Animal Farm by George Orwell (1944)

Name: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell

Animal Farm is a satirical novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. According to Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II. The story is set on a farm in England and tells of a group of animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Led by the pigs, the animals of the farm overthrow the humans and take over the farm for themselves. Initially, the rebellion is a success: the animals complete the harvest and meet every Sunday to debate farm policy. However, the pigs, who are the most intelligent animals on the farm, gradually manipulate the other animals and begin to take more power for themselves. The other animals soon realize that the pigs are exploiting them, but are unable to do anything about it. The story ends with the pigs in complete control of the farm and the other animals in a state of helplessness. The story serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of a totalitarian government and the power of propaganda.

By George Orwell · First published 1944 · Genre: Political Satire, Fable, Dystopian Fiction · 10 chapters · 30,259 words

First lines

[George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Blair) (1903-1950).]

Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring.

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Animal Farm is listed on Textopian as a novel by George Orwell, dated 1944 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: George Orwell
Date: 1944 CE
Language: English
Genres: Political Satire, Fable, Dystopian Fiction, Allegory, Social Criticism
Length: 30,259 words
Structure: 10 chapters, 886 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Political Satire — The novel is a satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism, reflecting events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.
Fable — The novel is written in the form of an animal fable, with the animals of Manor Farm as the protagonists and the humans as the antagonists.
Dystopian Fiction — The novel is set in a dystopian future in which the animals of Manor Farm, led by the pigs, overthrow their human owners and set up a society in which the animals are equal and free from human oppression.
Allegory — The novel is an allegory for the events of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism, with the characters representing different political figures and ideologies of the time.