Chapters 3-4

Test yourself

Chapter 3: Napoleon, Snowball and “Milk and Apples”

Here are a few key features of Chapter 3:

Hard workers vs pigs

The animals work hard and feel that the rewards are worth it. Boxer works so hard that he “seemed like three horses rather than one”, he gets up earlier than the other animals and his motto is “I will work harder!”
The pigs “set aside the harness-room as headquarters for themselves”. The pigs are already behaving as if they are better and deserve to be treated differently to the other animals, undermining the principles of Animalism.

Sundays

On Sundays there is no work, they have breakfast later, the flag (green to represent the fields and with a hoof and horn to signify “the future Republic of the Animals”) is hoisted and the animals go to “the Meeting”.
Here they discuss resolutions to problems, they debate and the animals can vote. Snowball and Napoleon never agree.

Animal Committees

Snowball sets up “Animal Committees” and wants to educate all of the animals.
In general, these committees are “a failure”. Boxer “could not get beyond the letter D”. The other animals on the farm can’t “get further than the letter A” and Snowball has to reduce the commandments to “a single maxim [...] the essential principle of Animalism” for them to remember: “Four legs good, two legs bad.”

Educating the young

Napoleon takes no interest in this and instead focuses on “the education of the young”.
Napoleon takes away nine puppies from their mothers to become “responsible for their education”.

Squealer's excuses

The animals find out that the missing milk is going into the pigs’ mash.
Squealer “is sent to make the necessary explanations”. Using propaganda and rhetoric to control the animals, he explains that the pigs are “brainworkers” and for their “well-being” they need the “milk and apples” and this has been “proved by Science, Comrades”.

Squealer's threats

He also repeatedly threatens them: “Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!”
The animals do not question Squealer or oppose the pigs’ actions: “it was agreed without further comment”.
Squealer uses fear and propaganda to control and manipulate the animals. Here, the reader sees that perhaps life was better with Jones; he would put milk in the hen’s mash.

Chapter 4: The Battle of the Cowshed

Here's a few key features of Chapter 4:

News spreads

Other farms and farmers hear about the success of Animal Farm.
Frederick and Pilkington (neighbouring farmers) try to spread wicked rumours about what the animals do on the farm, but the words and tune of Beasts of England spreads and small acts of rebellion happen on other farms.
These acts are cruelly suppressed by the farmers.

Jones' attack

Jones, his men and some other farmers attempt to recapture Animal Farm. The animals were prepared for this and Snowball, after studying “Julius Caesar’s campaigns” was “in charge of defence operations”. He positions all animals carefully and launches a strategic attack.
When the animals charge, “Snowball [is] at the head of them”, and “he himself dashed straight for Jones”.
Snowball is a dedicated leader in battle and is willing to sacrifice himself for Animal Farm; he is ruthlessly committed to Animalism and Animal Farm. Interestingly and importantly, Napoleon is not mentioned throughout the battle.

Snowball vs Boxer

When Boxer thinks that he has killed a stable-lad, Snowball states: “The only good human being is a dead one!”
To this Boxer replies with his eyes “full of tears”, "I have no wish to take life, not even human life”.
Snowball commitment is ruthless; he is willing to be violent to achieve his principles, whereas we see Boxer’s kindness and gentleness, even though he has so much physical strength and power.

Medals

After the battle, Snowball makes a speech reminding all animals that they must be “ready to die for Animal Farm”.
Snowball and Boxer are awarded “Animal Hero, First Class”, and “Animal Hero, Second Class” is awarded to the dead sheep.
By awarding Boxer this medal, the pigs are reinforcing their control over him and urging the other animals to be like Boxer: loyal and obedient.
These medals also separate the animals into classes, further reinforcing the idea of inequality, as opposed to equality.

1Important Plot Features

1.1Plot Summaries

1.1.1Chapters 1-2

1.1.2Chapters 3-4

1.1.3Chapters 5-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5Chapters 9-10

1.1.6Keywords

1.1.7End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-5

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Chapters 6-10

2Characters & Their Links to History

2.1Key Characters

2.1.1Old Major

2.1.2Snowball

2.1.3Napoleon

2.1.4Squealer

2.1.5Boxer

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Characters

2.1.7AO2/3 - Key Characters

2.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Boxer

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Mr Jones

2.2.2Clover

2.2.3Hens

2.2.4Sheep

2.2.5Mollie

2.2.6Benjamin

2.2.7Moses & Mr Frederick

2.2.8Pilkington & Mr Whymper

2.2.9End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.2.10End of Topic Test - Other Characters 2

3Key Themes & Orwell's Purpose

3.1Key Themes

3.1.1Education

3.1.2Power & Control

3.1.3Power & Language

3.1.4Equality

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

4Language, Form & Structure

4.1Language, Form & Structure

4.1.1Form & Structure

4.1.2Language

4.1.3Symbols

4.1.4Narrator & Allegory

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