Question #8

Put entry of your choice.

I want to connect the novel Animal Farm with the Russian Revolution. Animal farm is based on communist society. The Russian Revolution is also based on communism. When animals declared rebellion on Mr. Jones, it reminded me when the citizens of Russia decided to get rid of the monarch. The citizens thought that monarch was not fair since only the king and queen families had power, wealth, and loyalty. So they rebelled just like the animals did to Mr. Jones. The animals attacked Mr. Jones and expelled him from the farm. So the democratic Manor Farm changed into communistic Animal Farm. For the Russian Revolution, the Soviet Union (or the USSR) was created in Russia to rule. In the novel, Snowbell, Napoleon and Squealer were the ruler just like the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, after the deportation of Snowbell, Napoleon started to corrupt by their power-hunger. They even changed the seven commandments by their will. Also, the show trial in the novel is related to the hilarious show trial that was made during the Communism. The Soviet Union first gained all the control of Russia, but later, because they over-used their power, they start to collapse. For the Animal Farm, the pigs acted as if they were humans. They wore clothes, they walked in two legs, and they ate foods that us humans eat. They were totally corrupted. I think George Orwell wants to show us and even teach us some consequences of a society with rulers like pigs in his novel.

Question #7

Are there any settings in this novel which you have found to be beautiful?

or disturbing? or memorable?

Describe these settings and comment on why they were meaningful to you.

A little country that has many farms (including the Animal Farm) in London is the beautiful and memorable setting of the story to me. There is not a lot of setting in the story, but the farm itself is a good one. In the novel, you can find out that there are at least three farms around. Imagining a little old town containing few farms, with varieties of animals and plants at that time just make me smile. All those different stores, shops and public places are good enough to make me want to go inside the book and travel around. Because this is a story that is long ago, it helps me to imagine the town even better. I always wanted to try living at a country because it just seems so fun. Growing different animals will be so exiting if they don’t rebel against meJ. Since I love country, this whole setting of story is meaningful. The windmill, henhouse, dog house, stable… they all look so friendly and cozy. They are so grandparent-tic. Even if the story is not as friendly and cozy, I think the setting was comfortable. It’s kind of ironic because in the farm, there are slaughtering, slavery, selfishness and hunger while the background seems so peaceful and quiet. If a stranger came while the take-over of the animals, he/she would not have been able to figure out the horrible acts of pigs until they hear it from someone. Like that, the setting of this novel is very warm. You can just feel the love by its setting.

Question #6

Please choose one passage from the novel that is significant to you.

Why is this passage meaningful?

Please type it into one of your entries and comment on what you think about the passage.

But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read: ‘”Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. Kennels Supplied.” Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker’s!’

This passage was a shock to me. Boxer was the one that worked hardest. He didn’t quiet rest, but he always worked. He worked for the animals so that they can have better life. He carried stones, he planted crops, and he did the hardest job of all! Boxer even worked after getting injured. He knew that he was getting weaker, but he worked hard. I thought that Napoleon and Squealer will make him retire and rest for the rest of his life. But instead, they sold Boxer to a horse slaughter. I was totally shocked. I mean, how can they possibly do that to Boxer?! The next part was even worse. Pigs lied to the animals that Boxer died peacefully in a hospital. That was like nonsense. I can’t understand why the animals trust them so much. This passage was meaningful to me because at this point, I started to really hate those fatty pigs. I disliked those pigs when they had trial (when they killed the animals), and I dreadfully hated those pigs at this point. I even thought of slaughtering Napoleon and Squealer myself and eat their fatty flesh all by myself. I had the most energetic hatred at this point, so I think this passage was most significant to me.

Question #5

What is the mood of this novel?

What happens?

How do the events of this novel make you feel?

The mood of this novel is constraining. It's rather gloomy and dark than humorous and bright. This novel can be interesting because of the idea that animals can talk. Also, the ruling of pigs (in the real World, pigs are presented as stupidest animal of all), and the rebellion made by animals might lead the readers into the book. But it's more informative since the main idea of this novel is 'rebellion'. It gives us idea of communism and its consequences. I think this book can be a great example for students who want to learn about communism. I also connected this novel with the Russian Revolution. When Old major made a fantastic speech about rebellion, I felt like shouting “Go, animals! You can be on top of humans!” I was actually on the animal’s side. But when Napoleon and Squealer started to rule over human and rule over animals, I frowned. I was so angry because not only they were selfish, but they acted as if they were gods. This book makes me think of the society deeper. Before I read this book, I didn't really know why people say that communism is so bad when everyone can have equal rights. But I then realized that someone who has more power, wisdom, and bravery will try to be on top of the others. So as a result, gaps will be crated between people with power and people who have less power. That might cause another rebellion. In my opinion, this book is a really good reference about communism.

Question #4

What is the climax of this novel?

What happens?

How do the events of this novel make you feel?

The climax of this story is when Napoleon first broke one of the seven commandments they had. It was the fourth commandment he first tempts to change that said “No animal shall sleep in a bed.” But Napoleon changed it into “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” I think this is the point-of-no-return. This little change made Napoleon to change the whole seven commandments to his will. Also, this is the point when the readers start to doubt what kind of animal Napoleon really is. At first, I really liked Napoleon and all the other animals. I cheered for them, and I wished that they can really get this farm going. But as soon as Napoleon revel his real character at this point, I started to dislike him. The whole idea of bright, loving, and amusing animal farm suddenly turned into a mysterious whodunit. These events of the novel make me feel sympathetic. I know I’m a seventeen years old teenager, but I still believe that animals can actually think. So I really felt sympathetic when the animals failed on maintaining a good animal farm. They failed like the humans expected. I feel like no matter how hard they try, they’ll always crawl under us. That’s what makes me feel so sorry for the animals. I was hoping that the animals will succeed in taking charge of the big farm. But since it failed like that, I’m kind of disappointed. Well, on the other hand, I’m glad that I’m a human.

Question #3

Who are the main characters in the novel?

Do you like them? Why or why not?

What is special about them?

What do they reveal about the universal human experience?

Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer are the main characters of the novel. Although this novel does not really have a main character. All of the animals in the story are the main characters. But since those three pigs do the main roles in the novel, I chose them to be the main characters. I personally like Snowball because I think he was a great leader. The War of Cowshed was a great success under Snowball’s instruction. Also, the seven commandments were made by Snowball. I don’t believe that Snowball is the spy from Mr. Jones. I think that it was just a plot to entrap Snowball because Snowball is right. That leads that I’m not generous about Napoleon and Squealer. First of all, I hate Napoleon because he said wrong things about Snowball. Also, Napoleon was the one who was keep changing the commandments. Also, he slaughtered so many animals using his power. He was selfish since he ate all the good stuffs when other animals were starving. Napoleon slaved other animals, and he behaved like a human later. I hate Squealer too because he was a spokesperson (or spokesanimal) of Napoleon. He also benefited from Napoleon, so I hate him. All three pigs were leaders. They ruled among other animals, and animals served them as their leaders so that made the pigs to be special. If you think closer, you can find out that these pigs are similar to us humans. If you look at some public officials, there are some people who take what’s good only for them just like Napoleon and Squealer did. Also, they try to drop the right one. Fortunately, there are some officials who make good decisions for people. This book really relates to the real life in so many different ways.

Question #2

Are there any current situations in the world that relate to the novel?

What are they, and how do they relate?

Does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved for "fixed"?

There is a current situation that relates to the novel in France. There was a ‘decolonization’ process done in Africa, oddly leaving the former colonies to depend on the French Bank for their monetary policymarking. After the process, the colonized were supposed to offer life in France. But actually, the French only gave them cheap houses. Also, French gave them very little money so they can keep things quiet. Well obviously, the immigrated people didn’t keep things quiet. They became what the people say ‘riots’. They bombed cars, fired places, made violent acts, and destroyed public goods. This is a rebellion made by the African workers. They worked hard to keep France open by corner shops and laborious industrial night shift. But France ignored their needs and just went with their own lives. In the novel, animals too worked their best to keep us humans going. They worked on the field, carried heavy things, provided us food and made Mr. and Mrs. Jones entertaining, but they never thought about them in their shoes. So the animals rebelled, wanting to be centered. I think both the African workers and animals felt left-behind or not acknowledged by others. For the Animal Farm, I think the best way to save all other poor animals from Napoleon and Squealer’s hand is to wish for the humans to take over that farm. Not by power, but by convincing them. Humans should tell what they did wrong to the animals except the pigs. They said all dogs died, so they can rebel against those fatty pigs. Humans need to make them understand their situation. If we succeed in persuading the animals, the cruel pigs will be persecuted, bringing peace to everyone else.

Question #1

What is the major theme of this novel?

Why is this theme important to a teenager living in 2007?

The major theme of this story is ‘choose your leader wisely’. The animals at first should have chosen one leader instead of three because it will surely cause a fight among power. Or, the animals should have asked for their right. In the novel, the animals didn’t seem to have any right. For example, when the hens rebelled against the idea of selling eggs, Napoleon didn’t even intend to listen. He just ignored and waited until they gave up. I especially couldn’t understand Boxer. Boxer is the strongest animal through out the farm, and unlike other weak animals, he can kill the dogs and send them to death. But instead, Boxer obeyed every word from Napoleon, thinking that Napoleon is the right one. Horses are so stupid! Because the animals didn’t think about the consequences, they are now totally in control. So I think it’s really important to choose your leader wisely. If they had Snowball for their leader from the first place, they wouldn’t be in this disaster. They might have bigger farm, more animals, plenty of food, and bags of money. This theme is important to a teenager living in 2007 because nowadays, they choose whoever is good-looking, appealing, or plausible. But they have to learn how to choose a leader who is able to make right decisions, wise, and someone who puts others above themselves. This is especially important when choosing a president. Since president is a job that is the most important and most difficult, we need to make the right choice. Or else, we might end up being in a farm just like the animals.