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Animal Farm Summary and Student Analysis Guide

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a powerful allegorical novella that explores themes of power, corruption, and the loss of idealism. This summary provides the essential plot points and thematic insights needed to excel in your literature assignments and class discussions.

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The Rebellion and the Seven Commandments

The story begins on Manor Farm, where an elderly pig named Old Major shares his vision of a world where animals are free from human tyranny. After his death, the animals lead a successful revolt against the neglectful farmer, Mr. Jones. They rename the property Animal Farm and establish 'Animalism,' a philosophy summarized by Seven Commandments painted on the barn wall. Initially, the animals work together in a spirit of equality, aiming for a self-sufficient utopia where every creature contributes according to their ability.

The Power Struggle: Napoleon vs. Snowball

Leadership soon falls to two pigs: Snowball, an innovative and eloquent strategist, and Napoleon, a secretive and power-hungry manipulator. While Snowball focuses on improving the farm through projects like the windmill, Napoleon builds a private force of loyal dogs. During a critical debate, Napoleon uses his dogs to chase Snowball off the farm, declaring him a traitor. This transition marks the end of democratic meetings and the beginning of Napoleon's unchallenged dictatorship, supported by the propaganda of Squealer.

The Corruption of Animalism

As the pigs solidify their control, they begin to adopt the very human behaviors they once condemned. They move into the farmhouse, sleep in beds, and drink alcohol. To justify these actions, Squealer secretly alters the Seven Commandments to fit the pigs' needs. The most tragic example of this corruption is the fate of Boxer, the loyal and hardworking horse, who is sold to a glue factory when he is no longer useful. The pigs use fear and misinformation to keep the other animals from questioning the deteriorating conditions on the farm.

The Final Transformation and Themes

By the end of the novella, the pigs are indistinguishable from the human farmers they once overthrew. The Seven Commandments are replaced by a single phrase: 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.' The book serves as a cautionary tale about how absolute power can corrupt even the most noble intentions. For students, analyzing the parallels to the Russian Revolution and the use of language as a tool for social control is essential for deep reading and essay writing.

What is the main message of Animal Farm?

The main message is that power often leads to corruption and that revolutions can result in a new form of tyranny if the leaders are not held accountable by an informed and critical population.

What does the ending of Animal Farm represent?

The ending, where the animals cannot tell the pigs from the humans, represents the total betrayal of the revolution's original goals and the cyclical nature of political oppression.

Why is Squealer important to the plot?

Squealer serves as the mouthpiece for Napoleon, using propaganda and logical fallacies to manipulate the other animals and justify the pigs' increasingly selfish actions.

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