1. Who does Orwell suggest is responsible for spreading the idea that Snowball visits the farm at night?
Ans: He suggests that it is Napoleon. Squealer is Napoleon''s mouthpiece but Napoleon is the mastermind who makes Snowball the scapegoat and blames him for everything.
2. What makes some of the animals confess to 'crimes' when they know they will be executed? Why does Napoleon want them to confess?
Ans: The animals somehow feel guilty as if even dreaming of Snowball is a sin. They are terrified that Napoleon will find out and feel guilty/start to believe that they may be on Snowball's side. Therefore, they confess despite knowing that they will be executed. Napoleon wants them to confess to show the other animals that there may be traitors amongst them. He publicly kills them as a warning to the other animals of their fate if they even think of rebelling against him.Consider: do all the animals confess on their own or do you think some of them may be 'planted' by Napoleon (meaning, he forced some of them to confess in front of the rest?)
3. Re-read the paragraph beginning 'The animals huddled about Clover' (pg 79). Why do you think Orwell chooses to include it and place it in this particular position in the chapter?
Ans: At this point, the animals have just witnessed the horrible killing of their comrades. They are feeling terrified the whole mood (in other words, the 'feel' or atmosphere of the situation) is very tense. When they stand on top if the knoll (small hill) and look over at their farm, which is owned by them, it is very beautiful and represent hope and promise. Orwell has included it to contrast the landscape which is peaceful and beautiful, with the animals feelings, which is hardly peaceful, and very fearful. The issue of idealism versus reality is also brought out by Orwell. He positions this paragraph at this point for us to stop and reflect on what Animal Farm could have become, versus what it actually is now. Clover feels that when they first had the rebellion many years ago, it was for all animals to be treated equally, to have freedom, to each contribute according to their ability, and for the strong to protect the weak. However, this is not what life is Animal Farm is like now. Therefore, what they hoped for when they first rebelled has not been achieved.
4. Why do the words of the new anthem not 'come up to "Beasts of England" ' (pg 81)?
Ans: Just looking at the first two lines of the new anthem show us that this song is meant to glorify Napoleon - as long as the animals trust and follow his leadership obediently, no hard will come to them. This is heavily ironic as he has just killed many of the animals. There is no purpose for this song except to feed Napoleon's ego and thus, the animals cannot identify with it. However, "Beasts of England" was a motivational song for all animals, which inspired them to rebel by telling him how life that is free from Man's control would be.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
'Animal Farm' the movie
Hello ladies! Time to chat a little here and voice your opinions!
Assuming that you are going to produce the movie version of 'Animal Farm', and real Hollowood actors are going to play the animals in the novel (not do voice-overs only), who would you select for each of these roles?
Assuming that you are going to produce the movie version of 'Animal Farm', and real Hollowood actors are going to play the animals in the novel (not do voice-overs only), who would you select for each of these roles?
- Napoleon
- Snowball
- Squealer
- Mollie
- Clover
- Boxer
- Benjamin
Friday, March 21, 2008
Timeline of events in Animal Farm
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
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
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.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Chapter 5 Discussion Qns
Remember: provide evidence from the text to justify your answers to these questions.
1. Why does Mollie leave? How has Orwell prepared us for this development? You will need to remind yourself of what she does in previous chapters.
Ans: She would rather work for humans as long as she gets her ribbons and lumps of sugar. The "little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbons of different colours" (pg 49) which Clover finds in her stall are presumaby given to Mollie by one of Pilkington's men, who Clover saw talking to Mollie. Mollie cannot adapt to live in Animal Farm which involves hard work, because she is not used to work. Orwell prepares us for this by highlighting Mollie's behaviour and attitude to us, especially after the 1st rebellion of the animals. Mollie is always late for work and exuses herself by complaining of "mysterious pains". She is very lazy and is only interested in admiring herself. She only appears at mealtimes. Durign the Battle of the Cowshed, she is unable to fight alongside the other animals and runs to hide in a cowardly fashion. This shows that she is not committed to the rebellion, unlike the other animals.
2. Orwell says "It had come to be accepted that the pigs...should decide all questions" (pg 50). How did this happen?
Ans: It was because the pigs were accepted by all the animals as being "manifestly cleverer than the other animals". After Old Major's death, the pigs assumed the leadership position by vitue of their intelligence. However, they managed to control all the animals through their mouth piece Squealer, who would always brianwash and convince the animals of the necessity of having the pigs around, and in the leadership position - he always claims that since the pigs are "brain workers", the whole management and organisation of the farm depends on them, and if they were to fail, Jones would return. Due to this, the animals started to let the pigs always decide.
3. In what way do you think the sheep's 'Four legs good, two legs bad' slogan is important?
Ans: Orwell mentions on page 50 that "It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into 'Four legs good, two legs bad' at the crucial moments in Snowball's speeches". This implies that Napoleon probably had a hand in this, and the unintelligent sheep, without realising it, are working in favour of Napoleon. They serve to break the flow of Snowball's speeches and distract the animals from his speeches.
4. Orwell says that Squealer's argument was 'unanswerable'. Do you think it was?
Ans: No, it could be countered. Squealer says that "Loyalty and obedience are more important" than bravery" (pg 56) when one of the animals said that Snowball fought bravely in the Battle of the Cowshed. However, this is ironic because the pigs were earlier trying to convince the animals not to have loyalty and obedience to Jones, but to rebel. They are now encouraging it when it suits their purpose, because they want all the animals to be obedient to Napoleon. Therefore, their argument is not convincing and can be countered but the animals are too unintelligent ad naive to realise that. Also, he says that if the animals make one false step, Jones will return. There is no connection between the debates on Sunday mornings and Jones' return but once again, the animals fail to realise this.
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