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ANIMAL FARM REVIEW DOCUMENT
Form 5 English B
2026
CHAPTER 1: Laying the Foundation
As the novella opens, Mr. Jones, the proprietor and overseer of the Manor Farm, has just stumbled drunkenly to
bed after forgetting to secure his farm buildings properly. As soon as his bedroom light goes out, all of the farm
animals except Moses, Mr. Jones’s tame raven, convene in the big barn to hear a speech by Old Major, a prize
boar and pillar of the animal community. Sensing that his long life is about to come to an end, Major wishes to
impart to the rest of the farm animals a distillation of the wisdom that he acquired during his lifetime.
As the animals listen raptly, Old Major delivers up the fruits of his years of quiet contemplation in his stall. The
plain truth, he says, is that the lives of his fellow animals are “miserable, laborious, and short.” Animals are born
into the world as slaves, worked incessantly from the time they can walk, fed only enough to keep breath in their
bodies, and then slaughtered mercilessly when they are no longer useful. He notes that the land upon which the
animals live possesses enough resources to support many times the present population in luxury; there is no
natural reason for the animals’ poverty and misery. Major blames the animals’ suffering solely on their human
oppressors. Mr. Jones and others like him have been exploiting animals for ages, Major says, taking all of the
products of their labor—eggs, milk, dung, foals—for themselves and producing nothing of value to offer the
animals in return.
Old Major relates a dream that he had the previous night, of a world in which animals live without the tyranny of
men: they are free, happy, well fed, and treated with dignity. He urges the animals to do everything they can to
make this dream a reality and exhorts them to overthrow the humans who claim to own them. The animals can
succeed in their rebellion only if they first achieve a complete solidarity or “perfect comradeship” of all of the
animals against the humans, and if they resist the false notion spread by humans that animals and humans share
common interests. A brief conversation arises in which the animals debate the status of rats as comrades.
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Major then provides a precept that will allow the animals to determine who their comrades are: creatures that
walk on two legs are enemies; those with four legs or with wings are allies. He reminds his audience that the ways
of man are completely corrupt: once the humans have been defeated, the animals must never adopt any of their
habits; they must not live in a house, sleep in a bed, wear clothes, drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, touch money,
engage in trade, or tyrannize another animal. He teaches the animals a song called “Beasts of England,” which
paints a dramatic picture of the utopian, or ideal, animal community of Major’s dream. The animals sing several
inspired choruses of “Beasts of England” with one voice—until Mr. Jones, thinking that the commotion is because
a fox entered the yard, fires a shot into the side of the barn. The animals go to sleep, and the Manor Farm again
sinks into quietude.
Utopia - Old Major, a wise, old prize-winning boar can be considered to be the “Father” of the animal rebellion of
Manor Farm. He seems highly respected among the animals and while he has not shared in their difficult life (he has
been able to spend much time in quiet contemplation in his stall), he has nevertheless observed the animals’ struggles. He
presents them with a utopian vision for a future free from the oppressive control of men like Mr. Jones.
Core Belief – At the end of the novel we can look back on one of the central pronouncements made by O.M and
see the irony of it. According to him, Man is the only real enemy of the animals and so once man is overthrown the
root cause of overwork and hunger will be eradicated (see text for verbatim quote). Not only is there some irony here but
maybe some foreshadowing as well.
Foreshadowing with Rats – O.M makes it clear that there must be perfect comradeship among the animals for their
rebellion to be a success. This gives rise to a question about the rats. Their status as comrades is debated. A ‘comrade’
is literally a close friend or associate who shares or has shared in one’s struggles. It was adopted by socialists and
communists as a way of addressing each other. This brief debate here shows that this perfect solidarity among ALL
animals the O.M speaks of may not be as straightforward as it sounds. There is foreshadowing here.
Key quotes:
✔ “Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and
overwork is abolished forever.” Old Major
✔ “All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.” Old Major
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✔ “No animal must ever tyrannize over his own kind; weak or strong, clever or simple, we’re all
brothers” Old Major
✔ “Beasts of England, Beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Harken to my joyful tidings,
of the golden future time.” Beasts of England
✔ “Remember also that in fighting against man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you
have conquered him, do not adopt his vices.” Old Major
NB: All 5 quotes invoke foreshadowing which can only be fully appreciated later in the novel.
Nature of this life of ours – Old Major asks “…what is the nature of this life of ours?” He then goes on to describe a
short life of misery, hard work and lack. Interestingly this has not been O.M’s experience. Furthermore, this will
remain the animals’ experience at the end.
Themes:
⮚ Class struggle and oppression: This chapter hints at Marxist ideas of class conflict. Karl Marx was a German
philosopher and economist known for his critiques of capitalism, the development of the socio-economic theory of Marxism,
and advocating for a classless society. The Marxist view recognizes that the working class is continuously
exploited by those in power and that the masses need to rebel against such oppression.
⮚ Revolution/rebellion: It is presented by O.M as the only way to create a free and fairer society for the animals.
Yet, even among O.M’s vision is a warning that the utopia will only be achieved if there can be perfect
solidarity and fairness among the animals. Is it a fair expectation that those who have only experienced
oppression from others can then create a just society?
⮚ Unity/Solidarity (comradeship): Key to the rebellion’s success. The animals must unite against a common
enemy.
⮚ Power of Language(!): A speech by O.M is able to inspire the animals, fill them with hope and desire for
change. It foreshadows how language will be used later to manipulate and control.
Characters and the Stereotypes they Represent:
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Old Major: a Karl Marx figure and the ideological father of the animal revolution
Mr. Jones: the owner of Manor Farm representing the inept and careless ruling class whose neglect and mistreatment
of the animals reflects the failings of the capitalist system under which the working class was oppressed in human
society.
Mollie the mare and the Cat: Mollie with her love for sugar and fine ribbons and the indifferent cat represent those
who remain comfortable under an oppressive system. Mollie represents those who are reluctant to give up their
meagre privileges while the cat represents those who refuse to get politically involved, once immediate needs are met.
Later we meet Benjamin the donkey.
Boxer and Clover: representing a loyal, hardworking class. Boxer’s strength and hard work will represent the
willingness of the masses to work tirelessly for a cause.
CHAPTER 2
Three nights later, Old Major dies in his sleep, and for three months the animals make secret preparations to carry
out the old pig’s dying wish of wresting control of the farm from Mr. Jones. The work of teaching and organizing
falls to the pigs, the cleverest of the animals, and especially to two pigs named Napoleon and Snowball. Together with
a “silver-tongued” pig named Squealer, they formulate the principles of a philosophy called Animalism, the
fundamentals of which they spread among the other animals. The animals call one another “Comrade” and take their
quandaries to the pigs, who answer their questions about the impending Rebellion.
At first, many of the animals find the principles of Animalism difficult to understand; they have grown up believing
that Mr. Jones is their proper master. Mollie, a vain carriage horse, expresses particular concern over whether she will
be able to continue to enjoy the little luxuries like eating sugar and wearing ribbons in the new utopia. Snowball sternly
reminds her that ribbons symbolize slavery and that, in the animals’ utopia, they would have to be abolished. Mollie
halfheartedly agrees.
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The pigs’ most troublesome opponent proves to be Moses, the raven, who flies about spreading tales of a place called
Sugarcandy Mountain, where animals go when they die—a place of great pleasure and plenty, where sugar grows on
the hedges. Even though many of the animals despise the talkative and idle Moses, they nevertheless find great appeal
in the idea of Sugarcandy Mountain. The pigs work very hard to convince the other animals of the falsehood of
Moses’s teachings. Thanks to the help of the slow-witted but loyal cart-horses, Boxer and Clover, the pigs eventually
manage to prime the animals for revolution.
The Rebellion occurs much earlier than anyone expected and comes off with shocking ease. Mr. Jones has been driven
to drink after losing money in a lawsuit, and he has let his men become lazy, dishonest, and neglectful. One day, Mr.
Jones goes on a drinking binge and forgets to feed the animals. Unable to bear their hunger, the cows break into the
store shed and the animals begin to eat. Mr. Jones and his men discover the transgression and begin to whip the cows.
Spurred to anger, the animals turn on the men, attack them, and easily chase them from the farm. Astonished by their
success, the animals hurry to destroy the last remaining evidence of their subservience: chains, bits, halters, whips,
and other implements stored in the farm buildings.
After obliterating all signs of Mr. Jones, the animals enjoy a double ration of corn and sing “Beasts of England” seven
times, until it is time to sleep. In the morning, they admire the farm from a high knoll before exploring the farmhouse,
where they stare in stunned silence at the unbelievable luxuries within. Mollie tries to stay inside, where she can help
herself to ribbons and gaze at herself in the mirror, but the rest of the animals reprimand her sharply for her
foolishness. The group agrees to preserve the farmhouse as a museum, with the stipulation that no animal
may ever live in it.
The pigs reveal to the other animals that they have taught themselves how to read, and Snowball replaces the
inscription “Manor Farm” on the front gate with the words “Animal Farm.” Snowball and Napoleon, having reduced
the principles of Animalism to seven key commandments, paint these commandments on the side of the big barn.
The animals go to gather the harvest, but the cows, who haven’t been milked in some time, begin lowing loudly. The
pigs milk them, and the animals eye the five pails of milk desirously. Napoleon tells them not to worry about the milk;
he says that it will be “attended to.” Snowball leads the animals to the fields to begin harvesting. Napoleon lags behind,
and when the animals return that evening, the milk has disappeared.
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NB: The animal rebellion, when it occurs, does not come about as a result of an organized plan or strategy. It happens spontaneously in
response to neglect, need and mistreatment.
Squealer: Of Squealer the other animals say that he can turn black into white. This speaks to his power of persuasion.
We shall see how he uses these powers as a manipulative tool (spinning) - foreshadowing.
Key Quotes:
● “The work of teaching and organizing the others fell naturally upon the pigs who were
generally recognized as being the cleaverest among the animals.”
It is in chapter 2 that the plot really begins to move, yet an irony immediately emerges. One of the
core principles of Animalism is that all animals are equal and yet is this true if the pigs quickly emerge as a
leading group. The quote reveals the assumption that the pigs are superior to the other animals even before
the rebellion is fully established. It subtly hints at an unequal distribution of power that will come to
characterize Animal Farm.
Orwell seems to be ‘commenting’ on the need for a sense of responsibility, ethics and moral character
to accompany a higher level of intellect and knowledge (the pigs learned to read and write.) The pigs eventually
“weaponizes” their superior knowledge and cleverness.
● “The animals had destroyed everything that reminded them of Mr. Jones.”
Reveals the animals desire to completely erase the oppressive past and make a fresh start. However,
such desire does not stop the new oppression and corruption that will creep into their new society. So much
of what is destroyed will in some way be re-established even if only figuratively. Interestingly enough while
the tools, whips, bits etc. that the humans had used on the animals are destroyed, the farmhouse and whatever
is in it is preserved as a museum - foreshadowing. The animals are in awe of the luxuries within. Again we see
Mollie’s desire to remain connected with the past.
Animalism
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In one sense, a vision will remain only a vision unless it is made more concrete with specifics. O.M shared his dream
with the animals who are all inspired by its simple truth (perhaps too simple). In chapter 2 however, we start to see
the pigs form this dream into a philosophy called “Animalism.” Interestingly not all animals have a full understanding
of this philosophy and must rely on the pigs to explain/interpret. We see Animalism then captured in Seven
Commandments. The reader gets the sense that with each movement from vision to philosophy to commandments
something of the original spirit of O.M’s dream is lost.
The Seven Commandments of Animalism
● Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy
● Whatever goes upon four legs or has wings is a friend
● No animal shall wear clothes
● No animal shall sleep in a bed
● No animal shall drink alcohol
● No animal shall kill any other animal
● All animals are equal.
The commandments represent the animals desire for a just society. Orwell uses them to show how even the best laws
can be easily manipulated to serve the ambitions of those in power.
It is also interesting that these are referred to as “Commandments”. There is an allusion to the 10 Commandments in
the Bible. It suggests that what we have here now are unalterable, unquestionable laws that represent the highest authority
over life in this new animal society. The initial intent is for these rules to guide the animals and protect them from
becoming like their human oppressors. We soon will discover that they are far from unalterable. The gradual changing
and distortion of the commandments will mirror how leadership can begin with noble ideals only to twist and exploit
them as power becomes more centralized.
Themes in Chapter 2:
Class and Power. The pigs are already positioning themselves as the intellectual class while the other animals are
struggling with basic concerns like food and comfort. While the pigs do not initially force their authority over the
other animals and while the other animals are satisfied to defer to them, their ability to read and write creates a power
imbalance setting the stage for later dominance.
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Language as Power: As early as this chapter the pigs begin to use language to solidify their power. Squealer in particular
is a brilliant speaker who is described as being able to “turn black into white.” The theme of language as a tool of
control is woven throughout the novel.
Revolution and Betrayal: While the revolution is successful there is a sense in chapter 2 that not everything is as
triumphant as it seems. Although the animals believe that they have achieved freedom there are already not-so-subtle
clues that one oppressor has been replaced by another. The rapid consolidation of power in the pigs is already a
betrayal of the ideal that all animals are equal.
Corruption of Power: Old Major’s vision was meant to inspire a just and fair society, but from the very start signs of
corruption emerge. Napoleon’s handling of the milk suggests that the pigs are already beginning to prioritize their
own interests over those of the animals as a whole. The promise of equality starts to break down from as early as
chapter two and to some extent the animals themselves seem culpable as they willingly surrender control to the pigs.