Animal Farm

The Setting
 The story is set on a farm in England. The
historical events referred to in the allegory
actually took place in Russia in the first half
of the twentieth century. By setting the fable
in his own country, however, Orwell makes it
clear that his themes are universal. What
happened in Russia could just as easily
happen in anyone’s backyard.
 The Characters
 Mr. Jones –
 Owns the Manor Farm
 Is a drunkard who mismanages his farm
 Represents the last Czar of Russia
 Old Major –
 Is a wise and benevolent prize boar.
 Is highly respected by the animals.
 Is a visionary dreamer and philosopher
 Is the author of the Beast of England
 Dies three days after revealing his dream
 Represents Marx and Lenin.
 Snowball-
 Is a great planner and organizer.

 Speaks well
 Is considered by the others not to have depth of

character.
 Tries to implement Old Major’s ideas.
 Represents Trotsky

 Napoleon –
 Is a large fierce-looking boar

 Is not a talker but is used to getting his own way

 Is secretive, ruthless, and cunning

 Is considered by others to have depth of

character
 Represents Stalin
 Squealer – is a small fat pig with twinkling
eyes and round cheeks, who moves nimbly
and has a shrill voice.
 Is a brilliant and persuasive talker.
 Is Napoleon’s spokesman and propagandist.
 Boxer – is a tall, strong cart horse.
 Is loyal and hard-working.
 Is well-meaning but not very intelligent.
 Coins the slogans “I will work harder” and “If

Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right.”

 Represents the unthinking working class.
 Benjamin – is a donkey
 Is the worst-tempered and the oldest animal

on the farm
 Is a loner who keeps his opinions to himself
 Is a skeptical of change
 Never laughs
 Is a hard worker who never shirks his duties

but never volunteers

 Knows how to read but says there is nothing

worth reading
 Says “Donkeys live a long time”
 Is devoted to Boxer
 Clover – is a hard-working mare
 Is not very intelligent
 Is loving and maternal toward the other

animals
 Is the only animal whose thoughts are

revealed
 Mollie – is a vain white mare.
 Enjoys pretty ribbons, sugar, and human

attention
 Is the only animal to leave the farm willingly
 May symbolize the White Russians, who posed

the Red Army during the civil war

 Muriel – is a white goat
 Is a good reader
 Moses – is a raven
 Was Mr. Jones’s pet
 Flees with Jones but is later welcomed back by

the pigs
 Is given beer by the pigs, even though he

does not work.

 Soothes the animals with his story of

Sugarcandy Mountain
 Represents the Russian Orthodox Church and

religious institutions in general

 Minimus – is a pig who composes songs and
poems honoring Napoleon.
 The sheep – bleat whatever slogan they are

taught by the pigs.

 Represent the unthinking masses
 The Dogs – are vicious killers who protect the

pigs and do their bidding.

 Represent Stalin’s secret police.
 Mr. Pilkington – owns the neighboring Foxwood

Farm.
 Spends too much time fishing and hunting to

run his farm efficiently

 Represents England and the Allies
 Mr. Frederick –
 Owns the neighboring Pinchfield Farm
 Cheats Napoleon and leads a disastrous attack

on the farm.
 Represents Germany.
 Mr. Whymper-
 Is a lawyer who serves as an intermediary

between Napoleon and the outside world.

 Is sly and self-serving.
Chapters 1 and 2 Vocabulary
 Ensconced – settled comfortably
 Tushes – tusks
 Knacker – horse slaughterer
 Trotter – pig’s foot
 Dissentients – those who disagree
 Mangel-wurzels – large beets
 Vivacious – lively
 Expounded – explained
 Gambolled – skipped playfully
 Scullery – kitchen storage area
Plot Outline
 Chapter 1 – Old Major reveals his dream. The
animals learn Beasts of England.
 Chapter 2 – Old Major dies. The animals drive

out Mr. Jones. “The Manor” Farm becomes

“Animal Farm.” The Seven Commandments of
Animalism are written by the pigs.
 Chapter 3 – The animals run the farm.

Snowball organizes committees. Napoleon

educates the puppies.
 Chapter IV

Mr. Jones tries to recapture

the farm, but he and the
other farmers are driven off
in the Battle of Cowshed
 Chapter V

 Snowball proposes a windmill.

Napoleon signals the dogs to
drive Snowball away.
 Napoleon cancels Sunday

debates and announces that

the windmill will be built after
all.
 Chapter VI
 Napoleon announces trade with

the humans
 The pigs move into the

farmhouse
 Napoleon blames Snowball for

the collapse of the windmill

 Chapter VII

 The hens protest when Napoleon

decides to sell their eggs.
 Squealer tells the animals that Snowball

was in league with Mr. Jones from the

start.
 The dogs kill Napoleon’s enemies and

some self-confesses traitors.

 Napoleon abolishes the singing of

Beasts of England.
 Chapter VIII

 Mr. Frederick pays for the pile of timber

with forged banknotes.
 Mr. Frederick and the other farmers

attack the farm and destroy the windmill

but are driven off by the animals in the
Battle of the Windmill.
 The pigs celebrate their “victory” by

getting drunk.
 Chapter IX

 Boxer collapses and is taken away by

the slaughterer
 Squealer says that Boxer died in the

hospital
 The pigs hold a memorial banquet for

themselves in Boxer’s honor.

 Chapter X

 Few animals remain who remember life

before the rebellion.
 The pigs walk on hind legs, carry

whips, and become indistinguishable

from humans.
 “Animal Farm” becomes “The Manor

Farm.”