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Animal Farm Chapter 5 Summary
As the winter drew on, Mollie becomes an increasing burden on Animal Farm. She arrives late for work every morning and gives excuses of oversleeping etc. Clover went to her stall and found lumps of sugar and several bunches of ribbons of different colours. She accepts treats from men associated with nearby farms, and generally behaves contrary to the tenets of Animalism. Eventually she disappears, lured away by a fat, red-faced man who stroked her coat and fed her sugar; now she pulls his carriage. None of the other animals ever mention her name again.
In January, the weather was cold and bitter and nothing could be done in the fields. The pigs were busy planning out the work for the coming season. Meetings were held in the big barn. Snowball and Napoleon’s constant disagreements continued to dominate the proceedings. Snowball proves himself a better speaker and debater, but Napoleon can better canvass for support in between meetings. Snowball brims with ideas for improving the farm. He studies Mr. Jones books and eventually concocts a scheme to build a windmill, with which the animals could generate electricity and automate many farming tasks, bringing new comforts to the animals’ lives.
But building the windmill would entail much hard work and difficulty, and Napoleon contents that the animals should attend to their current needs rather than plan for a distant future. The question deeply divides the animals. Napoleon surveys Snowball’s plans and expresses his contempt by urinating on them. Then there was difference of opinion relating to the defence of the farm. Snowball wanted to spread Rebellion and Napoleon wanted to procure firearms and train themselves.
The days of voting for the windmill came. Napoleon was not at all excited but Snowball impressed everybody with his speech. Napoleon gives a strange whimper, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass : studded collars charge into the barn, attack Snowball, and chase him off the farm. They return to Napoleons’ side, and with the dogs growling menacingly, Napoleon announces that, from now on, meetings will be held only for ceremonial purposes. He states that all important decisions will fall to the pigs alone.
Afterwards, many of the animals felt confused and disturbed. Squealer explains to them that Napoleon is making a great sacrifice in taking the leadership responsibilities upon himself and that as the cleverest animal, he serves the best interest of all by making the decisions. These statements placate the animals, though they still question the expulsion of Snowball. Squealer explains that Snowball was a traitor and a Criminal. Eventually, the animals come to accept this version of events, and Boxer adds greatly to Napoleon’s prestige by adopting the maxims “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right”.
These two maxims soon reinforce each other when, three weeks after the banishment of Snowball, the animals learn that Napoleon supports the Windmill Project. Squealer explains that their leader never really opposed the proposal, he simply used his apparent opposition as a manoeuvre to oust the wicked Snowball. These tactics he claims, served to advance the collective best interest. Squealers’ words proved so appealing, and the growls of his three dogs entourage so threatening, that the animals accept his explanation without question.
Animal Farm Chapter 5 Summary Word Meaning
- Blithely – In a way that shows a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
- Manifestly – In a way that is clear or obvious to the eye or mind
- Acreage – An area of land, typically when used for agricultural purposes, but not necessarily measured in acres
- Silage – Grass or other green fodder compacted and stored in airtight conditions
- Advocate – A person who pleads for a person, cause or idea
- Eloquence – Powerful and effective language
- Pretext – Something serving to conceal plans
- Procure – Get by special effort
- Sordid – Foul and Repulsive
- Spurt – Move with a sudden burst of speed
Animal Farm Chapter 5 Summary Questions and Answer
Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Snow ball had made a close study of some back numbers of the Farmers and Stock breeder which he had found in the farmhouse, and was full of plans for innovations and improvements.Napoleon produced no schemes of his own, but said quietly that Snowball’s would come to nothing, and seemed to be biding his time. But of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the wind mill.
(i) In what ways, according to Snowball, would the building of a windmill make the lives of the animals easier?
(ii) How did the animals respond to the idea of building a windmill?
(iii) What did Napoleon do just before the animals could vote on Snowball’s Windmill proposal? What was the outcome of his action?
(iv) What did Napoleon announce after Snowball’s expulsion?
(v) Compare the character traits of Napoleon and Snowball. Show how the Windmill controversy led to the confrontation that had been building since the start of the novel.
Answer:
(i) Snowball had the dream of building a Windmill for the Animal Farm. He told the animals that after the Windmill gets completed, the animals would have electricity and then they would have more comfortable lives as most of their work would get completed much earlier and more efficiently.
(ii) The animals were greatly excited as they had never heard of anything like this before. They enjoyed the explanation given by Snowball on the Windmill and imagined the machines doing their work, while they grazed comfortably or improved their minds with reading and conversation.
(iii) Napoleon had rejected the idea of Windmill from the outset and showed his disdain by urinating on Snowball’s plans. On the day of voting, Napoleon was not excited but Snowball impressed everybody with his speech. Suddenly, Napoleon gives a strange whimper; and nine enormous dogs wearing brass- studded collars charge into the barn, attack Snowball and chase him off the farm.
(iv) After Snowball’s expulsion; Napoleon announces that from now on, meetings will be held only for ceremonial purposes. He states that all important decisions will fall to the pigs alone.
(v) Both Napoleon and Snowball have similar intelligence traits. Both could read and write perfectly. Snowball had written all the windmill plans with careful thinking and use of time. Napoleon had used his knowledge to write a fake letter said to be written by Snowball to have agreed to be a secret agent to the Foxwood farm.
Both of them were the most active in the speeches and planning. Both wanted to establish a social and economic system and be the leader of the farm.But the difference was that, Napoleon wanted to become a dictator and didn’t care for the animals. But Snowball was for Animalism, which was freedom and equal treatment for all animals.
Snow ball’s belief is that the windmill would make the lives of the animals better- Napoleon doesn’t have any particular strong reason for opposing the windmill except that he doesn’t want Snowball to gain power by, proposing it and gaining the animals’ support. Thus, windmill becomes an issue where the two confront ‘ each other and the controversy which was building from the beginning, gets a chance to explode.
Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible.
(i) What ‘arrangement’ has been mentioned here?
(ii) Which was the bitterest dispute between them?
(iii) How did Napoleon express his dissent for the dispute?
(iv) What was the outcome of the bitterest dispute?
(v) What did Napoleon do after the outcome of the dispute?
Answer:
(i) It had come to be accepted that the pigs, who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals, should decide all questions of farm policy, though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. This arrangement is being talked about here.
(ii) Snowball and Napoleon could not agree on any point. They disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible. However, of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill.
(iii) One day, Napoleon arrived unexpectedly to examine the plan. He walked heavily round the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plan and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plan, and walked out without uttering a word.
(iv) The day for casting the vote for the windmill came. Snowball, as usual, presented a beautiful speech and swayed the audience in his favour. However, he had not even finished when Napoleon gave out a loud whimper and nine ferocious dogs came running after Snowball. They did not stop until they had made Snowball run out of the farm to save his life.
(v) Napoleon, with the dogs following him, mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on, the Sunday-morning meeting would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future, all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself. They would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others.
Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the bam. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws”.
(i) What has just happened?
(ii) Who brings these dogs and commands them to oust Snowball from the farm?
(iii) What is the motive behind him getting these dogs?
(iv) What happens after this event takes place?
(v) What was the propagation?
Answer:
(i) When Snowball’s windmill plan was completed, everyone was asked to vote whether the plan should be put to work or not. Napoleon opposed it and advised everyone not to vote for it. Snowball pleaded for it to be put in use until the animals got confused and did not know who to vote for. During all this mayhem, suddenly nine huge dogs came and attacked Snowball. He ran out of the farm and managed to escape and was never to be seen anymore.
(ii) Napoleon had trained these dogs. He had taken them away when they were little puppies and now they were fully grown dogs. He took the puppies and trained them on his own.
(iii) Napoleon’s motive behind bringing these dogs was to establish his power and control over the animals. This shows that he was more powerful and could get anything done through the dogs he had trained.
(iv) The most important thing which came out of this incident was that, it was decided by Napoleon that the Sunday meeting wouldn’t be held anymore. All the matters would be decided by a special committee of pigs and Napoleon would preside over it. Some animals protested that they had a right to discuss matters but the dogs, with their deep and menacing growls, silenced all of them.
(v) It was propagated that loyalty and obedience were to be given more importance than bravery and courage. Boxer, like other animals learnt the maxim : “Napoleon is always right”.
Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before, and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the
(i) What were the animals excited about?
(ii) Whose idea was it?
(iii) What was Napoleon’s reaction to this idea?
(iv) How would this make their life easier?
(v) What could the animals do when this invention was put to use?
Answer:
(i) The animals were very excited to hear Snowball’s different projects about the windmill and supply of electrical power on the farm.
(ii) It was Snowball’s idea.
(iii) Napoleon held himself aloof. He has declared himself against the plan of the windmill from the starting. One day, he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. He looked at every detail of the plan and in the end, he urinated over the plan, and walked out without uttering a word.
(iv) Snowball declared that much labour would be saved so that the animals would only need to work three days a week. The electrical power would light the stalls and warm them in winter, and would also run a circular saw, a chaff-cutter, a mangle-slicer and an electric milking machine would ease their life.
(v) When this invention will be put to use, their lives will become easy, electric machineries