Challenge Corner discussion

As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals, and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As we witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, we begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization; and in our most charismatic leaders, the souls of our cruelest oppressors.

Excited to pick up this book and read it again. I am quite sure it will have more to offer now than when I was in highschool lol

I'm excited too! I never read it in high school, so it will be the first time for me :)

Just started today, on chapter 2. It is bringing back the memories of my first time reading it. I did find it a little confusing as all the characters are introduced quickly at once.

Chapters I-II
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What a silly premise! Using animals to represent communists seems pretty insulting. I guess I will see how the animals do in the end before judging, though.

@Erica, yeah, all the characters were hard to keep track of! I kept flipping back to check which animal each one was.
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Chapters III-IV
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Well I was not expecting the animals to be able to do a harvest successfully! I still don't really understand how they did it.
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Chapters 3-4

(view spoiler)[I know right! I am hoping something exciting happens in the next few chapters as I forget from school lol I almost feel like in addition to the theme of communism it is also a fantasy novel. Im making an assumption here but it is almost like Orwell is trying to not only show communism but also demonstrate that there are many different rankings, abilities etc. in everyday life no matter what the circumstance. Get ride of one boss you dislike and another is sure to follow. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, it does kind of feel like fantasy with the talking animals!

Chapters V-VI
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I don't really understand why it was so important that the animals not sleep in beds or use money. Although clearly the pigs are keeping all the best things for themselves!
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(view spoiler)[it really reminds me of politicians lol First they are against what their opponent wants to do (windmill), then they convince the followers that opponent (Snowball) is a traitor and chase him off. Once in power they do what they always wanted and make it their idea. Then brainwashing the others to gain what they want, no animal shall sleep in a bed 'with sheets'. Ugh it makes me angry lol and poor Boxer is such a workhorse and gullible to the promises said to him. (hide spoiler)]

We are reading at the same pace it seems lol

Chapters VII-VIII
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It doesn’t look good for Animal Farm! It seems like if the humans care enough, they can come and kill the animals any time they feel like it. Or just destroy their windmill.

I feel like the metaphor is getting a little old. At least the book is almost over!
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(view spoiler)[ i feel the same. This is probably why I dont remember finishing the book in school. Also it really irritates me that now they have allowed killing of animals and makes all the followers think they just didnt remember the rules. (hide spoiler)]

@Erica (view spoiler)[Yeah, all the changes to the rules are ridiculous! The animals are so gullible, I don’t know why they don’t trust their own memories more. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9-10
(view spoiler)[ Sad to read what happened with Boxer, he was my favorite character. Can I also add the ending sucked! I was really hoping something, some payback, would happen to the pigs for being such dirty players in the rise of power. Maybe all along none of them were truly animals but written as such to demonstrate one type of ruling vs another in an easier way. There is no way that animals could do the things stated in this book. At least it wasnt a 500 page book to struggle though lol (hide spoiler)]

Chapters IX-X
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Omg, the part about Boxer was so sad! I liked him too. I wish he wouldn’t have done everything the stupid pigs said.

I actually thought the ending was kind of cool, the way the pigs became more and more like men until you couldn’t tell the difference. And the farm reverted exactly to its original state, even the name. But yeah, it was in no way realistic! Pigs can’t just walk on two legs because they decide they want to, it makes no sense.
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Appendices
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Those were interesting! I didn't realize Snowball and Napoleon actually represented two specific people. That makes more sense.
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(view spoiler)[ i knew prior to reading there was some type of correlation to history, but still dont understand why it had to be written in such a silly manor using animals. I think because I do not care for the fantasy part it really makes it hard for me to enjoy. Oh well on to the next lol (hide spoiler)]

I read this in high school but am going to re-read starting today since I will probably view the book a little different then I did 10 years ago :)

Chapter 7-10:(view spoiler)[ “Four legs good, two legs better” the darn sheep…. Smh. "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL / BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS." This line….I don’t know what to even say about this one honestly. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[So I really never understood how good of a book this was when I read it in High School. The depth of George Orwell and the thought that went into this book is seriously amazing. The characters and the parallels that Orwell creates is amazing. I love that he took regular farm animals and was able to describe humans/government so well. I mean how well does Napoleon really represent Stalin. I daresay this is one of the best novels written, not only with how well it is written but also how well it depicts people in history and times in history. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters I-II
(view spoiler)[You can already see how the pigs are kind of taking the place of the Mr. Jones and his men. They are making rules and ordering the other animals around. It is also implied that they drank the cows' milk. (hide spoiler)]

@Marissa
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Interesting, I did not figure out so early that the pigs took the milk! I figured some animal had stolen it, but I didn't have a theory for which one. Agreed that the pigs were acting like jerks from the beginning!
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Marissa wrote: "Chapters I-II
[spoilers removed]"

I had assumed that is what happened. All the animals went to the field except the pig, Napoleon, who said, "I shall follow in a few minutes," and then the milk mysteriously disappears. I honestly don't trust any of the pigs.

Chapters III-IV
(view spoiler)[The other animals will notice soon that the pigs are being unfair. All the pigs do is take the best food and order the other animals around to keep the farm running. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters V-VI
(view spoiler)[There is finally some division amongst the animals in the farm. Napoleon has taken over, and has a more dictatorial role in overseeing the farm’s operations. I can imagine that there will be unrest in the near future. This type of rule usually ends in a rebellion of some sort. However, Napoleon has a bit more time now that the windmill got destroyed and the animals have a common "enemy." I put that in quotations because I'm not sure if Snowball was actually the one who blew up the windmill. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters VII-VIII
(view spoiler)[I don’t like Napoleon, but Fredrick’s actions were uncalled for. He didn’t need to cheat the animals by giving them fake bank notes for the timber, attacking the farm, and blowing up their windmill. I have a feeling conditions are going to get even worse on Animal Farm now that their windmill was destroyed yet again. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters IX-X
(view spoiler)[Although the plot is a bit silly with all the talking animals and bipedal pigs, I actually enjoyed Animal Farm. I liked how the end reflected the beginning, but just with the pigs in charge instead of the humans. The pigs even acted like humans walking on two legs and drinking alcohol and living in houses. Also, I liked how the farm went from being named Manor Farm to Animal Farm back to Manor Farm to show that not much changed after all. (hide spoiler)]

Erica wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

That is so true! I think that's why I love this book so much. It really shows what happens when power corrupts!!

Marissa wrote: "Chapters V-VI
[spoilers removed]"

Yes this is when something really starts to happen. (view spoiler)[Squealer is really like the PR guy for Napoleon. And now the pigs are sleeping in the bed. But they changed the 4th commandment to say "animals shall never sleep in beds with sheets I find that hilarious!! (hide spoiler)]

I read this book again and I still love it. Each time I read or listen to this story I get more from each character. It's just so shattering how history repeats itself in this little allegory.

I've read this book so many times and I love it more each time I read it. Poor Snowball being accused of so many crimes, when he was really the only good pig of the lot. And Squeeler, what a scoundrel. I love poor old devoted Boxer the horse, and his ending was really tragic. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend you do!!

Cristina wrote: "Chapter IX:


(view spoiler)[Boxer's death was so heart-breaking to me. The whole scene where he is taken away is so full of desperation, I can't even... " (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[that was one of the most heartbreaking scenes for me too. After everything Boxer did for all the animals and he gets treated so unfairly... (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 5TH, 2020

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Oops, I'm late. @Devika, you there?? I'll be starting 5-6 chapters today, as I might not be available tomorrow :)

Aarja wrote: "Oops, I'm late. @Devika, you there?? I'll be starting 5-6 chapters today, as I might not be available tomorrow :)"

Yes, I'm here. I haven't started reading it too. So I'll finish reading 5-6 chapters by tomorrow and maybe read the rest day after tomorrow. We have our buddy-read of 1984 day after tomorrow! Maybe we'll have to postpone it and read it after Animal Farm is over.

Devika wrote: "Aarja wrote: "Oops, I'm late. @Devika, you there?? I'll be starting 5-6 chapters today, as I might not be available tomorrow :)"

Yes, I'm here. I haven't started reading it too. So I'll finish rea..."

Hmm. Maybe we can finish it by today, if you like??

Aarja wrote: "Devika wrote: "Aarja wrote: "Oops, I'm late. @Devika, you there?? I'll be starting 5-6 chapters today, as I might not be available tomorrow :)"

Yes, I'm here. I haven't started reading it too. So ..."
I don't know if I can do it. Maybe you can finish it today. And if I cannot finish it today, I'll finish it tomorrow. Is that okay? You can read as much as you want. I'll just catch up by tomorrow.

Devika wrote: "Aarja wrote: "Devika wrote: "Aarja wrote: "Oops, I'm late. @Devika, you there?? I'll be starting 5-6 chapters today, as I might not be available tomorrow :)"

Yes, I'm here. I haven't started readi..."

It's okay, you can finish it tomorrow. I can still discuss it w/ you :)

Thoughts before reading(no spoilers, I think;just wrote like this to save space)(view spoiler)[The first time I read this, I was 12(almost 13). When I read it, I didn't think of it that much or anything. I just read. I didn't know it was an allegory at all. I thought of it as a normal classic about animals having a rebellion. Turns out, you had to know some things before reading it.
I watched this video and I found out a lot more about this book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIZ8i...
Did you know that George Orwell was born in India?
He is said to have cared for poor people, criminals etc. But when his father and the britishers were doing cruel things to India, where was he? Did he even care for the country in which he was born? NO! He must have thought that London, Paris, Russia etc were fancier. This really makes me hate him more.
Okay, so this book is related to Russia or something. Since we studied about the Russian Revolution this year in school, I might have a better understanding of the novella. I'm planning on looking up what each thing or person represented after I finish reading it. Right now, let me just enjoy the fairy story(That was originally part of the title; like, Animal Farm: A Fairy Story) I don't even know why I'm going into everything in great detail if its just a fairytale.
You should definitely check this out after you finish reading. It may contain spoilers, ok it does.
https://www.bustle.com/articles/35123...
I know that almost no one writes down their thoughts before reading, but I just decided to add it before rereading it. Who knows? Maybe I'll even add it in all my buddy-reads. That is a warning for you.
I've actually read 8%, but then I realized that I needed some background knowledge, so now I'm just gonna start over again.
I know that I should have waited more before rereading it, but anyway, here we are (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[
A lot of names have been introduced in the first 2-3 pages itself. Sadly, I cannot memorize all of the. I would definitely have to look back again and again just to understand the whole book.

I feel really bad for the hens, the cows and the horse. Why does Old Major have to remind them of the bad things that happened to them? I get it that it is for motivation for rebellion but telling Clover about her 4 lost children wasn't the best thing he could have done. Maybe because it is a fictional story, animals don't feel the same way as humans.

40 children for Old Major in 12 years?!?!

And why is he going for the young pigs now? Let them live their lives with peace. I mean let them enjoy it while they can without thinking of them being chopped up and eaten.

I'm so glad that many of the cruelties are not done now in 2020. Maybe it might completely come to an end in 2030, so I hope.

The thoughts I'm having now are all spoilery, I wish I'd never read it the first time. Anyway, there will be a lot for me to say at the end.

It is fantasy, right? The book I mean? So lyrics of songs can come in dreams and animals can talk and sing.

Old Major: We can be rich and free
The same Old Major a few moments later: Animals should never touch money
It is so surprising how everytime I think of richness, it is money that comes to my mind. Glad Old Major is sensible. The riches they're referring to are probably the children, the eggs, milk and the long lives they get to live.

I was wondering about whether Mr. Jones would wake up now that he was drunk. I have forgotten a lot more things than I thought I would. This reread is definitely worth it!

Why didn't anyone else in all these years of the farm never once think about the idea of them being free? Old Major is so nice, sensible and one of the best examples of revolutionaries. Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe Old Major was lying about his dream and stuff just to make a juicy story. It might have been his ultimate plan. But why he didn't start earlier, I don't know. Maybe the dream was actually real.

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LOL I know that you won't read all this Aarja, but its still here for all those who want to read about what was going on in my mind while reading this book.

Oh. I commented, but it got deleted (gr and bugs, y'know).
I'll let you know in some time, I'm in class rn.
Also, I'm on 40% :)

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[
The rebellion was so much easier than everyone imagined! That is all it takes for animals to flee humans. I wonder if anything like this will happen in the near future in some farm. Not the talking part, but the part where animals drive humans away.
The humans living now are probably thinking that animals don't have the power to do it, but I know they can.
I can't wait for something like that to happen in real-life!

Did they forget to add the 'Don't touch money' point in the seven commandments? Old Major had specifically told them that.

Is it actually possible? Like learning how to read and write on their own? How would they know what each letter's sound is? It seems impossible to me. I always thought that someone was needed to help.

Napoleon probably drank the milk by himself. He is sus from the very start.
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Chapter 3(view spoiler)[
I hate the pigs! Why do they have to lead? Isn't there anyone who stands against this? Don't the pigs remember the seven commandments that they created? All animals are equal! Just standing there doing nothing while others are sweating is not equality! The pigs are turning into humans! Can't anyone see that? The donkey is wise, right? Why hasn't he done something? The donkey is probably dead or is unresponsive as always.
Of course, I'm taking it the literal way. Aarja, do you look for the inner meaning or are you reading it simply like I'm doing now?
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(view spoiler)[Yes I do. They are described so much as clever, and they use their ‘cleverness’ to turn into humans, and manipulate the other animals by telling them that Jones will come back, but they are even worse than him! They are even taking extra ration like milk and apples, but they are not even working! They tell the animals that they need it as they are playing a big role in the farming, but they’re just manipulating the others. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5(view spoiler)[
Seriously? That is not fair!
Driving Snowball away, always saying that Jones will come back if Napoleon was not there and then finally stealing Snowball's ideas!
I know Aarja, everything is just so not fair and it's making me angry. But it is only gonna get more unfair from now. Too bad that all animals are not intelligent enough. If Boxer understands what is right and what is not, I believe that Napoleon's reign would be over. Surely Boxer would be able to defeat the dogs?
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(view spoiler)[It's getting on my nerves too. Oh man, how I hate Napoleon! Snowball is no less, though.
To be honest this is the real politics; push someone away, while opposing their ideas, and then support (or should I say, plagiarize) their idea saying that it's their own. Dirty games, they are. (hide spoiler)]
Also, thanks so much for the link of the video. It really helped me :)

Devika? Did you finish it? Sorry I wasn't able to read the last 2 days. I finished it today. Here are my final thoughts:
Chapter 1-2: (view spoiler)[This really made me pity the animals. But the rebellion happened so fast! Then what's the point of the other 8 chapters?! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[Oh, I see. And now Snowball is gone. I hate the pigs other than him. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[I am predicting it's only going to get worse.. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[I CAN TOTALLY SEE IT. That was so interesting!! I can't wait to move on to 1984. (hide spoiler)]

Lemme know when you finish it and we will start 1984 :)

Finished!(view spoiler)[ Now that I'm thinking about the book from the politics point of view, it is so relatable!
Thank you so much for giving me a completely different POV. Till now, I had thought of the story as something that happened before-over and done with. But yeah, this does happen now- at least some aspects of it.

The story was getting scary at the end. Everything was getting worse and worse.
And I can't believe the pigs actually murdered(indirectly) many animals!
We still didn't get to know where Snowball went!
The animals that confessed were doing so because he pigs had asked them to, right? I think it's like that, because how could Snowball do all of that at night? And I don't think Snowball will ever do that!

I don't know if you'll ever read this, but if you do Aarja, know that I'm forever grateful to you for, well, everything!
I'm so sorry I wasn't that focused on this BR. From our next BR onwards, I'll stick to the page count and update you.
Please do forgive me Aarja...

I can only say one thing about the book- it made me super-angry.
In my first updates in this thread, I was blaming the animals for being stupid and believing Napoleon. But now, I'm wondering, we're those exact animals in the world run by pigs. So I was blaming myself all along...
(Hope you understood what I meant in the last line. If I have gotten something wrong, please do let me know)
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