Animal Farm Plot and Characters

1 Old Major's Speech

All the animals meet in the big barn where Old Major delivers a speech arguing for a rebellion against the men.

2 The Rebellion

Old Major dies and his speech forms the principles of Animalism. The rebellion happens and the animals overthrow Jones. Napoleon steals milk.

3 The Pigs Emerge as Leaders

The animals complete the harvest faster than ever. The sheep learn 'four legs good two legs bad' and the dogs are taken for 'education'.

4 Battle of the Cowshed

The humans complain about Animal Farm's success. Led by Snowball's, the animals defend the farm in 'The Battle of the Cowshed'.

5 Snowball's Expulsion

Snowball is expelled from Animal Farm. Napoleon announces that the Windmill he opposed will be built.

6 Building the Windmill

The animals work hard, but a storm topples the half complete windmill. Napoleon blames Snowball. Napoleon begins sleeping in a bed.

7 Rebuilding the Windmill and the Executions

The animals starve. Napoleon executes several 'traitors' who confess to being in league with Snowball.

8 Trading with Humans and the Destruction of the Windmill

The farm is attacked. Several animals die, but Squealer convinces the animals of their victory.

9 Boxer's Fate

The animals start rebuilding the windmill as rations are reduced. Napoleon is now President. Boxer is injured and taken away to be slaughtered.

10 Pigs and Humans Come Together

Years pass and the commandments are replaced. The pigs start carrying whips and work with the humans.

Old Major

The old boar who came up with the idea for Animalism, explained it to the other animals, and died before the rebellion. His skull was put on display later for the animals to honor each week.

Napoleon

The boar who became the main leader in charge of Animal Farm. He was scary and quiet. He punished anyone who got in his way. He got what he wanted through any means necessary.

Snowball

The pig who was a brilliant strategist and charismatic speaker. He developed all the committees to help the animals have better lives. The windmill was his idea. He was a decorated war hero. He was run off the farm by Napoleon's dogs and afterward made to look like a criminal.

Boxer

The strong work horse who did the majority of the heavy work on the farm. He believed firmly in Animal Farm. His two mottos were "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right." Napoleon sold him to the horse slaughterer when he was unable to work.

Clover

The mare on the farm who works alongside Boxer and realizes things aren't quite right, but she's not sure exactly what's going on. She discovers the pigs walking on two legs.

Benjamin

The cynical donkey who refuses to read even though he can. He believes that his life will be the same no matter who is in charge of the farm. He is devoted to Boxer.

Mollie

The foolish white horse who pulls the carriage. She loves ribbons in her hair, pets on the nose, and eating sugar lumps. She runs away to another farm as soon as she gets the chance. She hates work, so she gets out of it whenever she can.

Squealer

The porker in charge of propaganda. He rewrites the animal's memories, changes the commandments, and manipulates the animals to make sure they are fully devoted to Napoleon. He programs the sheep to chant.

Mr. Jones

The original owner of the farm. He was a drunk and didn't take good care of his animals. He was run off by the animals during the Rebellion, lost the Battle of the Cowshed, and eventually died in a rehabilitation clinic in another county.

Mr. Pilkington

The owner of Foxwood farm. His relationship with Animal Farm changes over time. First, he hates it, then he wants to trade with it, then he is friendly with it but doesn't fully trust them.

Mr. Frederick

The owner of Pinchfield farm. He makes a pact to trade with Animal Farm, pays for the timber with counterfeit money, then destroys the windmill. He is rumored to be mistreating his own animals.

the cat

She is never around when there is work to be done, but she does show up whenever it's time to eat. She conveniently disappeared during Napoleon's purges, and tried to convert the birds and rats (probably so she could eat them).

Muriel

She is the goat who is able to read better than most of the animals. She reads the commandments to Clover whenever there has been a change.

the sheep

They break out into refrains of "Four legs good, two legs bad" at the most inconvenient times. They are later trained for a week to change to "Four legs good, two legs better" just in time for the pigs to make their debut walking on their back legs.

the dogs

Napoleon's body guards and secret police. They were taken from their mothers as puppies and trained by Napoleon himself. They kill the accused animals during the executions.

Moses

The raven who told the animals about Sugarcandy Mountain, the place they would go after they died, which was filled with happiness and sugar lumps and clover grew everywhere.

satire

A work that makes fun of human faults or social institutions and conventions in order to bring about reforms and changes.

irony

the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

verbal irony

irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another,

understatement

A statement that says less than what is meant

exaggeration

a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is; used to create an effect or make an impression

sarcasm

the use of irony to mock or convey contempt

situational irony

irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

example of situational irony in animal farm

the animals are crueler to one another than the humans were to them

example of exaggeration in animal farm

Squealer exaggerates how much food they harvest and how happy all the animals are

example of verbal irony in animal farm

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.

propaganda

information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.