Animal Farm Ch. 5-6 Notes (2025)

Animal Farm
Chapters 5-6

By Emily Houdersheldt

Chapter 5

Napoleon takes control.

• Mollie is caught interacting with a human and is later seen pulling a cart for another farmer.

• Her exit represents the defection of the self-indulgent Bourgeoisie class unwilling to give up luxuries for the revolution.

Mollie's Departure

• The rivalry between the two pigs deepens, especially over Snowball’s windmill plan and Napoleon’s focus on increasing food production.

• Their debates show a growing divide in vision for Animal Farm.

Conflict between Snowball & Napoleon

• During a public vote on the windmill, Napoleon sets his dogs on Snowball, driving him off the farm.

• This violent takeover marks the end of open debate and the beginning of authoritarian rule.

Snowball's Expulsion

• Napoleon abolishes Sunday debates, replacing them with weekly announcements from the pig-only committee.

• The animals lose their voice in governance.

Pig Takeover

Multiple Choice

What do the Meetings represent allegorically?

• The simplicity of daily routines

• The importance of financial institutions

• The Czarist regime

• The Russian Parliament

• Squealer justifies Napoleon’s actions with persuasive language and fear tactics (like the threat of Jones returning).

• This is the start of systematic manipulation of truth on the farm.

Squealer's Propaganda

Chapter 6

The windmill is constructed.

• The animals work like slaves to build the windmill.

• They are promised future benefits, but immediate conditions worsen—food shortages and physical exhaustion grow.

Labor and Lies

• Despite earlier resolutions against dealing with humans, Napoleon begins trading with nearby farms.

• The pigs start living in the farm house, even sleeping in beds.

Breaking the Commandments

Multiple Choice

How is the commandment about beds altered?

• No one should sleep in a bed outside the farmhouse.

• No one should sleep in a bed with sheets.

• The commandment about beds is unchanged.
• No one should sleep in a bed unless they are a pig.

• After a violent storm destroys the windmill, Napoleon blames Snowball, calling him a traitor.

• This scapegoating fuels fear and justifies tighter control.

Windmill destroyed

• Squealer continues to twist the truth. Napoleon uses Snowball as a boogeyman to control the animals, keeping them united through fear and misinformation.

Increased propaganda