Book Summary:
To understand the book better reading the plot summary will give me an overview of what happens within the book. From this I will be able to pick out certain themes and I will be able to use this to base my ideas from.
- Animals assemble in a barn to hear Old Major (a pig), describe a dream he had about a world where animals lived free.
- Old Major dies
- The animals are inspired by his philosophy of Animalism - plot a rebellion against Jones (farmer).
- Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon prove important figures and planners.
- Jones forgets to feed the animals - revolution - Jones and his men are chased off the farm.
- 7 Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall.
- Manor Farm renamed Animal Farm.
- Initial success - animals complete the harvest and meet every Sunday to debate farm policy.
- The pigs become supervisors because of their intelligence.
- Napoleon proves to be a power-hungry leader - steals the cow's milk and a number of apples to feed him and the other pigs.
- Squealer (pig) can persuade the other animals that the pigs are always moral and correct in their decisions.
- Jones and his men return and attempt to retake the farm.
- Snowballs tactics win the battle - The Battle of the Cowshed.
- Mollie a vain horse concerned only with ribbons and sugar is lured off the farm by another human.
- Snowball draws plans for a windmill - electricity - give the animals more leisure time.
- Napoleon opposes plans on the grounds that it will allow for less time producing food.
- On the Sunday that the pigs offer the windmill to the animals for a vote, Napoleon summons a pack of ferocious dogs, who chase Snowball off the farm forever.
- Napoleon announces that there will be no more debates, also saying the windmill will be built and that it was his idea.
- Next year is spent building the windmill.
- Boxer an incredibly strong horse proves to be the most valuable.
- Jones forsakes the farm and moves to another part of the county.
- Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat who he blames all of the animals hardships on.
- Napoleon hires a solicitor and beings trading with neighbouring farms.
- A storm topples the windmill - Napoleon blames Snowball and orders the animals to rebuild it.
- Napoleons lust for power increases - totalitarian dictator - forcing 'confessions' from innocent animals and having them killed by the dogs in front of the entire farm.
- All the pigs move into Jones' house and sleep in the beds (Squealer excuses with his brand of twisted logic).
- The animals receive less and less food, while the pigs grow fatter.
- The windmill is complete in August.
- Napoleon sells a pile of timber to Jones
- Frederick a neighbouring farmer pays for it with forged bank notes.
- Frederick and his men attack the farm and explode the windmill but are eventually defeated.
- More commandments are broken by the pigs - the language is revised.
- Boxer offers strength to build the new windmill - he collapses - Napoleon sells him to a knacker (glue-boiler).
- Squealer tells the animals that Boxer was taken to the vet and died a peaceful death in hospital - the animals believe this.
- Years pass, Animal Farm expands it's boundaries - buying more land.
- Life for all the animals (except the pigs) is harsh.
- The pigs begin walking on their hind legs and take many other qualities of their former human oppressors.
- 7 Commandments reduced to a single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others."
- Pilkington shares a drink with the pigs in Jones' house.
- Napoleon changed the name of the farm back to Manor Farm and quarrels with Pilkington during a card game, where they both try to play the ace of spades.
- The other animals watch the scene from outside the window, they cannot tell the pigs from the humans.
Learning about the book has allowed me to pick out some important attributes which could be developed into a visual idea:
- Pigs
- Barn (plot)
- Philosophy of Animalism
- 7 Commandments
- Rename of farm
- Windmill
- Dictator (totalitarian)
- Pigs grow fatter
- Pigs acting like humans - sleeping in beds and walking on hind legs.
- Single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others."
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