George Orwell's Animal Farm is a staple novel in the curriculum for GCSE English Literature. The plot takes place on a farm and represents an allegory for political power and corruption. Orwell wrote the novel as a response to the events surrounding the Russian Revolution. The themes include power, manipulation and social inequalities expressed through the differing lives of the farm animals.
You are expected to interpret Orwell's book in a variety of ways, including his critique of totalitarian regimes, the cunning of Napoleon and the tragic loyalty of Boxer. If you need help studying Animal Farm, TeachTutti has a list of qualified GCSE English Literature tutors who can support your revision.
Plot summary of Animal Farm novel
The story begins on Manor Farm. All the animals are led in a rebellion against their human owner Mr Jones by the visionary pig Old Major. The pig inspires the animals with talks of equality and a life free from human oppression. Mr Jones is overthrown and the farm is renamed "Animal Farm".
The revolution is promising at first. The pigs become the leaders and they create the rules called the "Seven Commandments of Animalism". The rules are intended to ensure equality and prevent corruption. Unfortunately, this utopia unravels quickly.
The pigs Napoleon and Snowball are the main leaders and they become rivals. Snowball is an enthusiastic leader and focuses on projects like building a windmill to improve productivity and lessen the workload. Napoleon is cunning and power-hungry. In a key turning point, he uses the trained dogs to expel Snowball from the farm and consolidate his position as the uncontested leader.
Things start to deteriorate. The pigs begin to indulge in much the same way as the humans. They use propaganda to control the other animals using Squealer, Napoleon's right-hand pig. The rules are gradually altered to justify the privilege and oppressive behaviour of the pigs. For example, the phrase "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" is added to the commandments, reflecting the growing hypocrisy and corruption.
The animals work tirelessly and take hope in the promise of a better future. This is particularly true of Boxer the horse, who is faithful to Napoleon with his mantra "Napoleon is always right". Heartbreakingly, this trust leads to Boxer's downfall: when he is no longer useful, the horse is sold to a glue factory using the excuse of receiving medical care.
The pigs become increasingly corrupted until they are indistinguishable from their original human master. They trade with the neighbouring farms and walk on two legs in the farmhouse. The final scenes show the animal looking through a window of the house, unable to differentiate pig from human. This symbolises the complete abandonment of the revolution’s original principles.
Key themes
There is a wealth of themes in Animal Farm that explore issues around political power, revolution and leadership. They drive the plot and provide a commentary on society and governance. We have explored the key themes in this section.
Power and corruption
There is a famous quote by the British politician Lord Action: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This is the message in Animal Farm, which explores the corrupting influence of power. The pigs quickly and easily fall into corruption by betraying their ideals. They increasingly adopt the oppressive behaviours of their former human masters.
Napoleon uses various tactics to maintain his authority as he consolidates control at the farm. This includes altering the Seven Commandments to justify his privilege and tyrannical actions. the pigs' privileges and silencing dissent through fear and violence. The story is a reflection on the dangers of unchecked power, showing how leaders can manipulate ideology when they fall into corruption.
Propaganda and manipulation
Propaganda is given prominence through the pig and Napoleon's spokesperson, Squealer. He twists the truth and spreads lies to keep the animals under control. Squealer convinces the animals that their sacrifices are for the greater good and that any difficulties they face are due to enemies or traitors at the farm.
Propaganda is also shown to have the potential to rewrite history. The Seven Commandments are gradually adapted to benefit the pigs while implying the continuation of the original revolutionary ideals. It is an important theme that showcases the importance of critical, independent thinking as opposed to blindly following those in power.
Class and social inequality
The pig Old Major has a vision that all animals will be equal in society. This idea quickly unravels after the revolution when the pigs take on leadership at the farm. Their privilege is a commentary on the emergence of a ruling class to exploit and oppress those below them. The promise of equality is replaced by continued inequality as the pigs enjoy luxuries while the other animals toil endlessly. It is a damning critique of modern society.
Boxer is a hardworking horse who reflects the exploitation of the working class. He is loyal to a fault, making him a tragic figure as this quality is betrayed by his leaders. The novella underscores the betrayal of the working class by those who rise to power on the back of their labour.
Education and literacy
Education and literacy is shown to be an important determiner of empowerment and control. Snowball tries to teach the other animals how to read and write. Napoleon recognises that education will lead to greater independence and self-governance. It is a threat to his authority so he instead uses it selectively, educating the pigs of his class while restricting it for the rest. The pigs become increasingly literate and they use this knowledge to deceive the other animals, who are more easily governed due to their lack of education. This theme reflects Orwell’s belief that education is crucial to developing critical thinking and preventing the rise of tyranny.
Important characters
The animals in Orwell's novella reflect different aspects of society and human behaviour. This is a closer look at the main characters:
Old Major
Old Major is the old and wide pig who has a vision of a better life at the farm. His ideas spark the rebellion that overthrows Mr Jones. He is based on Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. In his stirring speech, Old Major describes a utopia where animals live free from human tyranny. His philosophy is called Animalism, which is embraced until it is ultimately corrupted by the pigs who succeed him.
Napoleon
Napoleon is a large Berkshire boar. His character develops into the main antagonist of the story. He represents Stalin and symbolises the darker side of power and leadership. Napoleon is shown as different to Snowball with his cunning and willingness to use brute force to establish and maintain control. Napoleon trains a private army of dogs that remove Snowball from power to increase his own supremacy. He increasingly becomes a tyrant, reflecting Orwell's criticism of dictatorships.
Snowball
Snowball is a pig who represents Leon Trotsky. He is an ideological rival to Napoleon and is depicted as intelligent, passionate and committed to bettering the lives of those on Animal Farm, such as building a windmill. These traits lead to his downfall as he lacks the ruthlessness that defines his rival Napoleon. He is expelled from the farm, which reflects the clash between visionary leadership and authoritarianism.
Follow the link to learn more about Leon Trotsky.
Boxer
Boxer is a horse that reflects the working class in society. He is hardworking, loyal, strong and dedicated. His mantras include “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right,”. This allows Napoleon to exploit him and ultimately remove him from the farm. His character reflects the betrayal of the working class.
Squealer
Squealer is a small and articulate pig who serves as Napoleon’s propagandist. He manipulates the truth to convince the animals that Napoleon’s decisions are for their betterment. He has talented with his persuasive rhetoric and is vital to the regime. His character reflects Orwell’s views of media and political spin.
Other characters:
- Benjamin - He is a cynical donkey who doubts the revolution and is aware of the corruption early on. He reflects the dangers of complacency in the face of tyranny because he refuses to act on his concerns.
- Clover - A maternal figure who is aware of the pigs' deceit. She represents the disillusionment of the members of society who supported the revolution but are aware of their betrayal.
- Mr. Jones - The original human owner of the farm. His neglect and cruelty cause the revolt. He symbolises the overthrown ruling class.
GCSE exam tips
Now that we have a comprehensive understanding of Animal Farm, we need to know how to effectively analyse and present our thoughts on Orwell's novel. This section will list strategies and insights to help you in your GCSE English Literature exam on "Animal Farm".
Exam structure
These are the ways you may be expected to engage with the text of Animal Farm:
- Essay questions - There are normally questions you can choose from. These could focus on themes, characters, or the key message in the book.
- Closed-book exam - You won't have the novel with you during the exam. Make sure to memorise key quotations, including those that represent significant characters, elements of the plot and themes.
Analyse Animal Farm by Orwell
- Themes and context - Look at the major themes, including propaganda and social inequality. Understand how each theme is developed and link it to the historical context when the book was written.
- Character analysis - You need to be able to talk about the key characters in detail. Understand all aspects of their arc, including their motivations and relationships to other animals and the previous human owners.
- Quotations and evidence - Memorise key quotations that can display key themes and character traits. As an example, the erosion of the revolution's aspirations is shown in the changing commandments on the barn wall.
- Critical perspectives - Try to prepare different interpretations of the novel. Is there another way you can interpret the actions and motives of key characters? This is a famous work and you may have friends or family you can discuss this with to learn their thoughts.
Structure your essay
Make sure to use a clear and organised structure when writing your essay:
Introduction
- Introduce the main points you will explore. Keep it brief and don't go into detail.
- Mention the key themes or characters you will discuss and how they're relevant to the essay question.
Main body
- Go through the first point you mentioned in the introduction. Include quotations and examples from the book.
- Maintain the structure to the previous section when you explore the next points. Consider moving to a contrasting point to keep the reader's interest.
- Maintain the structure with the remaining points you want to explore, such as a key theme or character arc.
Conclusion
- Summarise your main points and how they answer the question you discussed in the introduction.
- Reflect on the broader implications of "Animal Farm." Include your thoughts and feelings on the novel if you feel it will lend more weight.
Using context
It's a good idea to have a general understanding of the historical background to the publication of Animal Farm. As discussed, George Orwell particularly wrote the book as a satire on the Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalinism:
- Historical context - Where relevant, link characters and events in Animal Farm to historical figures and events from the Russian Revolution. Napoleon can be compared to Joseph Stalin in several ways (not least his name, arguably reflecting his fall from ideals to tyranny).
- Author’s intentions - Think about why Orwell wrote "Animal Farm." It's clearly a critique of totalitarian regimes and the danger of having absolute power. What else can you see?
Practice and review
- Practice essays - Go through as many practice essays as you can get your hands on. Use a variety of questions and get used to the format and exam time limit.
- Peer review - Use the advice of your classmates, teacher (and tutor if relevant). The feedback and suggestions of another person can be a useful insight.
- Review - When you have written a practice essay, go back over your work. Try to be critical and look for areas where you can improve your critiques. Did you use enough quotes? Is your essay structure clear?
Final thoughts - GCSE English revision
We have explored key themes in Animal Farm, such as the complexities of power, control and how fragile ideas can be. Animal Farm warns that revolution can corrupt the individuals who lead the uprising, even when their aims are well-intended. This can be seen as a pointed reference to the historical context of the Russian Revolution.
The following themes are explored:
- Power and corruption - People who rise to power often become oppressors themselves. Napoleon changes from a revolutionary leader to a dictator during the novel.
- Propaganda and manipulation - Propaganda can control and manipulate the public. Squealer spreads misinformation, which highlights the dangers of unchecked media and the power of rhetoric. This message in particular is resonant in today's society.
- Social inequality - As the pigs consolidate their power, the social hierarchy on the farm becomes more established. This is despite the pig's promise of equality, a reflection of the betrayal of the working class.
These are a few final tips to help you when in your GCSE English Literature exams:
- Understand the text - Revise the key themes, characters and events in Animal Farm to prepare for a range of possible questions.
- Use historical context - Relate Orwell's book to historical events, including the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism. This will strengthen your analysis and show a thorough understanding.
- Use evidence - Use quotations and examples from the novel to support your arguments. It will also show your knowledge of the material.
- Practice essay writing - Writing an essay isn't easy, especially under timed conditions. Practice how to structure your essay clearly to prepare for the exam.
If you are interested in developing your understanding of Animal Farm, follow the link for Britannica's biography of George Orwell. This explores his life and the influences behind his writing. You may also want to learn more about the Russian Revolution.
If you need further support, TeachTutti has a list of GCSE English Literature tutors who can help you to understand Animal Farm and other topics on the curriculum.
