Sulaimane Mustafa

Animal Farm
(English teaching Degree)

Rovuma University
Lichinga
2023
 Sulaimane Mustafa

Animal Farm

English teaching Degree

Didactics of Literature work to be

submitted to the Department of
Language and Communication
Science for evaluative purpose.
Lecturer: MSc. Helder I. Chacate

Rovuma University
Lichinga
2023
“Animal Farm”, a summary of the chapters of the novel by George Orwell
Chapter I

The owner of Lord’s Court, Mr. Jones, locks up the henhouse at night and goes to bed.
The animals gather in the barn to hear a story about an incredible dream of an old prize-
winning boar named Old Major. Three dogs (Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher), pigs, hens,
pigeons, sheep, cows, cart-horses (Boxer and Clover), Muriel, the white goat, Benjamin,
the donkey, ducklings, Molly, the grey filly, and a cat witness an instructive speech in
which Old Major shares his life experience. According to Old Major, animals lead a
miserable existence, work too hard, and die prematurely. Eliminating the main enemy –
a human being – can change the current state of things. That’s what Old Major
bequeaths to his comrades. By general vote, the animals decide to consider the wild
animals (rats that live in the barn) as their friends. At the end of the speech, the boar
asks the animals to fight to the bitter end and not adopt bad human habits. Old Major
concludes his speech with the story of a dream in which he saw a land without man, and
with the old song “Beasts of England”. The meeting ends with the awakening of Mr.
Jones, aroused by the noise of the animals.

Chapter II

Three days later, Old Major dies in his sleep. Over the next three months, the animals
begin a clandestine struggle. The fierce pig Napoleon and the ingenious Snowball, along
with the guinea pig Squealer, are developing a scouting philosophical system. The
animals are indifferent to new ideas. Jones’s favorite pet raven, Moses, spreads rumors
about a mysterious land where animals go after death.

The animals’ rebellion occurs by chance in June when the workers forget to feed them.
Beaten with whips for unauthorized food intake, the animals expel their enslavers from
the farm.

The liberated animals first inspect the property they inherited and destroy the traces of
Mr. Jones’s presence. The next day they visit the owner’s house and decide to turn it
into a museum. The pigs who have learned to write rename “The Yard of the Lord” to
“Animal Farm”. At the end of a large barn, they deduce the seven commandments
according to which the animals must now live. Before the harvest, the pigs milk the
cow. At night, the milk disappears mysteriously.
Chapter III
Animals harvest hay. The pigs lead the process. The farm operates like clockwork
throughout the summer. The animals are happy to do social work and understand that
with Mr. Jones’s departure, they started to eat better and rest more. Most of the work is
done by Boxer. Molly and the cat invent excuses not to do anything. On Sundays, the
animals hold meetings, in which leadership positions are occupied by Snowball and
Napoleon.

The pigs make the harness their headquarters. Snowball establishes all kinds of animal
committees. The animals start to learn to read, but few can. Snowball reduces the seven
commandments to one: “Four legs good, two legs bad!” Napoleon believes that it is
necessary to focus on the education of the young, and takes nine newly born puppies
from Jessie and Bluebell.

Over time, it is discovered that the missing milk went to feed the pigs. The latter also
take all the fallen apples.

Chapter IV
By the end of summer, half the country will know what happened at Animal Farm. The
owner of the large and abandoned Trickster Farm, Mr. Culmington, and the owner of
the smaller Squabble Farm, Mr. Peter, who never got along, do everything they can to
ensure their animals know nothing about the revolt in the neighboring area.
Over time, the “Beasts of England” spread throughout the country. In early October,
Jones with workers, including from neighboring farms, is trying to recapture the farm.
Prepared for the attack, the animals ambush the people and drive them out of Animal
Farm. The pigs establish military merit awards (Animal Farm Hero I and II) and fix the
memorable date of the Battle under the barn on October 12.

Chapter V
Molly begins to skip work. Kashka demands an explanation for why the horse
communicated with Plutni’s fiancé. In the Mollin Stall, Kashka finds a lot of forbidden
sugar cubes by the pigs and a lot of colorful ribbons. Three days later, Molly disappears.
A few weeks later, the pigeons report seeing her at the pub, harnessed to a red and black
droshky and content with life.
During the January frosts, the pigs prepare for spring work. The Collapse competes with
Napoleon. The former is popular at meetings, but the latter is followed by more animals
– especially sheep, who bleat at the most critical points of the Crash’s speech.

The Collapse is developing a design for a windmill, which he proposes to install on a

pasture hill. According to his project, it will provide electricity to the farm and automate
much of the work, freeing the animals for reading and conversation. Napoleon opposes
the windmill. There is a division among the farm’s inhabitants. He also addresses the
defense of Animal Farm: Collapse believes that it is necessary to defend themselves by
raising revolts in neighboring farms; Napoleon – by buying weapons for themselves.

During the final vote for the installation of a windmill, Napoleon unleashes nine sturdy
dogs on Collapse. The boar flees the farm. Napoleon cancels Sunday meetings and
announces that all decisions will henceforth be made by a closed committee of pigs.

The informant explains to the animals the sacrifice Napoleon is making by taking over
the administration of the farm. Beside the flag is the skull of the old Leader. Napoleon
announces the construction of a windmill and cuts rations.

Chapter VI
Throughout the winter, spring, and summer, the animals work hard. The construction of
the windmill is progressing slowly. Over time, Animal Farm begins to feel the need for
nails, kerosene, rope, and other things produced outside the farm. Napoleon establishes
a new course for trade with the outside world. A certain Mr. Whymper becomes an
intermediary between animals and people.

The pigs move into the farmhouse and rewrite the Fourth Commandment that animals
should not sleep in beds. In November, a strong wind destroys the windmill. Napoleon
calls it a joke and blames Snowball for it.

Chapter VII
In the winter, the restoration of the windmill begins. January goes without grain.
Potatoes exposed to frost turn black. The farm is in danger of famine. Napoleon
deceives Mr. Whymper, who spreads the news in the neighborhood that Animal Farm’s
rations are in order.
Napoleon sells chicken eggs to buy grain. The birds rebel, but they stop being fed and
give up. Nine hens die.

In the spring, rumors spread on the farm about the shipwreck of Snowball. He is
credited with all the incidents at Animal Farm. Squealer informs the animals that
Snowball, hiding in Squabble, was a secret agent of Mr. Jones. Boxer cannot believe
that in the Battle of the Cowshed, the boar did not fight on his side.

Napoleon executes four pigs for conspiring with Snowball. Some animals, out of fear of
the leader, confess to crimes they did not commit and also die. The farm’s inhabitants
understand that they did not dream of this future. Napoleon prohibits The Beasts of
England.

Chapter VIII

The cult of personality around Napoleon grows. The pigs give him various titles. The
latest composes a poem in honor of the boar.

Napoleon establishes an economic relationship with Mr. Culmington. Rumors are

spreading around Animal Farm about the situation of the animals in Squabbles. The
completed windmill is named after Napoleon.

Boar sells wood to Peter in Squabbles. Culmington becomes an enemy of Animal Farm.
Three days later, the money received from Peter is declared fake. Sklok workers attack
the farm. Culmington refuses to help Animal Farm. Peter and the people put the animals
to flight and blow up the windmill. Furious animals run into battle. Snitch announces
victory over the invaders. The fighter realizes he no longer has the strength to restore
the mill. Napoleon gets drunk on whiskey found in the boss’s house and almost dies.

Chapter XI

Animals discuss future pensions. Another winter will be cold. Squealer cuts fodder
rations. The inhabitants of Animal Farm understand that they are leading a miserable
existence, but they do not remember well how they lived with Jones, so they allow
themselves to be convinced that everything is now fine with them.
It was a good year, but there is still not enough money. In the context of general
malnutrition, the pigs become obese. They prepare their own beer and start to show off.
Returning to the farm, the crow Moses continues the stories of a better world.

The fighter’s lungs fail. Napoleon offers to send him to Willingdon Hospital, but thanks
to Benjamin, the animals find out that the horse is being taken to the slaughterhouse.
Three days later, Squealer announces the death of the fighter. He convinces the animals
that the horse died at Willingdon Hospital under the care of doctors. The pigs hold a
funeral for the fighter and get drunk again.

Chapter X

Years later, many of the animals involved in the rebellion die. Kashka, Benjamin,
Moses, and several pigs remain alive. The windmill is running successfully and
Napoleon is making plans to install a new project. Dogs and pigs are getting richer. The
latter start walking on two legs and change the basic commandment of the animals to
“Four legs good, two legs better!” The seven commandments on the barn wall turn into
one: “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.”

The pigs dress in human clothes and start communicating with people. They show them
the achievements of Animal Farm and throw parties. Mr. Culmington declares that the
interests of humans and pigs are similar. Napoleon renames the farm “Master’s
Courtyard”.

The main characters of the book

 The Old Major, a venerable boar, was highly respected among the domestic
animals, whom he summoned to rebel against humans. He represented the
socialist ideals that inspired the animals’ revolution.

 Napoleon is a young boar, one of the Leader’s associates, who gained power
after the rebellion on Animal Farm and built a totalitarian regime. He is cunning,
ruthless, and manipulative, using violence and propaganda to maintain his grip
on power.
 Snowball is a young, intelligent boar, one of the leaders of the revolution, who is
eventually exiled by Napoleon. He represents the idealistic and intellectual wing
of the revolution.

 Squealer is a boar and Napoleon’s right-hand man, a skilled agitator who uses
propaganda to justify the regime’s actions and to control the other animals.

 Boxer is a strong, loyal, and hardworking cart horse, the most devoted of the
animals to the revolution’s cause. He represents the working class, who are
exploited by the ruling class but are unaware of their oppression.

 Molly is a vain and materialistic cart horse who loves herself and the trappings
of a comfortable life more than anything in the world. She betrays the
revolution’s ideals and begins to serve humans again.

 The dogs are aggressive guard dogs, loyal servants of Napoleon and the pigs,
who are used to suppress dissent and maintain the regime’s power.

 Mr. Jones is the owner of the farm, who represents the old order and the
oppressive human ruling class.

 Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick are neighboring human farmers who represent
capitalist and fascist countries, respectively, that may seek to exploit Animal
Farm for their own purposes.