I am hoping that each of you is beginning to grasp some of the satire that is present in this novel as well as how it is a fable. For this blog I want you to point out some of these realizations. This means writing about what type of satire you may see being used as well as what elements (characters, events, etc.) of the story might be satires of something else. At the end of your response I want you to include any questions that might be rolling around your mind as you read. Maybe you feel like something is being satirized but can't really put your finger on it, or maybe something has not made sense. I will take these questions up and discuss them next week in class.
The rubric is your friend.
One thing i noticed, is when Napoleon blames Snowball for the wrecking of the windmill, and is successful so far in making the animals believe this. Orwell has given Napoleon, the corrupt and dishonest pig, power now over all of the other animals. It seems to me that the newfound power napoleon has is going to go to his head and he could have the same mentality and Mr. Jones. "It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones."(pg. 68)
ReplyDeleteNow Napoleon has Squealer, who is a great orator and can persuade people to turn to his side, on his side and is using him for his benifit among the animals on the farm. I noticed that Squealer has started to bend the rules for his master. An example of this is when Clover notices that the pigs are sleeping in beds, which the previous 4th commandment said that was against the rules. But Squeaker changed it to "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets." So it is show that they will change the rules for the 'top dogs', but not for the benifit of the people. "A bed merely means a place to sleep in. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed..."
The only thing i have grapsed is the law they made about all animals are the same. Napoleon help make the law and now he is turning out to control and be higher than everyone else. He also scared away snowball which was a animal as well.
ReplyDeleteI dont have to many qestions but i have a really hard time understand all whats going on.(satire, and all the elments involed with it.
im am trying to look at the story we are reading in many differnt views as i can but i also need to rember what i read and it is very difficlut for me to.
The satire in this story seems to hover over everything from Stalin being portrayed as a pig to the religion of sugar candy mountain as told by Moses the raven. As for what kind of satire or exact places I am at a loss. I am reading this from a satiracle point of view as well as historical but not so much fable. I do see that those pesky little laws that were made in the begining, as I predicted, are coming back to show thier face. With the issue of the beds to the issue of the executions they are slowly being violated than changed. A lot of the stuff that is supposed to be satiracle I somehow interpret as ironic or predictable. how the animals react to Napoleans changes is one with a hope that this carrupt buisness will end soon and they live the peaceful care free life of a true animalist.
ReplyDeleteI do have some questions but at the same time I have more ideas or thoughts on the book about what is happening and what is to come. My questions are: how much time has passed since the revolution, do we have an estimate on how many animals there are on this farm cause I read about how all these animals are executed and for some reason I didn't picture that many animals, and what does the windmill symbolize. I would like to point out that snowball did destroy the windmill and this is proven when some of the animals that were executed crimes were helping Snowball destroy the windmill but don't think I'm defending Napolean merely pointing out a fact.
I find it ironic how Snowball is blamed for everything that went wrong.. It kind of irks me actually. Napoleon is basically taking all the credit for everything on the farm. It's sort of ironic that whenever Snowball had this brilliant plan of a windmill, Napoleon pees on it and walks away, because he finds it crazy. But once Napoleon has gotten rid of Snowball, he loves the idea of a windmill. Now that Snowball is gone, Napoleon (along with Squealer and the other pigs) have basically taken over the farm. It's ironic that they think that they can simply add a phrase to one of the commandments and the animals will not notice. Well, Clover notices. Even though she isn't the best reader, she notices that there is a phrase added to the 4th commandment, which is "No animal shall sleep in a bed." Well, Squealer has added "with sheets" to it so they can sleep in the farmhouse and be all comfortable. I think that's stupid. He says "A bed merely means a place to sleep in. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed..." and I agree, but sleeping in the farmhouse shouldn't be allowed.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to how this story will end. I don't know much about history so I can't predict what will happen based on the Revolution. Which isn't so bad, because it will be somewhat of a surprise. I like reading it as a fable, although it's kind of too violent to be a fable. I'm still wondering who some people (or animals) are and how their character is going to affect the story. It's hard for me to predict. I'm also confused as to who certain animals are. There are some animals that have been introduced, then they aren't mentioned for awhile, and then they will randomly be mentioned. That kind of thing bugs me in books. I like to know about all characters at all times.
First I will discuss how this story is a fable. Obviously animals can not do all the things that the animals in "Animal Farm" do. Even if somebody does not totally understand the true meaning of this story it would still appeal to them because of how the story is a fable.
ReplyDeleteNow for the satirical parts of this story. I see some situational irony in this story. For instance when the animals start to question the pigs about how they are breaking one of the laws by sleeping in beds, then when they go to read the law and it has changed. This surprised me, I wasnt expecting Napolean to change the laws. I know there is a lot of satire that I am missing, and sometimes I have a hard time recognizing it.
Part 1:
ReplyDeleteIn all of my years, among all of the things I have read, I have never seen a more blatant work of satire. I have not seen anything more obviously critical of…well, people in general. Am I saying that Orwell is a bad writer? Of course not! I think this man is brilliant! I have never seen a satire as successful as this one! From the beginning, knowing the background, it's obvious that the animals symbolize real figures, and that makes us realize that basically, Orwell is just presenting his opinion…in an amazing form. From the get-go, we begin relating to the animals—without even realizing it. Before we know it, we are the animals, oppressed by the horrible upper class. What do we want when we are oppressed? Freedom! We want to control our own lives, make the choices that the horrible leaders before us did not, and care for each other in a perfect society!
Do we accomplish that utopian goal? Unfortunately, as Orwell portrays through animals, human nature will always get in the way of true perfection. The same problem comes up in all attempts at reforming the government: a central leader. After chasing Snowball out of the farm, Napoleon takes over, and the mentality that he has somehow set is summed up by the tragically dedicated Boxer: "'If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right.'" (Page 70) The other animals are too foolish to know that a single being being right all of the time is impossible, so they follow Napoleon. (The dogs helped, too.) The other animals tire fruitlessly for Napoleon, who soon only considers them expendable tools. While building the windmill "the animals worked like slaves." (Page 73) Slaves. Whether from fear of the dogs, loyalty, or sheer stupidity, the animals were willing to be enslaved LIKE BARN ANIMALS while Napoleon lounged about in the farmer's house. And yet, when the animals did think enough to question it, there was Squealer to tell them why so and so was justified and why Napoleon was right. Squealer actually tells the animals, "No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions…" (69) That's why we have leaders, isn't it? To make all of our decisions for us, so that we can't mess up their plans with our silly free thinking. That's what true leadership is at its core, isn't it? After all, Napoleon could never make the wrong decision. He's Napoleon. Napoleon is always right.
Part 2:
ReplyDeleteAll of these characters have their individual flaws, and for a while we can get caught up in the story and think of the characters as only characters. Then we remember Orwell's reason for writing this book: satire. This book relates back to each of us in one way or another, whether we like it or not. The big question of the book is this: who are we? Are we Napoleon, taking advantage of the innocent and bending their trust to our own will, disposing of them when they are no longer needed? Are we Snowball, working with all we have, only to be disposed of and left for nothing, all of our work unappreciated, and left with nothing and nobody to rely on? Are we (possibly worst of all) Jones, taking people for granted and not appreciating them like we should, and then have them, who we helped when they really needed us, betray us, leaving us alone in the world with no respect from either them or their enemies? Or are we Squealer, bending like spineless drones to the will of whoever is in power at the moment, willing to lie to the innocent to get slightly better than they have? Are we Mollie, unaware of what is going on around us, and then leaving when we don't feel like working anymore? Or are we a faceless, nameless animal? Are we one of the stupid, naïve, trusting fools that are so easily and fickly won over by pretty words and a growling dog, and aren't even able to stand up against obvious wrongdoings, even when we are able to recognize them? Are we the stupid, but good-hearted horse who gives his all and receives unjust desserts for it? Are we the cat, never giving our all and expecting everything to fall in our laps? Are we the cynical donkey, never able to enjoy life because things go wrong sometimes? Are we even in this story?
We are. Most of us are the stupid animals. But at least being a stupid animal is better than a horrible murdering dictator, you might say. Is it really? In this book, it might not be. If you examine them, there is not any one character that I could take pride in saying that I am, because I am a good person who benefited from doing the right thing. This book sends a message, and I believe it boils down to this: "It's every man for himself. If you don't take the low road, and choose to value virtue over power, you will get trampled." This book is a giant lose-lose-lose situation. Nobody can win from this, not in the long run. So what do we do? How can we succeed in life without being a complete scumbag? That's exactly what makes this a satire! In this world where everyone loses, change is needed. And that's just what Orwell wanted from the real world: change. This society of ours is no good, in his eyes, and the only way to save ourselves and each other is to change it. Orwell's use of sarcasm, and more evidently, irony, contributes to the desire for change, a component of satire. If we want to live our lives in paranoia, we're pretty much alright. Orwell, however (and myself, personally), doesn't seem to like that choice very much.
--Kelsey
The main satire I see in this story is irony. More specifically, situational irony is prominent. At the beginning of the story, after Old Major dies, Snowball and Napoleon take up Old Major's idea of Animalism. The last commandment of the Seven Commandments that the pigs make states that, "All animals are equal." This sounds like a good concept, and if put into practice would turn out well. There is a problem though: the concept is being twisted by the pigs.
ReplyDeleteThe brilliant concept of Animalism STARTS OUT well, but progressively worsens. The first small problem is discovered when the pigs take the milk and the windfall apples, but Squealer justifies this saying, "It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples," because they need these for "brain food." This doesn't seem to fair to the animals, but Squealer uses his slyness and changes their opinions. The situation just becomes worse and worse until even after Snowball gets chased away. At the last point of chapter 6, Napoleon doesn't even try to hide his dictatorship, it is way out in the open.
I really only have one question/opinion. I'm pretty sure that the storm knocked over the windmill, or some branch that broke fell on it, but Reilly seems to disagree. I'm almost completely sure that Napoleon just said that Snowball did it so that the animals would have somebody to blame and would start working again with the incentive of a bushel of apples. Can this be clarified for me, por favor?
Daniel Austin
Too add, there are a couple of reasons why this story is a fable. One, the existence of talking animals. That is a surefire example of a fable. Two, not only are the animals talking, but they are organizing, keeping a farm, and rebelling against humans.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing i have grapsed is the law they made about all animals are the same. Napoleon help make the law and now he is turning out to control and be higher than everyone else. He also scared away snowball which was a animal as well.
ReplyDeleteI dont have to many qestions but i have a really hard time understand all whats going on.(satire, and all the elments involed with it.
im am trying to look at the story we are reading in many differnt views as i can but i also need to rember what i read and it is very difficlut for me to.
Also Nepoenon is lieing to all the animlas just to keep his power. He is saying that all the bad things that are happening is because snowball keeps coming back and doing it. He wants them to hate snowball and listen to whatever he says. He also is just in love with power he isnt treating everyone eqaul he is in control with the 9 dogs he took and useing them to his advagage. "But suddenly the dogs sitting round Naplloeon let out a deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again." (pg69) He does whatever he can to have power which was not in the law they made. He is slowing changeing it and noone is really noticeing.
George Orwell has written Animal Farm as a fable and even though he could have gotten his point across in many different ways, he chose this one which is very unique and I enjoy reading something that is a little different from all the other stories written about the Russian Revolution. A fable is usually a short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans. A fable can also be known as a story about legendary persons and exploits but some people refer to a fable as a falsehood or a lie. While this story is obviously not fictional it does follow that of the true happenings of the Russian Revolution which is a real event in history.
ReplyDeleteIn this story entitled Animal Farm the author, George Orwell uses an abundant amount of satire. He uses satire throughout the entire story. In the very first chapter Orwell uses juxtaposition which is represented in this quote, "Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, and he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.” He also includes all the different kinds of irony including verbal, situational, and dramatic. The character Benjamin, the donkey, is filled with sarcasm which is another type of satire. An example of this is every time anybody mentions him he says, "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey…" which is complete sarcasm. He also uses puns, oxymoron, and hyperbole.
Throughout the entire story of Animal Farm there is one thing that is repeated many of times, "Four legs good, two legs bad." This is completely ironic and leaves me wondering what if that is really how animals feel. What if like us at times they feel as mistreated as we as humans do when obviously they do not get as much as we do or have as many privileges as we do. Those are just a few questions that have crossed my mind threw out this story.
Beth Cummings
Most of what I have understood from this story is that Napolean and Snowball are the leaders. While Snowball takes the blame for everything. Napolean is taking all the credit for the things that are good at the farm. This story is a fable because of the animals can, talk, work, ect… In real life of course animals cannot do any of those things. I understand that there is tons of satire in this story but what I don’t understand is what kind of satire.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Blake on this one, that I don’t really understand much of this book, most likely from not being here so much. But as satire goes it is kind of difficult to understand. Also the paper that you gave me today, I don’t quite understand who is who. I cannot explain how I do not understand this paper but I don’t, and would dearly love your help tomorrow morning or sometime. Please and thank you.
-Taylor Kilborn
I have thoroughly enjoyed this story thus far. The fable side of this story is apparent and I like how it is set up. I like that it is a traditional styled storied. This is a typical fable. Though it is most definitely a fable, its underlying meanings are not exactly hard to understand, and Orwell does a good job at letting these meanings shine through, while not altering or butchering the qualities of a good animal fable. In short, Rebellion against man=The Russian Revolution. The Russian serfs were tired of being treated as slaves, as were the animals on Manor Farm. It’s important to understand the intentions of both parties were good, but they somehow morphed along the way. The course that “Animal Farm” was taking was altered when the puppies of Napoleon were sent out upon Snowball. The puppies were the KGB and quite honestly I found this predicament quite hilarious for some strange, twisted reason. This was an event that is one of many satirical things in this play. For instance, Animalism represents the belief in Karl Marx’s true Communist party. But Stalin changes and morphs into a power hungry dictator, AS Napoleon changes his beliefs form true animalism. Trotsky was a true communist, and Snowball was a true Animalist.
ReplyDeleteThe characters are the most blatant form of satire in this entire story. EVERY SINGLE character in “Animal Farm” represents a figure or body of people during the Russian Revolution. For starters, Karl Marx, who invented communism but died before the Russian Revolution, is represented by Old Major the creator and founder of animalism. Napoleon is Stalin and Snowball is Trotsky. We see how Napoleon becomes someone different, in the same way Stalin changed. Boxer represents Russia as a whole. These people believed Stalin and were tricked by him, but they were devoted followers. Boxer works hard and believes Napoleon 100%. Mollie is the few Russian people who were better off before the rebellion. These people moved out of the country eventually. Benjamin represents the people who saw through Stalin’s flaws and basically kept their mouths shut throughout the rule of Stalin.
I do have a few things I would like to discuss in class and they go as follows:
1. What do you think will become of Snowball? (this is a good question to discuss)
2. Why do the animals continue to put their belief and hope into Napoleon?
3. Is Squealer shutting people’s eyes to the truth?
Clint Bruton.
forever and ever
Amen
I find it pretty ironic that all the animals basically bandwagon Napolean and the windmill. Snowball had the idea of it and Napoleon just went and "pied on it". After Snowball leaves the farm Napolean takes all the credit for the windmill and everybody loves it.
ReplyDeleteNapolean and the other pigs even have the guts to create a new commandment and the other animals are too dumb to realize this. The new commandment is No animal shall sleep in a bed." Knowing Squealer and how annoying he is he has to add "with sheets".
The questions i have are..
1. What will happen with Snowball?
2. Will the animals still be on Napolean's Side?
-Shea
im sorry i cant find ur email..
ReplyDeletecarlee
George Orwell has done a great job in writing Animal Farm. Alot that comes back to me is the Irony of this story. " Every human being held iit as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later, and above all, that the windmill would be a failure." In reality the Animal Farm is not doing great they are trying to make their food last. Also the other farmers arent doing so good on their farms either.
ReplyDeleteThis book is very intresting, you never know which way its going to go. Napoleon and Snowball arent in this together anymore and Snowball is getting blamed for tearing down the windmill when there was a really huge storm. I think that its really napoleon and he wants to get rid of snowball for good. "Comrades, here and now I pronounce the death of Snowball."
I really have alot of questions, but they are usually answered when i read more.
carlee