ELA Notes

Animal Farm

Chapter 1: Old Major, a prize boar, gathered the animals of Manor Farm for a meeting. It was a warm night, and the animals were curious about what Old Major had to say. He told them of a dream he had in which all animals live together with no human oppression. He urged them to work towards this dream and to never give up until they achieved it. Old Major also taught them a song called "Beasts of England" which became their anthem and a symbol of their unity.

Chapter 2: Old Major's death was a great loss to the animals, but the pigs, who were the smartest animals, began to organize the others. They taught themselves to read and write and created a set of commandments called "Animalism." These commandments were based on Old Major's teachings and were meant to guide the animals in their quest for freedom and equality.

Chapter 3: The animals were fed up with Mr. Jones, the farmer, and his cruel treatment of them. They decided to overthrow him and rename the farm "Animal Farm." The pigs took control and began to make decisions for the other animals. At first, the animals were happy to be free from human rule, but soon they realized that the pigs were becoming more and more like humans.

Chapter 4: The pigs began to live a life of luxury while the other animals worked hard. They also changed the commandments to suit their needs. For example, the commandment "All animals are equal" was changed to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." The pigs were becoming more and more corrupt, and the other animals were beginning to realize that they were not better off than they were under human rule.

Chapter 5: The animals worked hard to build a windmill, which they believed would make their lives easier. However, it was destroyed in a storm. The pigs blamed Snowball, a pig who was exiled from the farm. This was the beginning of the end for Animal Farm.

Chapter 6: The pigs began to trade with humans, which went against the principles of Animalism. They also began to walk on two legs and wear clothes. The other animals were confused and scared by this behavior, but the pigs convinced them that it was necessary for their survival.

Chapter 7: The pigs became more and more like humans, and the other animals began to realize that they were no better off than they were under human rule.

In chapters 8 to 10 of Animal Farm by George Orwell, the pigs become increasingly corrupt and oppressive. They begin to resemble the humans they overthrew, using propaganda and violence to maintain their power. The animals work harder than ever before, but their living conditions deteriorate. Boxer, the loyal horse, is injured and sent to the knacker's, despite his years of service. The pigs continue to rewrite history and manipulate the other animals, while also forming alliances with neighboring farms. The novel ends with the pigs and humans playing cards together, blurring the lines between oppressor and oppressed.

Characters

Napolean

• The pig who emerges as the leader of Animal farm after the Rebellion
• Based on Stalin
• Uses military power to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power
• He proves more treacherous than snowball

Snowball

• the pig who challenges Napolean for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion
• Based on Leon Trotsky
• intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than Napoleon
• Wins the loyalty of other animals to cement his power

Boxer

• incredibly loyal

Shakespeare

• Born: April 23, 1564 (Britain)
• Died: April 23, 1616 (Britain)
• Spouse: Anne Hathaway
• Children: Hamnet Shakespeare (died), Susanna Hall, Judith Quiney
• Wrote about 37 plays
• Wrote 154 sonnets because of economic nessecity due to the plauge
• Founder of the globe theater
• Went to grammar school at age 5 or 6
• Never went to University
• Made up and added 3000 words to the english language that are still used today

Romeo and Juliet

Characters

Romeo:

• Son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague
• Lives in the middle of a family fued but isnt interested in violence
• Impulsive and immature but idealism and passion
• was in love with Rosaline but falls in love with Juliet the moment he saw her
• makes his new love questionable but proves the seriousness of his feelings
• secretly marries Juliet

Juliet:

• Daughter of Lady Capulet and Capulet
• Not yet 14 years
• starts the play as a naive child who thought little about love and marriage
• grows up fast upon falling in love with Romeo
• Romeo gives her courage to defy her parents
• does not have the freedom Romeo has to roam the city
• Her confidant is her nurse

Tybalt:

• fiesty, hotheaded, and violent

• values violence and impulse over peace

• enjoys the conflict between the Montagues and his family

• strong-willed, argumentative, passionate and loyal.

• fuels the conflict and rift between the two families

Friar Lawrence:

• Agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in secret in hopes of peace between the 2 families
• \

Benvolio:

• Montagues nephew
• Romeo’s cousin and friends
• Tryies to defuse violent scenes in public places
• Tries to help Romeo get his mind off of Rosaline

Mercutio:

• A kinsman to the Prince and Romeo’s close friend
• Mercutio overflows with imagination and wite
• he loves wordplay
• can be hot headed
• finds Romeo’s romanticized ideas as tiresome

Nurse:

• A woman who cared for Juliet when she was a baby
• Cared for Juliet her entire life
• Juliets faithful confidant
• Believes in love
• Views love as earthy and sexual while Juliet’s view is idealistic and intense

Montague:

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Lady Montague:

• \

Capulet:

• \

Lady Capulet:

• \

Setting

Verona, Italy

\n Marriage during the 1500's

Marriages were arranged with the purpose of benefiting both families involed finacially, properties, and wealth. Woman has very little choice in her her husband is going to be and men were usually promised to women at early ages. It was considered foolish to marry because you were in love. Boys were legal to marry at 14 and girls at 12. \n

The Globe Theater \n It is largest amptheater in the world.

Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet

Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet is a captivating introduction to the play's tragic love story. The audience is immediately thrown into the midst of the Capulet and Montague families' bitter feud, which has been ongoing for years. The play opens with a street brawl between the two families' servants, which sets the tone for the violence and tension that will follow.

Amidst this chaos, we are introduced to Romeo, a young man from the Montague family. He is lovesick over a woman named Rosaline, who does not return his affections. His friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, convince him to attend a Capulet party in hopes of finding a new love interest and moving on from Rosaline.

It is at this party that Romeo meets Juliet, the daughter of the Capulet family. They share a moment of instant attraction and fall in love at first sight. However, their families' feud threatens to keep them apart, and they are forced to conceal their love from everyone around them.

The first act of Romeo and Juliet sets the stage for the tragic events that will unfold. It highlights the senselessness of the feud between the two families and the powerlessness of the young lovers caught in the middle. Despite the obstacles in their way, Romeo and Juliet are determined to be together, setting the stage for a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss.

Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet

Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet continues the story of the star-crossed lovers, building on the tension and emotion established in the first act. Romeo, unable to resist his desire to see Juliet again, sneaks into the Capulet's orchard to be with her. There, they exchange vows of love and make plans to get married the next day.

Juliet's nurse, who is aware of the couple's secret love, helps them plan for the wedding. Meanwhile, Tybalt, a Capulet, recognizes Romeo as a Montague and vows revenge for his presence at the party. This foreshadows the violence and tragedy that will come later in the play.

Romeo visits Friar Laurence, who agrees to marry the couple in hopes of ending the feud between their families. The friar sees the potential for peace in the union of Romeo and Juliet and hopes that their love can bring an end to the senseless violence.

However, the play continues to highlight the futility

Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet

Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet is a pivotal moment in the play, where the tragic events start to unfold. The scene opens with Mercutio and Benvolio walking through the streets of Verona. They encounter Tybalt and engage in a heated argument that escalates into a sword fight. Mercutio, who is known for his quick wit and sharp tongue, is fatally wounded by Tybalt. Romeo, who arrives at the scene moments later, is overcome with rage and grief at the loss of his friend. In a fit of vengeance, he kills Tybalt, a move that sets the stage for the tragic events that follow.

As a result of Tybalt's death, Romeo is banished from Verona, separating him from Juliet. Juliet is then forced to marry Paris, a suitor chosen by her parents.

Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet

Desperate to be with Romeo, she seeks the help of Friar Laurence, who gives her a potion that will make her appear dead for 42 hours. The plan is for Romeo to come to the Capulet tomb and take Juliet away when she wakes up. However, the plan goes awry when Romeo does not receive the message about the plan and instead hears of Juliet's death.

Act 5 of Romeo and Juliet

In Act 5, Romeo arrives at the tomb to find Paris there, paying his respects to Juliet. A fight breaks out, and Romeo kills Paris before entering the tomb to be with Juliet. Overwhelmed with grief, Romeo drinks poison and dies. Juliet wakes up to find Romeo dead beside her and decides to end her own life with Romeo's dagger.

The tragic events of the play ultimately lead to the reconciliation of the Capulet and Montague families, who realize the folly of their feud. The play serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of hate and the importance of love and reconciliation. It also highlights the role of fate in the lives of the characters. Despite their best efforts to control their own destinies, Romeo and Juliet are ultimately undone by circumstances beyond their control. The play is a timeless reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.

Theme

• Poison: Poison is a symbol of death and danger in Romeo and Juliet. It is used by both Romeo and Juliet to end their lives, and by the end of the play, it becomes a symbol of the tragic consequences of their love.
• Light and Dark: Light and dark imagery is used throughout the play to represent the opposing forces of love and hate, life and death, and good and evil. For example, Romeo describes Juliet as the sun, while Tybalt is referred to as a "fiery-footed" villain.
• Roses: Roses are a symbol of love and passion in the play. Romeo compares Juliet to a rose, saying that just as a rose's beauty can be destroyed by its own thorns, so too can Juliet's beauty be destroyed by her family's feud.
• Stars: The stars are a symbol of fate and destiny in Romeo and Juliet. The prologue refers to the "star-crossed" lovers, and throughout the play, characters speak of the stars as controlling their lives and actions.
• Swords: Swords are a symbol of violence and aggression in the play. The Capulet and Montague families use swords to fight each other, and Tybalt is known for his skill with a sword.

Quotes and Analysis

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? \n Deny thy father and refuse thy name! \n Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, \n And I'll no longer be a Capulet." \n

These words were spoken by Juliet as she says that she would leave/forget her family for Romeo and if we would do the same. If Romeo truly loves Juliet but does not want to leave his family she would become a Montague. The comparisons and metaphors used in their conversation are overly romantic and sweet which expresses the innocence and passion of the teenager love, even when they both are in danger because of the family feud.

\n "With love's wings did I o'perch these walls; \n For stony limits cannot hold love out, \n And what love can do, that dares love attempt. \n Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me." \n

For Romeo, true love is a liberating force. Love gives him not just wings, but “light wings” and the power to overcome all “stony limits.” Romeo answers Juliet’s serious and practical question with a flight of romantic fantasy.

\n "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? \n It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! \n Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, \n Who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art more fair than she."

Though it is late at night, Juliet’s surpassing beauty makes Romeo imagine that she is the sun, transforming the darkness into daylight. Romeo likewise personifies the moon, calling it “sick and pale with grief” at the fact that Juliet, the sun, is far brighter and more beautiful. Romeo then compares Juliet to the stars, claiming that she eclipses the stars as daylight overpowers a lamp—her eyes alone shine so bright that they will convince the birds to sing at night as if it were day.

Animal Farm + Romeo and Juliet Similarities and Differences