Animal Farm Summary of Chapters 1-10 – Flashcards

Poor treatment by Farmer Jones (sets up conflict) First introduction to the animals and foreshadowing of their status (e.g., pigs and dogs sit in front) Old Major's speech given to "comrades", criticism of humans and creation of rules of government (for when animals revolt) Old Major teaches animals "Beasts of England"

Old Major diesreplaced by Snowball and Napoleon to fuel revolution Mr. Jones too drunk to care for or feed animalsanimals break into grain bins When Jones and hired hands return to farm, animals attack them and drive them away Animals are now in control on the farm: Change name (Manor FarmAnimal Farm) Establish rules for behavior, i.e., commandments (paint on wall of barn)

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.

Farm animals (supervised by pigs) harvest cropsmore productive than ever before. Sunday: Day of rest, meetings, singing "Beasts of England" Education (reading and writing)too difficult for mostmaxim "Four legs good, two legs bad." Committees (e.g., Clean Tails League), most of which were unsuccessful Napoleon takes nine puppies for private instruction Pigs are now the only ones allowed to eat apples/drink milk (for strength) For compliance, pigs threaten return of Mr. Jones.

"Beasts of England" is being sung and hummed all over the country (animals become unmanageable) Mr. Jones w/ others try to recapture the farm, without success. Snowball's success in what became known as "Battle of the Cowshed" Leon Trotsky was the military genius who built the Soviet Army, personified through Snowball Snowball's competence evident through his study of Julius Caesar's campaigns Military decorations

Mollie abandons Animal Farm and the Rebellion after being seen with ribbons and being pet by humans. Meanwhile, Snowball wants the animals to build a windmill that will provide electricity, heat and running water in each stall, but Napoleon disagrees (urinates on plans). When Snowball tries to present his idea to the animals at their weekly meeting, Napoleon reveals the nine dogs he has trained as guard/attack dogs, and the dogs drive Snowball from the farm. When some animals protest, the sheep drown them out by bleating, "Four legs good, two legs bad," and the dogs growl. Napoleon soon tells the animals they are going to build the windmill and that it has always been his idea. With the aid of three growling dogs, Squealer convinces the animals to believe this.

Animals are working a sixty-hour week including Sunday afternoons, happy because they believe they are working for themselves Because of construction on the windmill, some crops are not planted on time, and the harvest is not nearly as good as last year's. Boxer gets up earlier to work harder. The need for seeds and other supplies causes the pigs to begin trading with other farms, first selling a load of hay, but warning the hens that their eggs may have to be sold as well. Mr. Whymper serves as go-between. Squealer assures animals no resolution had ever been made forbidding trade with humans. Pigs move into the farmhouse and begin sleeping in the beds. The fourth commandment now says, "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets." With the dogs' aid and the threat of Jones's return, Squealer convinces the animals that the rule had always referred to sheets. When the half-built windmill blows down during a storm, Napoleon accuses Snowball of destroying it and orders the animals to begin rebuilding it.

Always cold and usually hungry, the animals labor to rebuild the windmill over the long, hard winter. Napoleon rarely leaves the farmhouse. Squealer makes all his announcements and informs the hens they must produce eggs to sell so that grain can be bought for the animals to eat. The rebellious hens, led by three pullets, go on strike, laying their eggs from the rafters to smash on the floor. Napoleon starves them into submission, and nine hens die before the rebellion is over. Anything that goes wrong on the farm is blamed on Snowball. Squealer again counts on the growling dogs and Boxer's belief that whatever Napoleon says is right. Napoleon calls a meeting in which the dogs attack the four pigs who had earlier protested Snowball's guilt. Under pressure they confess to spying for Snowball, and the dogs quickly tear out their throats. The hen ringleaders of the strike confess, as do several other animals, and all are promptly killed. When the shocked animals gather together for comfort and sing "Beasts of England," Squealer silences them and states that the song has been abolished; it is unnecessary now that the Rebellion has been achieved. When some attempt to protest, the sheep's bleats drown them out until discussion time has passed.

The sixth now reads, "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause." They accept the deaths as perfectly reasonable in light of the rule. Though the animals are working harder than ever, they wonder if they are any better off than they were under Mr. Jones, yet Squealer quotes figures that seemingly support his statements that production has increased. Now when Napoleon appears, he is attended by the dogs and a black cockerel who marches in front and crows before Napoleon speaks. Napoleon has his own apartment, eats from the best china, has two dogs to wait on him, and orders that the gun be fired on his birthday. The windmill is finally finished. Napoleon sells a stack of lumber to Frederick, who pays with counterfeit money. Frederick and his men then attack Animal Farm. Armed with rifles, the men force the animals to flee. Only Benjamin realizes they are going to blow up the windmill. When it is destroyed the animals attack Frederick's men, who kill several of the animals and wound the others. After the animals chase the men off the farm, Napoleon orders that Jones's rifle be fired in a victory celebration. The injured Boxer questions the victory, but Squealer assures him they have won back their farm and will rebuild the windmill. In celebration the animals are given extra food. The pigs discover a case of whiskey and get very drunk. The next day a hungover Squealer announces that Napoleon is dying. When Napoleon recovers, he sends for books on brewing and distilling, and orders the field originally designated as the grazing plot for retired animals to be plowed up and planted with barley. The fifth commandment now reads "No animals shall drink alcohol to excess."

Although Boxer was injured in the battle, he still works as hard as ever on rebuilding the windmill. The animals are colder and hungrier than last winter, but Squealer again recites statistics to assure them that even with a "readjustment" of rations, they are still much better off than when Jones ran the farm. Since most of the animals cannot remember what life under Jones was like, they believe him. Thirty-one baby pigs now wear green ribbons on their tails on Sundays and are taught by Napoleon, who has plans to build a school house. The pigs, fatter than ever, have learned to brew beer and receive a daily ration of it. Once a week the animals participate in a Spontaneous Demonstration to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm, which helps them forget their hunger and misery. The farm is declared a Republic and Napoleon (the only candidate) is elected President. Moses, the raven, returns with his tales of Sugarcandy Mountain and is allowed to stay. Hard-working Boxer finally collapses. He believes he and Benjamin now will be allowed to retire; however, the wagon that comes to take him to the hospital actually belongs to the horse slaughterer. When Benjamin convinces the others of Boxer's danger, it is too late: Boxer is too feeble to break out of the wagon on his own. Several days later Squealer announces that Boxer has died in the hospital and has been buried in town. He reassures then animals he was there right at the end and that Boxer died saying, "Napoleon is always right." He explains away the wagon and assures the animals a memorial banquet will be held for Boxer. On the day of the celebration, a case of whiskey is delivered to the pigs, who have somehow found money to pay for it.

Over the years most of the animals who took part in the Rebellion have died, leaving only Clover, Benjamin, Moses, and several of the pigs. None of the animals have ever been allowed to retire. Many animals have been born who have little knowledge of the Rebellion, and those bought by the Farm have never heard of it at all. The farm flourishes. The windmill is used to grind corn, and another is being built. The animals have been told they don't need the hot and cold water and electric lights they thought they would have once the windmill was built. Napoleon tells them "the truest happiness... Lay in working hard and living frugally." Even though they often suffer from hunger and cold, they never lose sight of the truth that they are members of Animal Farm, the only farm owned and run by animals. They still hope and believe in Old Major's Republic of the Animals when all of England will be free of mankind. Squealer takes the sheep away and teaches them a new slogan. To the horror of the other animals, the pigs begin to walk on two legs, and the sheep drown out their protests with their newly learned slogan, "Four legs good, two legs better." There is only one commandment now: "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others." The pigs dress in the Jones's clothing, and nearby farmers come for a tour of the farm. The farmers comment favorably on the fact that the animals work longer hours and are fed less than their own animals. Napoleon announces that he is abolishing several practices at the farm such as the use of the "Comrade," Sunday marches, and the horn and hoof symbols on the flag. The farm will resume its original name-The Manor Farm. As the animals peep in the farmhouse windows, to their amazement they can no longer tell who are the pigs and who are the humans.