Animal Farm

Old Major, the prize boar, gathers all the animals of Manor Farm to share his vision of a world free from human tyranny. He teaches them the song 'Beasts of England.' He dies three days later.

Jones neglects to feed the animals. They break into the grain store and drive Jones and his men off the farm. The pigs take charge and paint the Seven Commandments on the barn wall. The milk disappears.

The animals complete the harvest — better than under Jones. The pigs manage and direct but do not do physical labor. Napoleon takes the puppies. Boxer's two mottos are established. Squealer justifies the pigs keeping the milk and apples.

News of the rebellion spreads to neighboring farms. Jones and neighboring farmers attack Animal Farm. The animals repel them in the Battle of the Cowshed. Snowball leads the defense heroically. A sheep is killed — the first casualty.

Snowball designs a windmill to provide electricity; Napoleon opposes it. At the decisive meeting, Napoleon summons the trained dogs, who chase Snowball off the farm permanently. Squealer explains that Napoleon was always for the windmill.

The animals build the windmill under harsh conditions. Napoleon trades with humans — breaking a founding principle. The pigs move into the farmhouse. The windmill collapses in a storm. Napoleon blames Snowball.

The winter is brutal; food is scarce. Napoleon deceives neighboring farmers about food supplies. He summons the animals, and several confess to crimes on Snowball's orders. The dogs kill them on the spot. 'Beasts of England' is banned. The animals are confused and grief-stricken.

Napoleon's cult of personality grows. He sells timber to Frederick, who pays with forged banknotes. Frederick attacks Animal Farm with explosives, destroying the windmill. The pigs discover alcohol. The Sixth Commandment is amended.

Boxer's lungs begin to fail. Napoleon sells Boxer to the horse slaughterer. The animals try to stop the van. Squealer claims Boxer died peacefully in hospital. The pigs buy whisky with the proceeds.

Years pass; most original animals are dead. All Commandments have been replaced with one: 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.' The pigs walk on two legs. Carry whips. Neighboring farmers visit for a banquet. Animal Farm is renamed Manor Farm. The other animals cannot tell pigs from men.