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Animal Farm Chapter 6 Analysis

This work on Sunday is clearly voluntary in name only, but because the other animals are so
poorly educated and devoted to the cause, they can’t parse out that voluntary doesn’t actually
mean anything here. Further, by focusing on the idea that humans won’t profit from their
work, the pigs can instead direct attention to the cause.

When Boxer throws himself into the windmill project, it shows how thoroughly hoodwinked
he is into thinking that he must sacrifice his own wellbeing for the wellbeing of the state—in
other words, he’s being encouraged to put national interest above his own, with results that
the novel shows later are disastrous. That Boxer is so instrumental to this process, however,
means that he looks like the ideal worker to other animals, who will likely try to emulate his
actions.

The problem with an isolated state, the novel shows, is that it’s impossible to create
everything the state needs—thus, it will at some point become necessary to trade with others.
Remember, however, that trading with neighboring farms would technically be forbidden by
Old Major, as he made it very clear that the animals shouldn’t have common interests with
humans—and trading with them qualifies as such. This shows, then, how those ideals are
consistently being corrupted as the needs of the state evolve.

That Mr. Whymper wants to work for Napoleon and Animal Farm in the first place speaks to
how much there is to gain by trading with a state like Animal Farm—he doesn’t have to agree
with any of its ideology in order to make a buck. By offering Mr. Whymper as a character,
Orwell is able to critique the capitalist countries and individuals who got rich working with
the USSR while ignoring the humanitarian atrocities. Blaming Snowball for the rumors,
meanwhile, saves Napoleon from having to admit how hypocritical and corrupt he’s
becoming.

Chapter 7

An Animal Farm STUDY GUIDE

Words and Language

laborious solicitor intermediary indignation

Chapter 7-

Beasts of England' was the song of the Rebellion. . . . The enemy both external and internal
has been defeated. . . . Clearly this song has no longer any purpose.

The Facts 1.

1.What are two ways Napoleon leads the outside world to believe that food is plentiful
on the farm?

The sheep were given the task of talking about an increase in rations. Food bins were then
filled with sand and topped off with food.

2. What leads to the rebellion of the hens?

The hens reach a breaking point and rebel against Napoleon when they are told that they
must give up every last one of their eggs to be sold to pay for grain and food for the farm.

3. How does Napoleon react to this rebellion?

He orders the hens food rations too be cut off. And if any animal gives and bit of food to them
then they will be killed as punishment.

4. What ’evidence’ indicates that Snowball is still dangerous?

All of the events that have occurred within the farm, as well as the rumor that has spread
within the farm, indicate that Snowball is still dangerous.

5. Was Snowball a hero or not at the Battle of the Cowshed?

Snowball is a hero at the Battle of the Cowshed, bravely leading the animals' defensive
operations to decisive victory over Mr. Jones, who tries to retake the farm.

6. What is Boxer's opinion of Snowball?

Squealer tried to manipulate the battle's events, leading Boxer to believe Snowball was a
traitor. As evidenced by the lines: Ah, that's different! "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it has to
be true," Boxer said, explaining why Squealer found it so easy to persuade Boxer to think of
Snowball as a traitor in the end.
7. What does Squealer say about him?

Squealer explains that Snowball was a traitor and a criminal.

8. What influences Boxer's final opinion of Snowball?

Finally, they made Napoleon appear to be the one who led the animals to victory. Squealer
tried to manipulate the battle's events, leading Boxer to believe Snowball was a traitor.

9. List the ‘traitors’ who confess.

- 4 pigs confess to having have worked with Snowball. - 3 Hens confess to having have
attempted rebellion over the eggs and were told in a dream to disobey Napoleon's orders. - 1
Goose confesses to having secreted six ears of corn last harvest and eaten them.

10. Sum up Clover's feelings about how things have gone on Animal Farm.

Clover is optimistic for the animals of the farm, hoping for a future of prosperity after the
Rebellion. However, after the animals gain their freedom from Mr. Jones, they subject
themselves to the rule of the pigs.

Focus on Thinking

Answer two of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. .

Why does Napoleon feel that he needs to show Snowball to be dangerous?

Napoleon blames the windmill falling on Snowball, who had crept in Animal Farm at night
and destroyed their work for nearly a year. He wants everyone to hate Snowball so that they
give Napoleon all of the power.

Why do apparently innocent animals confess to being traitors?

The apparently innocent animals confess to being traitors because Napoleon scares them into
doing so. He probably says that they will be tortured until they confess unless they confess of
their own free will. The animals react to the executions by almost mourning.

Why does Napoleon slaughter the animals in the barn?

That is to show the farm animals Napoleon's power, that if they commit treachery or rebel
against the leadership, this is what will happen to them. This method was used by Napoleon
to demonstrate his power and authority over the animals.
Compare and contrast the two songs. How are they different in what is considered
sacred, or essential to the dream?

Beasts of England is about the "golden future time" for all the animals. It reminded them of
all the good things the rebellion was supposed to be about. They loved it and sang it
repeatedly whenever they could. It united them. Comrade Napoleon is all about
Napoleon...and it's all propaganda.

Why do the dogs attack Boxer?

Because he had defended Snowball and said he did not believe that he was a traitor.

Words and Language

capitulated countenance totalitarianism attribute retribution

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Questions-

Describe how Napoleon is becoming more and more like a human dictator?

Napoleon's transformation into a human dictator is evident in his increasing use of

propaganda, his manipulation of the animals' memories, his brutal treatment of dissenters,
and his indulgence in luxuries that are only available to humans, such as alcohol and
clothing.

How did Frederick cheat Napoleon?

Mr. Frederick agrees to pay a high price for Animal Farm’s timber, and encourages
Napoleon to insult Mr. Pilkington. Knowing that the animals are not familiar with money,
Frederick pays for the timber in forged banknotes. When the forgery is discovered,
Frederick attacks Animal Farm and destroys the windmill. The insulted Mr. Pilkington
refuses to help the animals defend their farm. This sequence of events roughly parallels
the relations between Stalin’s Soviet Union (Napoleon), Nazi Germany (Frederick), and
the United Kingdom (Pilkington) during the Second World War.

Why do the men blow up the windmill?

The men blow up the windmill as an act of sabotage and revenge against the animals for
their successful construction of the structure . The windmill can be seen as a symbol of the
animals' progress and their desire for self-sufficiency and independence.

What do you think the windmill might be a symbol of?

Even when the farm has a functional windmill, the animals still see no personal benefit
because the windmill and the other technological advancements are used only for
production and profit, not the workers’ comfort. Despite experiencing no improvement in
their daily lives, the animals are building another windmill. By this point, the windmill
stands as a physical representation of Napoleon’s lies. The animals have become willing
participants in Napoleon’s deception, accepting his promises of improved circumstances
though they see only worsening conditions since the takeover of the farm.

What makes the battle against Frederick's men different from the Battle of Cowshed?

The battle against Frederick's men is different from the Battle of Cowshed in that the
animals are fighting to defend their own territory and their own achievements, rather than
simply seeking revenge for their previous mistreatment.

Describe the 'victory' that the animals celebrate. Why is this problematic?

The animals celebrate their "victory" over Frederick's men, but it is problematic
because it comes at a great cost in terms of animal lives and resources, and it ultimately
does little to improve their overall situation.

Describe the whisky incident. How is this humorous?

The figs find a case of whiskey in the cellars. It is humorous due to the fact that the pigs
are getting drunk. Napoleon is dying but he is actually just hungover. The NO ALCOHOL
commandment is changed.

Find 3 examples of propaganda in this chapter. Write out the quotes and explain what the
intention of the propaganda is.

This includes things like the song "Beasts of England" or the Seven Commandments the
pigs paint of the barn wall. There is also military images used as propaganda such as
awards and parades. Images are used as propaganda as well including the animals' flag
and Old Major's skull.