Animal Farm summary

Chapter 1
One evening at the Manor Farm, Old Major gathers the farm animals to impart his wisdom about
the oppression by humans, as well as his dream for animals to one day overthrow the humans.
He goes on to tell them of the various human vices they must avoid, teaches them a song called
“Beasts of England,” and tells them who is considered a comrade and who isn’t. Mr. Jones, the
overseer of the barn, shoots into the side of the barn, propelling the animals to sleep.

Chapter 2
With the help of the cart-horses, Boxer and Clover, the pigs succeed in rallying the rest of the
farm animals and follow through with their rebellion, ultimately eliminating all signs of Mr.
Jones. Snowball renames the farm “Animal Farm,” and with the help of Napoleon they paint the
seven commandments of Animalism on the barn. When the animals return from their harvest, the
milk that the pigs had earlier taken from the cows has disappeared.

Chapter 3
The animals achieve a bountiful harvest, hold meetings to discuss the communal good, and
create committees. Though the animals become somewhat literate, Snowball reduces the seven
commandments to one maxim: “four legs good, two legs bad.” Tensions begin to rise after
Napoleon takes Jessie and Bluebell’s puppies to care after himself, and when the animals
discover that the pigs have been taking all the milk and apples.

Chapter 4
Mr. Jones, along with men from neighboring farms, marches on Animal Farm. Snowball uses his
knowledge of the Roman general Julius Caesar to lead the animals to victory against the humans.
The animals retrieve Mr. Jones’s gun, agreeing to fire on the anniversary of their victory and on
the anniversary of the Rebellion.

Chapter 5
Snowball proposes a plan to build a windmill but is met with opposition by Napoleon who
argues that it will require too much work. When the animals next meet to discuss Snowball’s
plan to build the windmill, Snowball is attacked and chased off the farm by nine dogs
commanded by Napoleon. The animals accept Squealer’s claim that Snowball was a traitor and
that Napoleon is the best animal suited to lead them. Squealer also reveals that Napoleon thought
that building a windmill was a good idea, but he needed to oust Snowball.
Chapter 6
Under Napoleon and the pigs’ leadership, the animals work strenuously to build the windmill.
The animals slowly begin questioning the pigs and their decisions, in particular why they have
decided to work with a human and why they sleep on beds. Squealer quells their worries by
asserting that the commandments were misread and that there is nothing in them that forbids
them from trading with humans and using money to buy the items necessary to complete the
windmill. He also asserts that the pigs need to sleep comfortably to think well. After a storm hits
the farm and knocks down the windmill, Napoleon puts out a death sentence on Snowball, whom
he claims sabotaged their hard work.

Chapter 7
The animals struggle to rebuild the windmill during the bitter winter and Napoleon shocks them
when he decides to sell eggs to the farmers, an act that clearly goes against Old Major’s
teachings. The chickens refuse to give their eggs to Napoleon and begin to die as their rations are
taken away. Napoleon holds a meeting forcing certain animals to confess to conspiring with
Snowball, at which point he commands his dogs to kill them.

Chapter 8
Mr. Frederick dupes Napoleon into accepting forged money for a pile of timber. A devastating
battle between Mr. Frederick’s men and the animals ensues, leaving Boxer seriously injured. The
day after the pigs discover a crate of whiskey, the animals find Squealer adjusting the
commandment that animals must not drink, though they accept that their memories of the
commandments must once again be faulty and do not question the revision.

Chapter 9
Resources on the farm dwindle further after 31 piglets fathered by Napoleon are born. Animal
Farm is declared a republic by the government and Napoleon is elected president. Meanwhile,
rumors of Snowball’s betrayal continue to circulate. When Boxer faints and is taken away by a
cart that suggests he is being sent to his death in a glue factory, the animals panic, but are
placated by Squealer and Napoleon.
Chapter 10
Years later, Clover lets out a cry that attracts the other animals to the yard where they witness
Napoleon and Squealer walking on hind legs. The pigs begin engaging in more and more human
activities, even inviting Mr. Pilkington over who congratulates them on the success of their farm
and their management of the other animals. The animals watch through the window as the pigs
and farmers play cards, unable to distinguish who is human and who is pig.