Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 1
We meet all the main characters as they enter the barn. Old Major calls a meeting of all the animals. In his speech, he points out that no animal knows the meaning of happiness and that all their hard work and produce goes to benefit man. If man was removed the animals would not have to work so hard and would have more to eat.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 2
Old Major dies in his sleep in early March. The pigs are recognized as being the cleverest animals – particularly Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer. The revolution happened more quickly than expected. One night, Jones the farmer got kicked off his farm. The animals destroyed everything that reminds them of human domination. They celebrate and the pigs, who have learned to read and write, paint the 7 commandments on the wall of the barn. The pigs manage to milk the cows, which are rather uncomfortable by this time, and Napoleon guards it while they all go off to survey their farm.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 3
The pigs have taken charge of the farm which is now called Animal Farm rather than Manor Farm. The harvest is good and everyone works hard knowing that the produce is theirs. It is announced that the milk and apples are to be reserved for the pigs alone. Squealer is sent to explain that the reason for this is because the pigs do all the brain work, without which Jones would probably return. This terrifies the animals and is used frequently to keep them from complaining about the preferential treatment for the pigs.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 4
Pigeons start to spread the word about the rebellion to other farms. We meet the owners of the two neighboring farms; they fear that rebellion will spread to their farms so join with Jones to mount an attack on Animal Farm to regain control. The animals unite to defeat them in the Battle of the Cowshed. They later make medals to be presented for bravery. Nobody seems to notice the irony of dividing animals into classes when they are all supposed to be equal.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 5
The winter is a hard one. Snowball puts forward the idea of a windmill to provide electricity to heat their stalls and ease their workload. These two pigs are obviously competing for leadership of the farm and Snowball is certainly the more popular. But Squealer convinces the animals that Snowball has always been a traitor, that he was not brave in the Battle of the Cowshed and that he stole the idea of the windmill from Napoleon. They chase Snowball off the farm and Napoleon assumes complete control.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 6
The animals work hard to build the windmill, Boxer being the one who did most of the heavy work. The pigs move into the farmhouse and start to sleep in beds. Because the other animals never learned to read properly, they believe Squealer and agree that the pigs must have more comforts than they do if they are to prevent Jones coming back. A violent storm destroys the windmill. Napoleon blames Snowball and tells the animals to rebuild it with stronger walls.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 7
There is a severe food shortage. The hens are ordered to give up their eggs for the pigs to sell. When they stage a small protest by dropping their eggs from the rafters, Napoleon starves them until they give in. The animals are told that Snowball was always in league with Jones and that even now Snowball is plotting with Jones to overthrow the farm. To prove his point, he makes 4 pigs confess to having secret meetings with Snowball. They are immediately slaughtered. Then 3 hens, a goose and 3 sheep also confess to similar crimes and receive a similar fate.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 8
The animals work harder than ever for less food though the pigs and dogs always have plenty. The windmill is finished and called Napoleon Mill. Man attacks the farm one night and blows up the windmill with dynamite. When Napoleon is seen in public, he always has a black cockerel walking in front of him like a trumpeter. He now behaves like a king or emperor.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 9
Rations are reduced once again and work on the windmill starts for a third time. Boxer’s ambition is to finish it before he retires so he works even harder than usual. Boxer collapses through overwork. Napoleon assures the other animals that he is being taken to a hospital to be cared for but he sells him to a glue manufacturer in return for whisky. When Benjamin points out that the van in which he was taken away said ’Horse Slaughterer’ on the side, Squealer replies that it used to belong to the horse slaughterer but now belongs to the vet.
Animal Farm Chapter Summaries Short Chapter 10
Years later few of the animals are alive who remember the days before the rebellion. The windmill is finished but is used for milling corn to be sold at a profit rather than for electricity to make the animals’ lives easier. The commandments are scrubbed off the barn wall and replaced with just one – ‘All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.’ The pigs start to wear clothes and the farm is called Manor Farm once again. One evening the animals look in the farmhouse window where the pigs and local farmers are drinking and playing cards. As they look from pig to man and back, it becomes hard to tell which is which.
