Modern texts, Year 11: power, propaganda and equality betrayed (Animal Farm option)

Napoleon, who turns from a revolutionary into a tyrant who lives like Mr Jones

HintThe animal who ends up with the most power and the least conscience.

The whyHe starts as one of two leaders and ends as the sole ruler. Orwell shows that the rulers can become what they overthrew.

The milk, which is mixed into the pigs' own food

HintThe cows were promised they could keep it for their calves.

The whyThe theft happens quietly after the revolution. Small privileges taken by the pigs are the beginning of much larger ones.

Like humans: they walk upright on two legs, wear clothes and carry whips

HintThe animals see no difference between the old rulers and the new ones.

The whyThe rule that animals should never imitate humans is one of the first the pigs break. The change is complete when the animals cannot tell the two groups apart.

That equality still stands in name, but the pigs claim a bigger share of it

HintThe idea of fairness remains, with a twist.

The whyOrwell turns the idea of equality against itself. The twist shows how language can be used to justify what it first condemned.

That the pigs and the humans now share the same interests and treat the other animals the same way

HintThose outside the window watch.

The whyNapoleon tells the guests the other animals work longer for less food, and the farmers admire it. The old enemies have become partners.

He gradually smears Snowball and makes himself the hero

HintThe past is changed a little at a time.

The whyAnimals who remember the battle are told they are wrong, and few dare to say so. Control of the past is control of the present.

To drown out opposing voices, so that no one else can be heard

HintNoise as a weapon.

The whyThe sheep do not understand the arguments, but the noise ends the debate. Orwell compares it to the way Stalin used hysterical crowds against Trotsky.

It is banned, and replaced by a song in praise of Napoleon

HintThe revolution's own tune is forbidden.

The whyThe song was taught by Old Major and stood for the hope of the revolution. Replacing it marks the end of that hope.

They alter the written rules in secret, so the animals cannot prove a change

HintControl of words is control of what is true.

The whyThis is the book's clearest picture of propaganda. Orwell was concerned throughout his life about the abuse of language in politics.

Pravda

HintIts name is the Russian word for truth.

The whyThe comparison is with the press that justified every change in Stalin's policy. Squealer does the same job for Napoleon.

The hens, who are starved into giving in

HintThey had been promised that they could keep what they produced.

The whyThe hens are made to give up their eggs for the farm's trade. Their suffering is linked to the victims of the famine in Ukraine under Stalin.

Sugarcandy Mountain, a happy land where animals rest after death

HintA heaven for hard-working creatures.

The whyOrwell shows religion as a promise of reward after death that serves whoever is in power. Napoleon allows Moses to stay and gives him a daily ration of beer.

That every animal has equal standing

HintThe idea of the revolution in one phrase.

The whyIt is the most important of the Seven Commandments and the one that is most completely betrayed. The farm ends with some animals plainly more privileged than others.

Electric light, heating, running water and a short working week

HintIdeas of a better life that are quickly forgotten.

The whyNapoleon claims the happiest animals are those with simple lives. The promise of more leisure is forgotten.

They work as hard and have little more food, while the pigs live in comfort

HintCompare what the revolution promised with what the animals got.

The whyNapoleon tells his guests that the lesser animals work longer hours for less food. The revolution has replaced one master with another.