We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.
Animal Farm Chapter 9 Summary
Rebuilding of the windmill begins immediately after the celebration. Boxer had been hurt in the battle of the windmill and was nursing a split hoof. Boxer refused to take even a day off work and did not show any trouble. Boxer works harder than ever. His thoughts are now turning to retirement, for which, under the laws of Animal Farm, he is due next year. In the meantime, another cold winter with little food must be endured.
The rations of all the animals except that of the pigs and the dogs, were reduced- Squealer was still making a fool of all the animals by giving them figures. He informed them that they had been doing much better than the days of Jones and the animals believed him. However, by now they have forgotten life under Jones. Squealer never failed to point out that now they were not slaves.
The strain of the resources of the farm grows. The four sows had given birth to thirty-one piglets between them. It was easy to understand that they were Napoleon’s kids. Napoleon announced that he would teach the piglets himself and that a new classroom must be built for the piglets, who are instructed to remain aloof from the other animals. The schoolroom is in addition to the requirement to rebuild the windmill and the need to keep the farm supplied with various other requirements.
Potatoes are sold, and practically every egg laid by the hens is sold to earn the money required for these supplies. There was a shortage of money. The exploitation of the animals had long begun without their realising it. The other animals were suffering but somehow the pigs were comfortable enough. They were actually putting on weight when others were starving. In February, the barley was prepared into beer and it was announced that all barley would be reserved for the pigs. Napoleon was having the largest share of the beer daily.
Napoleon now introduces a weekly event called, the spontaneous demonstration, where every animal would leave its work to march in military procession around the farm, so as to instil pride in the animals in the achievements of the farm since the Rebellion. It comforts the animals to know that, no matter how hard their lives are, at least they have the benefit of being their own masters. In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic and Napoleon was made the President. Later, more news about Snowball’s treachery were revealed.
Another consolation around this time is the reappearance of Moses, the raven and his tales of Sugar Candy mountains. He returned after many years. The animals failed to understand why he was being allowed to live on the farm when the pigs called him a liar. They were tolerating him, giving him an allowance of beer everyday. The building work around the farm continues through the summer, heavily dependent on the extraordinary efforts of Boxer. He was famished and a bit old now but never faltered. He is showing some signs at this stage that his strength is failing. He himself is hoping to get as much work done as possible before he retires. Then one summer evening, he collapses.
All the animals rush to his side, unable to bear the thought that anything might happen to him. He was getting weak day after day but only his will kept him going. He did not pay heed to Clover and Benjamin’s working, and one day his lungs gave away. He was lying near the quarry unable to get up. The pigs were informed at once, but Squealer came about a quarter of an hour later. Squealer promised to send him to the town so that the veterinary surgeon can treat him. Clover and Benjamin spend as much time as they can over the next few days nursing him. Then, while all the animals are all at work, the van comes to take Boxer away.
They would not have noticed, except Benjamin, who gallops across the farm to tell them that Boxer is being taken away. No one has ever seen Benjamin gallop before. The animals rush to the yard in time to see the van begin to pull away. They start to wave goodbye to Boxer, but Benjamin is very agitated, and tells them to read the letters on the van. Muriel reads out the sign on the van, which describes the van as belonging to the local horse-slaughter. The animals try to warn Boxer, who tries to kick his way out of the van, but he has no strength and the kicking from the van soon dies away.
Three days later Boxers’ death was announced. Squealer informed everyday that he was with him at his death bed. He makes a moving speech in praise of Boxer. He explains the sign on the van by saying that the veterinary surgeon brought the van from the horse slaughter, and had not yet replaced the sign. The animals are relieved to hear this, and are greatly consoled by Squealer’s further descriptions of the wonderful care and treatment that Boxer received in his final hours.
Napoleon pays his respects to Boxer at the meeting on the following Sunday He tells them that it was not possible to return Boxer’s remains for burial on the farm, but that he will be commemorated with a wreath instead. Napoleon announces a memorable banquet for Boxer, which takes place in the farmhouse shortly afterwards, attended only by the pigs.Then one night, there were strange sounds from the farmhouse and no one stirred out of it before noon the following day. It was learnt that the pigs had acquired money to buy themselves whisky.
Animal Farm Chapter 9 Summary Word Meanings:
- Poulitics – A soft mass of material consisting of flour, herbs etc, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation
- Rations – A fixed amount of a commodity officially allowed to a person during a time of shortage.
- Flanked – Be on each or on one side of.
- Stratagem – A plan or scheme to outwit an opponent
- Faltered – Lose strength or momentum.
- Interment – The burial of a corpse in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites.
- Oration – A formal speech given on a ceremonial occasion.
- Laurels – Any number of shrubs and other plants with dark green glossy leaves.
Animal Farm Chapter 9 Summary Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health, but Boxer paid no attention. His twelfth birthday was approaching. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stdne was accumulated before he went to pension. Late one evening, in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. And sure enough, the rumour was true
(i) In what condition did the animals find Boxer ?
(ii) Why did the animals feel uneasy when Squealer told them that Boxer would be sent to a hospital at Willingdon for treatment ? How did Squealer reassure them ?
(iii) How much longer did Boxer expect to live ?
How did he plan to spend his remaining days ?
(iv) What was written on the van that took Boxer away ? What did Boxer do when he heard the screams of the animals ?
(v) What was the new name given to Animal Farm by Napoleon ? What strange transformation did the animals notice on the faces of the pigs ? What is the significance of this transformation?
Answer:
(i) Boxer had fallen down. He was lying on the side and couldn’t get up. His neck was stretched out, he was unable to raise his head. His eyes were glazed, his sides matted with sweat. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth.
(ii) Except for Molly and Snowball, no other animal had ever left the farm, and they did not like to think of their sick comrade in the hands of human beings. However, Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon would treat Boxer better than anyone on the farm.
(iii) Boxer expected to live another three years, and he looked forward to peaceful days that he would live in the corner of the big pasture. It would be the first time he would have the leisure to study and improve his mind. He wanted to learn the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet in that time.
(iv) Alfred Simmonds’, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone – meal. Kennels supplied’. Boxer tried to kick his way out, when he heard the screams of the animals.
(v) New name given was Manor Farm. The faces of the pigs were just like the human faces. The pigs resembled the men against whom they had rebelled to set up the Animal Farm. Power had corrupted them and they were just looking like the humans.
Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill.
(i) What had happened to Boxer ?
(ii) What had happened to Boxer earlier ?
(iii) How can you say that Boxer was a devoted worker of the farm ?
(iv) What was decided for Boxer after this ?
(v) How had the pigs deceived poor Boxer ?
Answer:
(i) Boxer was growing old. He had been warned by both Clover and Benjamin not to overstrain himself but he would not listen. He was working at the quarry one day, pushing a stone for the windmill when his lungs gave way and he fell on the ground.
(ii) Boxer had a split hoof earlier. He had suffered with a split hoof when he was fighting in the ‘Battle of the Windmill’. His hurt hoof took a long time to heal.
(iii) There is no exaggeration in saying that Boxer was the most devoted worker of the farm. He worked diligently for its betterment. He woke up earlier than others and did crucial work. After his hoof healed, he worked even harder. There was no stopping him. He just wanted to get things completed before he retired.
(iv) About a quarter of an hour after getting to know about Boxer, Squealer appeared, full of sympathy and concern. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned with the very deepest distress of this misfortune to one of the most loyal workers on the farm and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon as he would be getting a much better treatment there.
(v) After Boxer had fallen at the quarry, it was decided that he was to be sent to the hospital in Willingdon. The other animals were against it but they were convinced by Squealer who told them that they would not be able to take better care of him at the farm. However, the greedy pigs had sold him to a slaughterhouse. Boxer had gotten old and was now of no use to them. He was about to retire.