Chapter 8
Attack on AF once again -- compare this with the Battle of the Cowshed in Chap 5. What are the differences and what causes them? – “Boldly enough the animals sallied forth meet them, but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had…” (line 6-7 from top)
Napoleon’s arrogance and ignorance that the humans could bring the windmill down (8 lines from bottom)
This causes animals to become so furious that they fight back unitedly -- a lot of violence and many injured
What is the mood in the farm at this point?
Squealer’s role in the battle?
Congratulates animals on their victory and attributes it to Comrade Napoleon
Napoleon names battle after him and confers yet another medal upon himself
Qn: Why do Napoleon and Squealer want to make it seem as though they are victorious?
Is this incident meant to be amusing? Why or why not?
Napoleon bans alcohol - punishable by death
But eventually, he himself wants to brew barley so that he can make alcohol
Very Impt: The strange incident -- what is it’s significance?
What are your reactions to the animals’ attitude?
Chapter 9
Boxer had hurt himself during the battle -- but he still works very hard
Starvation: Rations are reduced again, except for pigs and dogs (last 4 lines of pg 97)
Look at how Squealer explains this to the animals -- link this to Orwell’s point about language being used to brainwash people
Uses statistics to convince them that their standard of living has improved
“The animals believed every word of it…Jones and all he stood for had almost faded out of their memories (lines 13-14 from top of pg 98)
More inequalities, privileging of one group over another (last 3 lines of pg 98) -- going against commandment that all animals are equal
Rations are again reduced (middle of pg 99) but the pigs are comfortable
Pigs are getting more privileges – e.g. all the barley, beer, more food, etc
IRONY: the animals believe that “life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before.” (pg 99)
Anything significant about Orwell’s use of the word “Spontaneous” to describe the demonstrations? (2nd line)
“They found it comforting to be reminded that, after all, they were truly their own masters and that the work they did was for their own benefit.” -- IRONY
More IRONY: Animal Farm declared a Republic and Napoleon gets elected as President.
Republic refers to a state in which the government is made up of a team. Compare this with how the farm is being run by Napoleon
Note that Orwell is actually satirising (making fun of) nations that claim they are a Republic when actually they are obviously not
More lies about Snowball and Napoleon’s bravery -- 1st para (pg 101)
Re-appearance of Moses – what is Moses’ role?
If the pigs have to undo the lies spread by Moses, why do they allow him back on the farm?
Main incident: Sale of Boxer
Pg 102 – look at how Orwell portrays Boxer -- why do you think he does this just before making him collapse and get sold?
The great deception: what the pigs claim vs the truth
What is different about Benjamin’s behaviour in this chapter?
How does Squealer effectively convince the animals?
How does he squash the rumour that Boxer was being sent to be slaughtered?
How do you think the pigs got the money to buy more whisky? (last 3 lines, pg 107)
What are your feelings towards the animals? Pity? Anger? Disgust? Shock?
Who do you feel more strongly about? The oppressors or the victims?
Chapter 10
Many years have passed -- memories have faded
Snowball and Boxer are forgotten, and so is the rebellion and life before it -- refer to pg 109, 3rd para, lines 3-6 --> what sort of changes have taken place?
“Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer – except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs.” (pg 110, 1st 3 lines of 2nd para) -- significance of this?
“They could not remember. There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives” (lines 6-8, pg 111) -- significance of this quote? What does it show?
This is one of the reasons why the animals remain exploited and living in such miserable conditions
“And yet the animals never gave up hope” -- Why do you think so?
“No creature among them went upon two legs. No creature called another creature ‘Master’. All animals were equal” (pg 112, lines 7-9).
Can you identify 2 devices used here? (pg 112)
1.Irony
2.Foreshadowing
A surprising incident happens – the pigs start to walk on 2 legs
“There was a deadly silence” (3rd para, pg 113)
What do you think the mood is like in this scene?
Why do you think the atmosphere is so eerily silent? How do you think the animals are feeling?
The pigs have been breaking the commandments one by one. The total overthrow of all the rules of Animalism is finally shown through the sheeps’ new slogan, “Four legs good, two legs better!”
7 commandments changed to one
Pigs are very closely resembling humans -Carry whips to get work done, Walk on 2 legs, Sleep in beds, Live in houses, Trade and touch money, Wear clothes, Drink alcohol, smoke, etc
What happened to whatever they had fought for?
Meeting with neighbouring farmers – humans and animals meeting on equal grounds
Orwell is satirising (making fun of) the meetings that politicians from various countries have with one another
Humans claim that they are impressed with the way the farm is run – contrast with their earlier reaction
Claim that they face similar problems (e.g. labour)
‘If you have your lower animals to contend with,’ he said, ‘we have our lower classes!’ à what do you make of this statement?
A change Napoleon makes: reverting back to the old name Manor Farm instead of Animal Farm --> implications?
Shows that we have come full circle – life has returned to the state it was at, before the rebellion
Have the animals achieved whatever they had hoped for when they rebelled?
Ending of novel à violent quarrel erupts. Reason? Deeper significance of this?
For the animals observing from the outside, the voices and faces of the pigs and the humans seem to be the same --> what do you think Orwell is trying to put across to his readers?
Do you like the ending of the novel? How else could it have ended?
Why do you think Orwell chose to end the novel in this manner?
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