Animal Farm
Chapter IV
by Orwell, GeorgeThe chapter details the spreading influence of Animal Farm’s rebellion across the countryside. Snowball and Napoleon dispatch pigeons to neighboring farms to share their revolutionary message and the anthem *Beasts of England*. Meanwhile, Mr. Jones, the ousted owner, drowns his sorrows at a local pub, receiving only superficial sympathy from fellow farmers like Pilkington of Foxwood and Frederick of Pinchfield, who are more interested in exploiting his misfortune than helping him. The two neighboring farmers, though mutually distrustful, unite in their fear of the rebellion’s potential to inspire their own animals.
Initially, Pilkington and Frederick mock the idea of animals running a farm, predicting its swift failure. When Animal Farm thrives despite their predictions, they spread malicious rumors of cannibalism and chaos among the animals, framing the rebellion as unnatural. However, their propaganda fails to suppress the growing curiosity and unrest among animals on other farms. The anthem *Beasts of England* becomes a symbol of resistance, spreading rapidly and inciting rebellious behavior, much to the humans’ dismay. Despite harsh punishments, the song proves unstoppable, filling the humans with a sense of impending doom.
The tension escalates when Jones, aided by men from Foxwood and Pinchfield, attempts to retake Animal Farm. Snowball, having studied military tactics, leads the animals’ defense with strategic precision. The initial skirmishes involve pigeons and geese harassing the invaders, but the humans repel them easily. Snowball then orchestrates a more coordinated attack, using the sheep and other animals to distract the men before ambushing them with the stronger animals. The battle reaches its climax when Boxer, the powerful horse, strikes a lethal blow, causing panic among the humans.
The humans are swiftly driven into retreat, humiliated and injured, while the animals celebrate their victory. Only one stable-lad remains unconscious in the mud, with Boxer showing a moment of remorse. The chapter underscores the animals’ unity and tactical ingenuity, contrasting sharply with the humans’ disarray. The rebellion’s success solidifies Animal Farm’s reputation, foreshadowing further challenges and the enduring struggle between the animals and the human world.
FAQs
1. How do the neighboring farmers, Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick, initially react to the rebellion on Animal Farm, and how does their attitude change over time?
Answer:
Initially, Mr. Pilkington (owner of Foxwood) and Mr. Frederick (owner of Pinchfield) dismiss the rebellion, mocking the idea of animals running a farm and predicting its quick failure. They spread rumors that the animals were starving and fighting among themselves. However, when Animal Farm persists, they shift tactics, spreading exaggerated claims of cannibalism, torture, and moral decay among the animals, framing the rebellion as unnatural. Their reactions reflect their fear of the rebellion inspiring their own animals, as well as their opportunistic nature—they initially saw Jones’s misfortune as a potential advantage but later recognized the threat of animal uprisings spreading.2. What role does propaganda play in spreading the influence of Animal Farm, and how do the humans attempt to counter it?
Answer:
Propaganda is central to Animal Farm’s influence. Snowball and Napoleon send pigeons to neighboring farms to teach Beasts of England and share the story of the Rebellion, inspiring other animals. The song spreads rapidly, symbolizing hope and resistance. Humans counter this by violently suppressing the song (flogging animals caught singing it) and spreading disinformation about Animal Farm’s chaos and depravity. Despite their efforts, the song becomes irrepressible, showing the power of ideas to transcend repression and the humans’ inability to stifle the animals’ growing rebellious spirit.3. Analyze the tactics used by Snowball during the Battle of the Cowshed. How do they reflect strategic thinking and knowledge of warfare?
Answer:
Snowball demonstrates sophisticated military strategy, likely inspired by his study of Julius Caesar’s campaigns. He employs phased attacks: first, pigeons and geese harass the men to create confusion; next, sheep and other animals launch a frontal assault before feigning retreat to lure the humans into a trap. The ambush by horses, cows, and pigs then cuts off their retreat. His tactics mirror historical battlefield strategies—using deception, phased engagements, and exploiting the enemy’s overconfidence. The plan succeeds because it anticipates human behavior, turning their aggression against them, much like guerrilla warfare.4. What broader themes about revolution and power are revealed through the humans’ reaction to Animal Farm’s success?
Answer:
The humans’ reactions highlight themes of fear, misinformation, and the fragility of oppressive systems. Their shift from mockery to fear shows how ruling classes dismiss revolutionary movements until they prove viable, then resort to slander and violence to suppress them. The spread of Beasts of England underscores how revolutionary ideas can mobilize the oppressed despite repression. The humans’ inability to unite (due to Pilkington and Frederick’s rivalry) also mirrors the divisions that often weaken ruling classes, making them vulnerable to organized resistance.5. How does Boxer’s role in the Battle of the Cowshed exemplify his character and his significance to the rebellion?
Answer:
Boxer’s actions epitomize his physical strength, loyalty, and tragic innocence. His brute force (killing a stable-lad with a single blow) is decisive in the battle, but his subsequent guilt over the boy’s death reveals his gentle nature. He represents the working class’s power and dedication to the revolution, yet his lack of critical thinking (e.g., not questioning violence) foreshadows how such devotion can be exploited. His heroism is instrumental in the victory, but his moral conflict hints at the costs of revolutionary violence.
Quotes
1. “Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms, tell them the story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of Beasts of England.”
This quote demonstrates the proactive propaganda efforts by Animal Farm’s leaders to spread their revolutionary ideals, showing how information warfare became a key tool in their rebellion against human oppression.
2. “Nevertheless, they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm, and very anxious to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it.”
This reveals the neighboring farmers’ paradoxical reaction - while publicly dismissing the animal rebellion, they secretly feared its revolutionary potential and the threat it posed to their own authority over animals.
3. “The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song, though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. They could not understand, they said, how even animals could bring themselves to sing such contemptible rubbish.”
This powerful passage shows how Beasts of England became both a revolutionary anthem and a source of human anxiety, illustrating the psychological impact of the animals’ rebellion beyond just physical control of the farm.
4. “And when the human beings listened to it, they secretly trembled, hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom.”
This haunting sentence captures the profound threat the animal revolution posed to the human power structure, with the song serving as both inspiration for animals and ominous warning to humans.
5. “There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman’s shoulders and sank her claws in his neck, at which he yelled horribly.”
This visceral description of the animals’ united defense against the human counterattack demonstrates both their collective resolve and the complete breakdown of former master-servant relationships.