"Animal Farm": presentation of the book + resume of the first 10 chapters, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica "Animal Farm": presentation of the book + resume of the first 10 chapters e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! “The Animal Farm” Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Ultimately, however, the rebellion is betrayed, and the farm ends up in a state as bad as it was before under the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon. According to Orwell, the fable reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Orwell, a democratic socialist, was a critic of Joseph Stalin and hostile to Moscow-directed Stalinism, an attitude that was critically shaped by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. The Soviet Union had become a brutal dictatorship built upon a cult of personality and enforced by a reign of terror. In a letter to Yvonne Davet, Orwell described Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin, and this was the first book in which he tried “to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole”. The original title was “A Fairy Story” (but the U.S publishers dropped the subtitle when it was published in 1946, and only one of the translations during Orwell's lifetime kept it.), other titular variations included subtitles like “A Satire” and “A Contemporary Satire”. Orwell wrote the book between November 1943 and February 1944, when the United Kingdom was in its wartime alliance with the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany, and the British intelligentsia held Stalin in high esteem, a phenomenon Orwell hated. The manuscript was initially rejected by a number of British and American publishers. lt became a great commercial success when it did appear partly because international relations were transformed as the wartime alliance gave way to the Cold War. CHAPTER I: Hen-houses (pollai)- pop holes (buche)- to lurch (oltrepassare/ nascondersi)- stirring (agitazione)- barn (fienile/stalla)- esconce (nascondersi/rifugiarsi)- beam/ rafter (trave)- scout (corpulento)- tushes (unghie di maiali)- pigeons (piccioni)- cud (rumina)- hoofs (zoccoli di cavallo)- foul (puledro)- steadiness (fermezza)- seldom (raramente)- paddock (recinto)- orchard (orto)- to Minch (masticare)- daintily (delicatamente)- to slaughter (macellare)- to dwell (abitare)- plough (aratro)- sturdy calves (robusti vitelli)-- knacker (macellaio di cavalli vecchi)- astray (smarrito)- hoarse (rauca)- to low (suono mucca)- to whine (suono cane)- to bleate (suono pecora)- to whinny (suono cavallo)- to quack (verso anatra). Summary: After Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor Farm, falls asleep drunk, all of his animals meet in the big barn at the request of old Major, a 12- year-old pig. Major delivers a rousing political speech about the evils inflicted upon them by their human keepers and their need to rebel against the tyranny of Man. After elaborating on the various ways that Man has exploited the animals, Major mentions a strange dream of his in which he saw a vision of the earth without humans. He then teaches the animals a song — "Beasts of England" — which they sing repeatedly until they awaken Mrs. and Mr. Jones, who fires his gun from his bedroom window, thinking there is a fox in the yard. Frightened by the shot, the animals disperse and finally go to sleep. N.B Many of Orwell's characters are representing the human vices: Jones is represented as a drunken and careless ruler. Jones' name, which is a common one, suggests he's like the other humans. In addiction, in the first chapter presents Jones as more of an "animal" than the animals themselves, who reacts to any disruption of his comfort with the threat of violence, as indicated by his gunfire when he is awakened from his drunken dreams. The animals assembling in the barn are characterized in quick fashion: Major (pig) is old and wise, Clover (horse) is motherly and sympathetic, Boxer (horse) is strong and stupid, Benjamin (the oldest, donkey) is pessimistic and cynical, and Mollie (beautiful CHAPTER III: To toil (faticare)- drawback (svantaggio)- hind legs (zampe posteriori)- to think a way round (pensare a una soluzione)- wastage (spreco)- to dole out (distribuire) leisure (svago)- chaff- cockerels (galletti)- to hoist (sollevare/ alzare)- tablecloth (tovaglia)- blacksmithing (foggiatura/ lavoro di fabbro)- indefatigable (instancabile)- forelock (ciuffo)- welfare (penessere)- impeatchment (mettere in stato d'accusa) Summary: Despite the initial difficulties using farming tools designed for humans, the animals cooperate to finish the harvest, which in 2 days they had already finished. Boxer is admired by all the animals for all his muscles and determination in finishing all the hard work to do in the farm. The pigs become the supervisors and directors of the animal workers. On Sundays, the animals meet in the big barn to listen to Snowball and Napoleon debating a number of topics on which they seem never to agree. Snovwball forms a number of Animal Committees, all of which fail. However, he's successful at teaching how to read and to write to all the animals. To help the animals understand the general precepts of Animalism, Snowball reduces the Seven Commandments to a single slogan: "Four legs good, two legs bad." Napoleon, meanvwrhile, focuses his energy on educating the youth and takes the infant puppies of Jessie and Bluebell away from their mothers, presumably for educational purposes. The animals learn that the cows' milk and windfallen apples are mixed every day into the pigs' mash because of their healthy effects for them, as explain Squealer. CHAPTER IV: To mingle (mescolarsi/socializzare)- bargains (affari)- to scorn (disprezzare)- wickedness (cattiveria/ malvagità)- throughtout (durante)- din (frastuono)- calves (polpacci)- hobnailed boots (scarponi chiodati)- the ambush in the cowshed (l’imboscata nella stalla)- sorrowfully (tristemente)- grave (tomba)- hawthorn (biancospino) brass (ottone) Summary: As summer ends and news of the rebellion spreads to other farms (by way of pigeons released by Snowball and Napoleon), Jones spends most of his time in a pub, complaining about his troubles to two neighboring farmers:Pilkington and Jones; Frederick. In October, Jones and a group of men arrive at Animal Farm and attempt to seize control of it. Snowball turns out to be an extraordinary tactician and, with the help of the other animals, drives Jones and his men away. The animals then celebrate their victory in what they call "The Battle of the Cowshed.” CHAPTER V: Strolled (passeggiava)- to prance (saltellare)- in check breeches and gaiters (nei pantaloni e nelle ghette)- to stroke (accarezzare)- acreage (numero di acri)- barley (orzo)- roots (radici)- to canvass (per perlustrare/ sondare)- to graze (pascolare)- at your ease (a tuo agio)- bricklayer (muratore)- knuckles (nocche)- held aloof (tenersi in disparte)- to utter (pronunciare)- windmill (mulino a vento)- manger (mangiatoia)- restive (irrequieto)- firearms (armi da fuoco)- to bleat (belare, verso pecore)- to rear (allevare)- skull (teschio)- gruff (burbero)- to be prepared down to the last detail (preparato a tutto punto)- troublesome (difficile/ problematica)- hedge (siepe)- sly/ shrew (furbo in negativo) Summary: Winter comes, and Mollie works less and less. Eventually, Clover discovers that Mollie is being bribed of Animal Farm by one of Pilkington's men, who eventually wins her loyalties. Mollie disappears, and the pigeons report seeing her standing outside a pub, sporting one of the ribbons that she always coveted. The pigs increase their influence on the farm, deciding all questions of policy and then offering their decisions to the animals, who must ratify them by a majority vote. Snowball and Napoleon continue their fervent debates, the greatest of which occurs over the building of a windmill on a knoll. Snowball argues in favor of the windmill, which he is certain will eventually become a labor-saving device; Napoleon argues against it, saying that building the windmill will take time and effort away from the more important task of producing food. The two also disagree on whether they should (as Napoleon thinks) amass an armory of guns or (as Snowball thinks) send out more pigeons to neighboring farms to spread news of the rebellion. On the Sunday that the plan for the windmill is to be put to a vote, Napoleon calls out nine ferocious dogs, who chase Snowball off the farm. Napoleon then announces that all debates will stop and institutes a number of other new rules for the farm. Three weeks after Snowball's escape, Napoleon surprises everybody by announcing that the windmill will be built. He sends Squealer to the animals to explain that the windmill was really Napoleon's idea all along and that the plans for it were stolen from him by Snowball. Molly: is someone who betrays, she wants doing things without efforts. Sheeps: the comics of the story HERE THE ANIMALS IN THE FARM START TO CHANGE THE REALITY, THEY START TELLING LIES AND TO BE HYPNOTIZED BY ALL THE THINGS NAPOLEON TOLD THEM. CHAPTER VI: To sown (seminare)- boulder (macigno)- ropes (corde)- slope (pendio)- quarry (cava)- cartloads (carrettate)- to yoke (aggiogare)- toiling up the slope (faticare su per il pendio) Summary: During the following year, the animals work harder than ever before. Building the windmill is a laborious business, and Boxer proves himself a model of physical strength and dedication. Napoleon they were actually victorious in what will hereafter be called "The Battle of the Windmill." Some days later, the pigs discover a case of whisky in Jones! cellar. After drinking too much of it, Napoleon fears he is dying and decrees that the drinking of alcohol is punishable by death. Two days later, however, Napoleon feels better and orders the small paddock (which was to have been used as a retirement-home for old animals) to be ploughed and planted with barley. The chapter ends with Muriel rereading the Seven Commandments and noticing, for the first time, that the Fifth Commandment now reads, "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess." CHAPTER VIII: poultices (impacchi)- to urge (sollecitare)- grazing ground (pascolo)- lung ailment (malattia polmonare) Summary: After celebrating their so-called victory against Frederick, the animals begin building a new windmill. Their efforts are again led by Boxer who, despite his split hoof, insists on working harder and getting the windmill started before he retires. Food supplies continue to diminish, but Squealer explains that they actually have more food and better lives than they have ever known. The four sows litter 31 piglets; Napoleon, the father of all of them, orders a schoolroom to be built for their education. Meanwhile, more and more of the animals' rations are reduced while the pigs continue to grow fatter. Animal Farm is eventually proclaimed a Republic, and Napoleon is elected President. Once his hoof heals, Boxer works as hard as he can at building the windmill — until the day he collapses because of a lung ailment. After he is helped back to his stall, Squealer informs them that Napoleon has sent for the veterinarian at Willingdon to treat him. When the van arrives to take Boxer to the hospital, however, Benjamin reads its side and learns that Boxer is actually being taken to a knacker, or glue-boiler. Clover screams to Boxer to escape, but the old horse is too weak to kick his way out of the van, which drives away. Boxer is never seen again. To placate the animals, Squealer tells them that Boxer was not taken to a knacker but that the veterinarian had bought the knacker's truck and had not yet repainted the words on its side. The animals are relieved when they hear this. The chapter ends with a grocer's van delivering a crate of whisky to the pigs, who drink it all and do not arise until after noon the following day. CHAPTER X: Stout (robusto/ forte)- stiff in the joints (rigido nelle articolazioni)- rheumy eyes (occhi lucidi)- muzzle (muso/museruola)- dim tradition (fioca tradizione) threshing machine (trebbia, macchinario per produrre il mangime)- impérissable (indistruttibile/ immortale) Summary: Years pass, and Animal Farm undergoes its final changes. Muriel, Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher are all dead, and Jones dies in an inebriates' home (casa di ubriachi). Clover is now 14 years old (two years past the retiring age) but nobody in the Farm ever really retired. There are more animals on the farm, and the farm's frontiers have increased, thanks to the purchase of two of Pilkington's fields. The second windmill has been completed and is used for milling corn. All the animals continue their lives of hard work and little food — except, of course, for the pigs. One evening, Clover sees a shocking sight: Squealer walking on his hind legs. Other pigs follow, walking the same way, and Napoleon also get out from the farmhouse carrying a whip in his paw, in fact, the sheep began to bleat a new version of their slogan: "Four legs good, two legs better!" Clover also notices that the wall on which the Seven Commandments were written has been repainted: Now, the wall reads, "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL / BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS." Eventually, all the pigs begin carrying whips (frustini) and wearing Jones' clothes. > the animals are becoming the breedings and are treating the weaker animals in the same bad way Jones treat all his animals. In the novel's final scene, some of the neighbors farmers are given a tour of the farm, after which they meet in the dining-room of the farmhouse with Napoleon and the other pigs. Mr. Pilkington makes a toast to Animal Farm. Napoleon then offers a speech in which he outlines his new policies: The word "comrade" will be suppressed, there will be no more Sunday meetings, the skull of old Major has been buried, and the farm flag will be changed to a simple field of green. His greatest change in policy, is his announcement that Animal Farm will again be called Manor Farm. Soon after Napoleon's speech, the men and pigs begin playing cards, but a loud quarrel erupts when both Napoleon and Pilkington each try to play the ace of spades. As Clover and the other animals watch the arguments through the dining-room window, they are unable to discriminate between the humans and the pigs. Farm only owned by the pigs Manor: maniero (certain tipe of house/ country house)