Animal Farm
English III
Animal Farm notes
George Orwell’s 1945 novella, Animal Farm, is a
story of an animal revolution. The animal
residents of Manor farm motivated by the dream
of one pig, Old Major, decides they will change
their “miserable, laborious, and short” lives.
Animal Farm notes
They overthrow Mr. Jones, their master, and take over the
management of the farm. Rather than living under the
direction of their human masters, the animals of Manor Farm
decide they will take control of the products of their labor,
working for the good of the farm and other animals,
rather than for the good of humans.
Animal Farm notes
Animal Farm is an allegorical commentary on what went
wrong when Czarist Russia evolved into Communist
Russia. An allegory is a narrative that uses literary
devices to unveil hidden meanings. At the time when
Orwell’s book was publish, Animal Farm wasn’t very popular
because Russia was actually an ally to the western world in
the fight against Hitler during World War II.
Animal Farm notes
Orwell himself wasn’t always completely anti-communist. He
was actually a socialist who supported the belief that
industry should be controlled and owned by the workers
for the good of everyone, not just the elite.
Animal Farm notes
It wasn’t until he witnessed the corrupt evolution of
Communist Russia, and how it departed from the initial goals,
that he felt he should warn us of the dangers of unchecked
authority. Orwell wanted to show the negative side of
communism when it is taken too far.
Squealer
A pig who becomes Napoleon's mouthpiece. Throughout the novel, he displays
his ability to manipulate the animals' thoughts through the use of his voice and
propaganda.
Napoleon
A boar who, with Snowball, leads the
rebellion against Jones. After the
rebellion's success, he systematically
begins to control all aspects of the
farm until he is an undisputed
leader/dictator of the farm.
Snowball
A boar who becomes one of the
rebellion's most valuable leaders.
After drawing complicated plans for
the construction of a windmill, he is
chased off of the farm forever by
Napoleon's dogs and thereafter used
as a scapegoat for the animals'
troubles.
Moses
A tame raven and sometimes-pet of Jones who tells the
animals stories about a paradise called Sugarcandy
Mountain.
Benjamin
A cynical, pessimistic
donkey who continually
undercuts the animals'
enthusiasm with his
cryptic remark,
"Donkeys live a long
time."
Boxer
A dedicated but dimwitted horse who aids in the building of
the windmill but is sold to a glue-boiler after collapsing from
exhaustion.
Clover
A motherly horse who
silently questions some
of Napoleon's decisions
and tries to help Boxer
after his collapse.
Mollie
A vain horse who prefers
ribbons and sugar over
ideas and rebellion. She
is eventually lured off the
farm with promises of a
comfortable life.
Old Major
An old boar whose speech
about the evils perpetrated
by humans prompted the
animals into rebelling. His
philosophy concerning the
tyranny of Man is named
Animalism by his followers.
He also teaches the song
"Beasts of England" to the
animals.
Farmer Jones
The often-drunk owner of Manor
Farm, later expelled from his
land by his own animals. He
dies from drinking too much
alcohol after abandoning his
hopes to reclaim his farm.
Whymper
A solicitor hired by Napoleon
to act as an intermediary in
Animal Farm's trading with
neighboring farms.