Hens

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The Hens

Animal Farm is an allegory; all of the events and characters symbolise 20th century historical and political events.

5 key words

Brave.
Rebellious.
Tough.
Powerless.
Punished.

Rebel

The hens are ordered to give up their eggs to be sold. The hens rebel by smashing their eggs on the floor.

Example to betrayers

Napoleon is ruthless and denies them any rations. He also says that any animal that helps the hens will be killed. Nine hens die before they give in.
The hens are tough and brave, but they do not have the power to oppose Napoleon and his dogs.
The 3 hens who lead this are later killed by Napoleon’s dogs at the forced confessions. They are used as examples to demonstrate what will happen to those who stand up to the regime. They are killed quickly and mercilessly.

Context

The hens represent the Russian Peasants.
The Russian peasants were forced to give up their produce for the state.

The Hens - Key Quotes

Here are a few key quotes about the hens:

Unfairly ordered

“A contract for four hundred eggs a week”.

Brutally punished

“Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly”.
“Rations to be stopped”.
“They, too, were slaughtered”.

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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