Animal Farm Task 2 Chapter 2

Chapter Two

1. How have the pigs 'elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought'? What differences are there between the Seven Commandments and what Major tells the animals not to do?

The pigs have elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought, by which they gave the name Animalism. They held secret meetings several nights a week and expounded the principles of Animalism to the other animals. The pigs struggled hard to make every animal on the farm understand the principles of Animalism clearly. The Seven Commandments only states some, most of the principles that old Major had thought them. The animals should not have even started to learn, read and write in human language, english, which was against Animalism. Animals should not resemble man, and even when you have conquered him, do not ever adopt his vices.

2. Do you think the questions asked by the animals in the education classes are 'foolish'?

The definition of the word 'foolish' means showing lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise. From my point of view, I think that the questions asked by the animals in the education classes were pretty foolish. They asked ill-considered questions such as 'Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?' When there's better food like oats and hay. I feel that, if the animals thought hard enough and understoood more about Animalism, they would not have asked foolish questions, and would be able to think for themselves.

3. Why do you think that Orwell chooses to call Boxer and Clover the pigs' 'most faithful disciples'?

Boxer and Clover listened to the pigs. Once accepted the pigs as their teachers, they absorbed and remembered everything that they were told, and passed it on to the other animals winning them over by simple arguments. They were too, present at every secret meeting in the barn and led the singing of ' Beasts of England' with which the meetings always ended. Boxer and Clover were really the pigs' 'most faithful disciples'.

4. Why does the Rebellion happen? Does this tells us anything about the influence of Animalism on the animals?

The Rebellion happened for two reasons. One, Mr. Jones has been feeling down lately after losing money in a lawsuit and had been drinking everyday since. He slacked the work on the farm. His men were idle and dishonest too, leaving the farm in a ugly state. The fields were full of weeds, the buildings wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and lastly, the animals were underfed. Two, the animals had always wanted a Rebellion and wanted to be free and have things their way, according to Animalism. Now as it turned out, the Rebellion was achieved much earlier and more easily than anyone had expected. The animals starved for days and finally, they could not take the ordeal anymore. One of the cows broke the door of the store-shed with her horns and all the animals began to help themselves out. This does tell us about the influence of Animalism on the animals. If they were not influenced by Animalism, even if they were starving, they would not have any intention to brake the fence and try to escape. They would have whined and demanded food from Mr. Jones.

5. Why do you think Orwell has Snowball make mistakes in his writing?

I think Orwell has Snowball make mistakes in his writing purposely to show a sign, a clue that the pigs had another plan in mind. The animals were not exactly 'friends', and the pigs will show signs of distortion of the commandments.