ceremonial manner, with his dogs as bodyguards, who prevent anyone from coming too close to him.
4. Making themselves appear perfect and flawless
- dictators often make it seem as if they are not capable of making any mistakes --> so that the people under him will think that their 'God' can never make a mistake.
- rather than make a mistake, the totalitarian leader/dictator will brainwash the people under him or use propaganda to change history so that it 'agrees' with his opinions and decisions. Only his beliefs and version of truth will be circulated because in dictatorships/totalitarian societies, only one opinion is allowed at any given point.
According to him, all dictators have similar characteristics, some of which include:
1. The pursuit of power
- they are power-hungry and will do anything to maintain it
2. Total control
- dictators insist on wanting to control every aspect of people's lives --> how they behave and also how they think! This makes them feel more secure that no one will rebel against them or even have opposing views from theirs.
3. Hero-worship
- this is what I also refer to as making themselves like a cult-personality.
- the people are required to hero-worship the dictator and regard him as a sort of god.
- e.g. at the bottom of pg 72 --> Napoleon rarely appears in public and when he does, it is in a very ceremonial manner, with his dogs as bodyguards, who prevent anyone from coming too close to him.
4. Making themselves appear perfect and flawless
- dictators often make it seem as if they are not capable of making any mistakes --> so that the people under him will think that their 'God' can never make a mistake.
- rather than make a mistake, the totalitarian leader/dictator will brainwash the people under him or use propaganda to change history so that it 'agrees' with his opinions and decisions. Only his beliefs and version of truth will be circulated because in dictatorships/totalitarian societies, only one opinion is allowed at any given point.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Chapter 6 Discussion Questions
1. What word, in the second paragraph, is used by Orwell in a heavily ironic way, to show that Napoleon is becoming more dictatorial?
Ans: The word Orwell uses is "voluntary".
2. What advantages are there for the animals in running their own farm?
Ans: They only had to feed themselves, not humans who only consumed without producing. The animal method of doing things was also more efficient and labour saving - e.g. weeding was done more thoroughly by the animals than by humans. No animal stole now, and thus, no fences or gates were needed to separate the fields.
3. In what way is Snowball so useful to Napoleon, even though he has been expelled from the farm?
Ans: Even though Snowball has been expelled from the farm, he is useful to Napoleon because he is the scapegoat. For example, although the windmill collapsed because of strong wind and because it was built weak, Napoleon blames Snowball for destroying it. Squealer also says that it was Snowball who probably spread lies about there being the resolution against engaging in trade and touching money.By making Snowball appear as the enemy, Napoleon can make himself look like the good guy who is needed in order for the animals to be safe and to survive.
4. How does Orwell show that to be literate, to be able to read and write, is not enough, if you cannot understand the significance of what you have read?
Ans: Clover thinks that she remembers a commandment against sleeping on beds. She is suspicious and so she asks Muriel to read the commandment to her. However, the pigs have already modified the commandment, thus Muriel does not realise that the original commandment was different from the modified one. Therefore, she cannot understand that the animals are being cheated by Napoleon and Squealer. Even though these animals can read and write to some extent, their education has not really benefited them because they fail to realise that they are being brainwashed by the 2 pigs.
5. Why do you think that Benjamin refuses to "grow enthusiastic" about the windmill?
Ans: He is someone who is always cynical and is also wise in the sense that he does not get overly happy/enthusiastic or overly sad. He just lives his life in a calm manner without much hope. He probably feels that it is no use to be very enthusiastic because their lives are not going to change.
Ans: The word Orwell uses is "voluntary".
2. What advantages are there for the animals in running their own farm?
Ans: They only had to feed themselves, not humans who only consumed without producing. The animal method of doing things was also more efficient and labour saving - e.g. weeding was done more thoroughly by the animals than by humans. No animal stole now, and thus, no fences or gates were needed to separate the fields.
3. In what way is Snowball so useful to Napoleon, even though he has been expelled from the farm?
Ans: Even though Snowball has been expelled from the farm, he is useful to Napoleon because he is the scapegoat. For example, although the windmill collapsed because of strong wind and because it was built weak, Napoleon blames Snowball for destroying it. Squealer also says that it was Snowball who probably spread lies about there being the resolution against engaging in trade and touching money.By making Snowball appear as the enemy, Napoleon can make himself look like the good guy who is needed in order for the animals to be safe and to survive.
4. How does Orwell show that to be literate, to be able to read and write, is not enough, if you cannot understand the significance of what you have read?
Ans: Clover thinks that she remembers a commandment against sleeping on beds. She is suspicious and so she asks Muriel to read the commandment to her. However, the pigs have already modified the commandment, thus Muriel does not realise that the original commandment was different from the modified one. Therefore, she cannot understand that the animals are being cheated by Napoleon and Squealer. Even though these animals can read and write to some extent, their education has not really benefited them because they fail to realise that they are being brainwashed by the 2 pigs.
5. Why do you think that Benjamin refuses to "grow enthusiastic" about the windmill?
Ans: He is someone who is always cynical and is also wise in the sense that he does not get overly happy/enthusiastic or overly sad. He just lives his life in a calm manner without much hope. He probably feels that it is no use to be very enthusiastic because their lives are not going to change.
March holiday lecture
Dear Sec 2 Express girls,
Some of you missed the March holiday lecture for various reasons. Here is what was covered. Of course you've missed out on the explanation and Q & A, but you have to find that out from your friends who've attended the lecture.
Setting
Manor farm, England
Tone
•At the beginning à miserable and indignant
•In the middle à motivated, positive
•At the end à same as at the beginning. The animals work just as hard as they had before Napoleon took over. Life under Napoleon and Jones ends up being the same
Point of view
•3rd person
•Narrator is not a character in the novel, but tells readers what the characters are thinking
Who/ what does Orwell criticize through his novel?
1. Totalitarianism
-After the Russians overthrew the Czar, this was the main political system
-Similarly, in Animal Farm, even though the animals overthrow Jones, the pigs become exactly like Jones, to the point where at the end, the animals cannot distinguish between the humans and the pigs
2. Power hungry people (e.g. pigs)
-Start off as one of the group and work for the good of everyone, but slowly get more greedy and selfish
3. Ignorant blind followers
- Who do not question or even realise the injustices
Understanding Irony
What is irony?
•Irony results when there is a contradiction between what an audience would expect and what really happens.
2 types:
1.Situational irony
-We think one thing will happen but an unexpected twist occurs
-We think that the animals will have a perfect world when they rule the farm. The unexpected twist is that there is eventually a perfect world, but only for the pigs. The other animals are still miserable.
2.Dramatic irony
-The readers know something that the characters in the book do not know
-We know that Squealer has been changing the commandments but the animals don’t know this
-We know that Boxer was slaughtered but the animals think that he died in the veterinary clinic, despite supposedly given medicine
Effect and purpose of irony:
1. Comic
•to entertain and amuse the reader
2. Moral
•to make a serious moral judgement or point
•to put across social and political messages à for e.g., what is the political message that Orwell wants to put across?
Understanding Satire
What is satire?
•A critique or attack of an individual, group, or idea by exaggerating faults and revealing hypocrisies.
•Dramatic irony is often used when we want to satirise. E.g. We see the hypocrisy that the animals don't and therefore understand that the book is deeply critical of the pigs.
•Who or what do you think Orwell is satirising in the novel? (Hint: think of who the pigs represent)
- The Russian Revolution and the Russian leaders like Stalin and Trotsky (note that the whole novel is a satire)
•Why is he satirising them?
- to point out the weaknesses and imperfections of the human condition
Themes in Animal Farm
1.Dictatorship and totalitarianism (pg 8)
-How dictators rise to power and maintain it
-Dictatorship: a type of government in which absolute and overbearing power is held by a dictator (tyrant)
-Totalitarianism: a system in which a govt is so powerful that it controls its people totally and suppresses all discussion of opposing views
2.Power and politics or Power and corruption
-Even a supposedly good system like communism can be corrupted by selfishness and the desire for power
3.Appearance vs reality
-The pigs appear to care for the welfare of the farm and animals but are only interested in their own benefit
-This is similar to the Russian leaders.
Some of you missed the March holiday lecture for various reasons. Here is what was covered. Of course you've missed out on the explanation and Q & A, but you have to find that out from your friends who've attended the lecture.
Setting
Manor farm, England
Tone
•At the beginning à miserable and indignant
•In the middle à motivated, positive
•At the end à same as at the beginning. The animals work just as hard as they had before Napoleon took over. Life under Napoleon and Jones ends up being the same
Point of view
•3rd person
•Narrator is not a character in the novel, but tells readers what the characters are thinking
Who/ what does Orwell criticize through his novel?
1. Totalitarianism
-After the Russians overthrew the Czar, this was the main political system
-Similarly, in Animal Farm, even though the animals overthrow Jones, the pigs become exactly like Jones, to the point where at the end, the animals cannot distinguish between the humans and the pigs
2. Power hungry people (e.g. pigs)
-Start off as one of the group and work for the good of everyone, but slowly get more greedy and selfish
3. Ignorant blind followers
- Who do not question or even realise the injustices
Understanding Irony
What is irony?
•Irony results when there is a contradiction between what an audience would expect and what really happens.
2 types:
1.Situational irony
-We think one thing will happen but an unexpected twist occurs
-We think that the animals will have a perfect world when they rule the farm. The unexpected twist is that there is eventually a perfect world, but only for the pigs. The other animals are still miserable.
2.Dramatic irony
-The readers know something that the characters in the book do not know
-We know that Squealer has been changing the commandments but the animals don’t know this
-We know that Boxer was slaughtered but the animals think that he died in the veterinary clinic, despite supposedly given medicine
Effect and purpose of irony:
1. Comic
•to entertain and amuse the reader
2. Moral
•to make a serious moral judgement or point
•to put across social and political messages à for e.g., what is the political message that Orwell wants to put across?
Understanding Satire
What is satire?
•A critique or attack of an individual, group, or idea by exaggerating faults and revealing hypocrisies.
•Dramatic irony is often used when we want to satirise. E.g. We see the hypocrisy that the animals don't and therefore understand that the book is deeply critical of the pigs.
•Who or what do you think Orwell is satirising in the novel? (Hint: think of who the pigs represent)
- The Russian Revolution and the Russian leaders like Stalin and Trotsky (note that the whole novel is a satire)
•Why is he satirising them?
- to point out the weaknesses and imperfections of the human condition
Themes in Animal Farm
1.Dictatorship and totalitarianism (pg 8)
-How dictators rise to power and maintain it
-Dictatorship: a type of government in which absolute and overbearing power is held by a dictator (tyrant)
-Totalitarianism: a system in which a govt is so powerful that it controls its people totally and suppresses all discussion of opposing views
2.Power and politics or Power and corruption
-Even a supposedly good system like communism can be corrupted by selfishness and the desire for power
3.Appearance vs reality
-The pigs appear to care for the welfare of the farm and animals but are only interested in their own benefit
-This is similar to the Russian leaders.
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