Pre-reading

Before we read the chapter, let’s watch a rather interesting video from Turkey. ***Play video

about Turkey***

1. Why do you think everybody stopped?

POSSIBLE ANSWERS:

Good guesses, but you’re all wrong. The alarm signifies the anniversary of a certain

man’s death: ***Ataturk***. Based off this, you’d assume Turkey was named after him,

but it’s the other way around. You see, Ataturk means ‘father of Turkey’. I can’t

remember his actual name, but that particular man basically created modern Turkey. He

was behind many reforms. He died a long time ago, but he is respected- no, “respected”

is an understatement. He’s revered. His statues are everywhere, his face is on the

currency, and it’s illegal to insult him. It is said that Ataturk has a cult of personality:

 A cult of personality is a group of people united by the extreme reverence of a

charismatic leader.

Mind you, there’s a difference between simply being popular and having a personality

cult. First of all, personality cults are more extreme. You saw the video. People stopped

what they were doing to show respect for a dead man. Also, personality cults are usually

manufactured. Politicians use certain tactics to get a cult following. We’re gonna see

them in action.
2. What did you notice about these leaders’ behaviour or decisions?

ANSWERS:

a. They presented themselves as strong men.

b. They controlled the media.

c. They rewrote history.

d. They turned their appearances into special occasions.

***When you separate yourself from the masses and turn your rare appearances into

ceremonies, you give the impression that you’re above everybody. So it’s not that

you’re at the top of hierarchy. It’s more like you transcend the hierarchy. ****

e.

**While we read this chapter, pay attention to a certain character’s behaviour.

Recap & Analysis
In this chapter, we finally see Napoleon get something resembling karma.

1. Now, once again, the pigs have changed one of the commandments. Which one was it?

ANSWER:

a. No animal shall kill any other animal.

i. Yes, that particular commandment was changed to ‘No animal shall kill any

other animal WITHOUT CAUSE.’ What makes this rule change especially

dangerous?

ANSWER:

 It gives the pigs carte blanche to kill anyone they deem a threat.

***Exactly. And it goes without saying that the pigs are the ones who

get to decide who dies. ***

2. What does Squealer do to convince the starving animals that they have food in excess?

ANSWER:

a. He reads a list of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had

increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent,

as the case might be.

i. A certain man once said, “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies, and

statistics.” It’s very easy to misinterpret statistics, deliberately or not. For

 example, during World War I, some generals didn’t want soldiers wearing

helmets because according to them, wearing helmets caused an increase in

head injuries. That was true, but there was also a decrease in fatalities. Can

anyone tell me why?

ANSWER:

 Instead of dying, the soldiers survived with head injuries.

***Exactly. The real reason the generals hated helmets was

because taking care of a wounded soldier is more expensive than

paying for a funeral. ***

3. How do Napoleon's public appearance and title change?

ANSWERS:

a. His orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs.

b. He appears in public less frequently, always accompanied by his dogs.

c. He adds a rooster to his entourage to herald his appearance wherever he goes.

d. Napoleon issues an order that Mr. Jones's rifle is to be fired on his birthday

e. He publicizes a poem by the pig poet Minimus called "Comrade Napoleon."

f. He insists that he be referred to only by his full title—Our Leader, Comrade

Napoleon—and adopts a host of other titles, including Father of All Animals, Terror

of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, and Ducklings' Friend.

g. The animals do not see him performing ordinary activities such as eating and

sleeping.

h. He has his own apartment in the house

 i. He has a food taster.

j. He eats alone off fine china.

i. Why does Napoleon do all of these things?

ANSWER:

 All these actions solidify Napoleon's power by increasing his

mystique, making him appear important and deserving of special

attention, while the new titles make him appear an ally to all

animals, right down to the ducklings.

4. Compare ‘Beasts of England’ to ‘Comrade Napoleon’.

ANSWERS:

a. Diction – ‘Beasts of England’ is consistently formal, while ‘Comrade Napoleon’ is an

ironic blend of high and poetic language and common, even coarse, phrasing. For

example, “Friend of the fatherless! Fountain of happiness!” is followed by “Lord of

the swill-bucket!” In the poet’s attempt to write a formal hymn, he is inconsistent in

his attempts to use the “formal” language of an important work of literature; (“Thou

are the giver of …” compared to the later, correct, “Thou watchest over all.”) The

final sentiment—that the poet’s child should praise Napoleon with his “first squeak”

(as opposed to “first breath” or “earliest utterance,” etc.)—is cheapened by the child

being called a “sucking-pig” and his size being compared to a “pint bottle” or a

“rolling pin.”

***Yeah, Beasts of England is consistently formal while Comrade Napoleon is more

like a parody of itself. ***

 b. Purpose - Unlike "Beasts of England," which called for an uprising against tyranny

and an increased sense of unity among all animals, Minimus' poem portrays Napoleon

as a greater and better animal than all others, deserving their full devotion. The poem

also portrays Napoleon as an omniscient force ("Thou watchest over all, / Comrade

Napoleon").

***Precisely. You could say that the two pieces are polar opposites of each other.

One says rebel, the other says obey. One preaches unity; the other elevates a specific

individual. ***

5. Napoleon ends up liking the poem so much that he has it written next to the

commandments. What makes this action so significant?

ANSWER:

a. Napoleon thinks himself as important as the Seven Commandments in the animals'

lives.

i. Yes, and that’s just the epitome of arrogance, in my opinion. But that’s what

makes Frederick’s deception of Napoleon so satisfying. For the first time,

Napoleon gets a taste of karma.

6. Now, let’s talk about the main event: The Battle of the Windmill. What was the catalyst

of the battle? At what point did the violence begin?

ANSWER:

a. When the men destroyed the windmill.

i. The men make it a point to blow up the windmill. What do you think was their

intention?

ANSWER:
  The humans see it as a symbol of the pigs’ ability to run the farm.

By destroying the product of the animals’ considerable labor, the

men probably think they will give up and Mr. Jones will regain his

farm.

ii. Did they succeed in doing this?

ANSWER:

 No, it had the opposite effect.

*** Yes, the windmill’s destruction causes the animals to steel

themselves. ***

7. Thus, The Battle of the Windmill begins. How do this battle and the Battle of the

Cowshed differ?

ANSWERS:

a. The Battle of the Windmill - There was no strategic defense planned for the farm, and

Napoleon did not act as bravely as Snowball. The men were better prepared, had

more fighters, and had more weapons. The leaderless animals quickly hid. More

animals died in this battle.

b. The Battle of the Cowshed – The battle was much better planned on the animals’ part.

The men underestimated the animals and had fewer weapons. Fewer animals died in

this battle.

8. The animals celebrate a victory, but at what cost?

ANSWER:
 a. The windmill is destroyed; Boxer has a split hoof, bleeding knees, and buckshot in his

hind leg; several animals have been killed; and all of the animals, except Squealer

who hid, are injured.

i. With that being said, who do you think really won the battle? The humans or

the animals?

OPEN TO INTERPRETATION:

a. The humans – The humans accomplished what they set out to do, and saw

zero casualties.

b. The animals – They were able to push back the humans.

9. During the celebration, the pigs chance upon some whiskey. The next day, Squealer

claims that Napoleon is dying. Is he really dying?

ANSWER:

a. No, he’s just hungover.

i. I shouldn’t be asking this, but has anyone been hungover?

ii. How do you cure a hangover?

iii. When Napoleon is “dying,” why do the animals start mourning?

ANSWER:

 They’ve been brainwashed into believing that Napoleon is a great and

caring leader.

***Yes, as you can see, Napoleon’s attempts at creating a cult of

personality have been successful. ***

10. When the pigs get better what do they do?

ANSWER:

a. They change ‘No animal shall drink alcohol’ to ‘No animal shall drink alcohol TO

EXCESS.’

***Yes, they change the rules yet again. ***

b. Napoleon orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard be ploughed up so it can

be sown with barley.

i. Do you think the pigs will ever let the animals retire?

ANSWER:

 No.

***I don’t think so either. Anyway, on to the next chapter… ***