[what is the mood of this novel? do you find this novel saddens you in any way? why?]
There is a mood change as the story goes. The rising action of the book, which starts from the Rebellion, is humorous. The mood toward the ending of the story gradually turns tragic. The way of pigs leading the farm loses humor at the end.
This novel makes me sad in some way. It is sad that such story like this is actually closer to non-fiction, and that this has happened in our world. Killing people is nothing to laugh or joke about, and millions have lost their lives while Stalin was in control of the Soviet. Through Animal Farm, this part of the history is noticeable. Why did Stalin have to lead his people this way? Still, there are people who take a similar path and shed too much blood. Killing is the worst way of punishing or scaring people. But some people think the opposite and few of them are leading their countries, which can bring terrible side affects and consequences, or even worse, the end of the country (this has not happened yet). This would only get rid of people available to work for their country, and if this goes on, there would be none left. It is also sad that there is no perfect solution for problems such as these, because until the country becomes “in shape,” people have to suffer. No one actually deserves death.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Entry 4
[what is the climax of this novel? what happens? how do the events of this novel make you feel?]
The climax is when Clover neighs and animals see pigs walking on their hind feet. In that scene, the pigs have made themselves “more equal than others (p. 81).” The name “Animal Farm” has changed back to “Manor Farm,” its original name before the rebellion. Everything had become where the animals have started off.
The events of this novel made me feel angry. I know that it was impossible for the animals to notice that the pigs were greedy and taking the benefits for their own, but I could not bear watching them get tricked by the pigs over and over. The event when I felt most anger was when Boxer was taken to the slaughter house. Benjamin the donkey noticed the truck was leading Boxer to his death and called the animals “fools.” After the great commotion, Squealer lied to the animals that the van was borrowed by the hospital and they lacked time to repaint the truck. That scene made me mad because Squealer was completely underestimating the animals that work for him and the other pigs. What have the pigs done for the animals? This is not socialism at all. I was very disappointed that at the end, there were no consequences for the pigs for all of the lying they had told. Was not “People get punishments for all bad things they have done” the worldly theme? This result makes me think that it is the other animals’ fault because they have believed in palpable lies.
The climax is when Clover neighs and animals see pigs walking on their hind feet. In that scene, the pigs have made themselves “more equal than others (p. 81).” The name “Animal Farm” has changed back to “Manor Farm,” its original name before the rebellion. Everything had become where the animals have started off.
The events of this novel made me feel angry. I know that it was impossible for the animals to notice that the pigs were greedy and taking the benefits for their own, but I could not bear watching them get tricked by the pigs over and over. The event when I felt most anger was when Boxer was taken to the slaughter house. Benjamin the donkey noticed the truck was leading Boxer to his death and called the animals “fools.” After the great commotion, Squealer lied to the animals that the van was borrowed by the hospital and they lacked time to repaint the truck. That scene made me mad because Squealer was completely underestimating the animals that work for him and the other pigs. What have the pigs done for the animals? This is not socialism at all. I was very disappointed that at the end, there were no consequences for the pigs for all of the lying they had told. Was not “People get punishments for all bad things they have done” the worldly theme? This result makes me think that it is the other animals’ fault because they have believed in palpable lies.
Entry 3
[who are the main characters in the novel? do you like them? why or why not? what is special about them? what do they reveal about the universal human experience?]
I cannot say that Napoleon is the only main character in this novel. All animals in the book are main characters. I didn't have any likes or dislikes for the characters except for one. I had dislike for Squealer. The main reason I did not like that pig is because it is too cunning. I dislike witty or cunning characters because they are experts in convincing other characters, and the characters believe the witty one, not knowing that what they are convinced can be bad. From my own experience, I know how it feels to argue with cunning people; they tell things that sound like facts.
Squealer is very much like some people in the government these days. They seem like they can win any debate with their quickly-rotating brains. What they say might not be true, but the witty people make it sound like the truth, and that is what Squealer did to the animals. He used what the animals’ fear, which was Jones’s return. Both, smart governors and Squealer have a similar trait when they argue or give a speech. “If this happens, then that is the result, and “that” is not what we want to happen.” This is their main style (?) of speech.
I am not saying that all smart or cunning people are bad; I just don’t like it when they abuse their brains like Squealer did. It is one of the affects from reading dramatic ironies in novels.
I cannot say that Napoleon is the only main character in this novel. All animals in the book are main characters. I didn't have any likes or dislikes for the characters except for one. I had dislike for Squealer. The main reason I did not like that pig is because it is too cunning. I dislike witty or cunning characters because they are experts in convincing other characters, and the characters believe the witty one, not knowing that what they are convinced can be bad. From my own experience, I know how it feels to argue with cunning people; they tell things that sound like facts.
Squealer is very much like some people in the government these days. They seem like they can win any debate with their quickly-rotating brains. What they say might not be true, but the witty people make it sound like the truth, and that is what Squealer did to the animals. He used what the animals’ fear, which was Jones’s return. Both, smart governors and Squealer have a similar trait when they argue or give a speech. “If this happens, then that is the result, and “that” is not what we want to happen.” This is their main style (?) of speech.
I am not saying that all smart or cunning people are bad; I just don’t like it when they abuse their brains like Squealer did. It is one of the affects from reading dramatic ironies in novels.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Entry 2
[Are there are any current situations in the world that relate to the novel? what are they, and how do they relate? does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved or "fixed"?]
Any countries with socialism would relate to this novel. Not that the governments of the countries are bad, but they do face the danger of repeating the history. Some of them might be in progress of repeating right now, with Napoleon-like people planning what they would do “for the country.” Once people fall into corrupted governments’ corrupted leading, it would be hard to turn the situation back, especially if the governors are skilled at word scrambling like Squealer is. In the novel, no animals, or almost no animals, noticed that the pigs were taking all of the benefits for themselves until they saw pigs walking and socializing with human beings. Readers may have thought that people would be smarter than to believe in a bad government, but how many would realize that fact right away? The animals were not dumb; the pigs were the smart ones. This goes the same for all governments and people.
Can people solve such problem if there were any? Nothing can stop a government once they have grasped full power with their hands. Even Animal Farm ended with animals appalled at the pigs’ human-like behaviors; there were not any solution whatsoever, unless another huge war such as World War II breaks out. The corrupted government would gradually disappear, but it will take a long time (maybe a generation or two). Some people may suggest ideas such as “renewing” the government, but that is unrealistic and impossible. If that actually happens, the country would have to bear with the side affects from the changes, which could be critical to a country.
Any countries with socialism would relate to this novel. Not that the governments of the countries are bad, but they do face the danger of repeating the history. Some of them might be in progress of repeating right now, with Napoleon-like people planning what they would do “for the country.” Once people fall into corrupted governments’ corrupted leading, it would be hard to turn the situation back, especially if the governors are skilled at word scrambling like Squealer is. In the novel, no animals, or almost no animals, noticed that the pigs were taking all of the benefits for themselves until they saw pigs walking and socializing with human beings. Readers may have thought that people would be smarter than to believe in a bad government, but how many would realize that fact right away? The animals were not dumb; the pigs were the smart ones. This goes the same for all governments and people.
Can people solve such problem if there were any? Nothing can stop a government once they have grasped full power with their hands. Even Animal Farm ended with animals appalled at the pigs’ human-like behaviors; there were not any solution whatsoever, unless another huge war such as World War II breaks out. The corrupted government would gradually disappear, but it will take a long time (maybe a generation or two). Some people may suggest ideas such as “renewing” the government, but that is unrealistic and impossible. If that actually happens, the country would have to bear with the side affects from the changes, which could be critical to a country.
Entry 1
[What is the major theme of this novel? why is this theme important to a teenager living in 2007?]
The major theme of this novel is that corrupted government is harmful to people in its country. In the book, Old Mayor's idea was to be free from humans and live happily, but it seems like Napoleon had misunderstood Old Mayor's thoughts. Almost at the end of the book, Napoleon acts like a human, which was totally different from what the animals (and Napoleon was included) had planned before. This farm was planned to be governed (?) by socialism, in which you receive as much as you work. But the misunderstanding of Old Mayor’s words has caused many deaths and starvations.
This theme might be important to teenagers who live in countries governed by socialism. They have to know that one corrupted government can ruin their lives and their family’s lives. It will not be “Get as much as you work” if such government takes place. Animal Farm is a book that tells people how the situation was like when Stalin had taken control, and the result had cost many people’s lives. It is amazing, and depressing at the same time, that such event had occurred. Many teenagers in socialist country would hope no tragedy like this would be recorded in history ever again. Teenagers, and other people, should remember that not only socialism, but all ways of governing, can be abused by the government.
The major theme of this novel is that corrupted government is harmful to people in its country. In the book, Old Mayor's idea was to be free from humans and live happily, but it seems like Napoleon had misunderstood Old Mayor's thoughts. Almost at the end of the book, Napoleon acts like a human, which was totally different from what the animals (and Napoleon was included) had planned before. This farm was planned to be governed (?) by socialism, in which you receive as much as you work. But the misunderstanding of Old Mayor’s words has caused many deaths and starvations.
This theme might be important to teenagers who live in countries governed by socialism. They have to know that one corrupted government can ruin their lives and their family’s lives. It will not be “Get as much as you work” if such government takes place. Animal Farm is a book that tells people how the situation was like when Stalin had taken control, and the result had cost many people’s lives. It is amazing, and depressing at the same time, that such event had occurred. Many teenagers in socialist country would hope no tragedy like this would be recorded in history ever again. Teenagers, and other people, should remember that not only socialism, but all ways of governing, can be abused by the government.
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