Animal Farm

P: How did the content through out the book lead to the end?

R: I have to say I was so disappointed with the end of the novel. The tale continued to go down hill with very little hope and I guess I was just rooting for the last few pages to have a turn for the better. Sadly this is a satire on actual events and I guess it isn't really up to Orwell to change the events of history. Anyways, At the beginning of the novel Major, as I mentioned before, relates his dream to his "Comrades". This is quickly followed by the rebellion and the organization of the new farm. As the farm continues to develop leaders are established and rules that were once set in stone seemed to slowly begin to alter themselves. For example Commandment number five went from "No animal shall drink alcohol" (p. 43) to later "No animal shall drink alcohol in excess" (p. 113). The most important rule that was eventually altered, however, was the final rule that "All animals are equal" (p. 43). At the end of the novel the rule had finally become "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others" (p. 133). All of these slow changes led to the last few pages of the tale where the animals look into the windows of the farm house and realize that they can not tell the pigs the pigs from the human beings any longer. This is the point to which the animals sit back and wonder if the days after the revolution were any better than the days when the humans were in charge.

Animal Farm

P: Choose a passage from the book that particularly engaged you and explain

R: "It had come to [Squealer's] knowledge...that a foolish and wicked rumor had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer," and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. It was almost unbelievable, said Squealer, that any animal could be so stupid." (p. 125)

At this point in the novel I was actually going crazy with desire for those animals to stand up for themselves! Boxer the prized horse and inspiration for all the working animals had punctured one of his lungs during labor. Squealer told the animals that a cart would be arriving to take Boxer to the hospital but instead a cart with the words "Alfred Simmonds Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler" (p 123) arrived. The animals realized this and chased the cart to get it to halt and save their friend but they were unsuccessful and Boxer was never seen again. It just drives me nuts that he had very obviously been taken away to be slaughtered and the animals had even fought back to save their friend and still when Squealer announced his cover story the animals simply decided that he must be telling the truth. It is a complete outrage for me as the reader, however it did keep me reading. I just continue to hope that the animals will finally be able to stand up for themselves and figure out a way to end the tyranny.

Animal Farm

P:How does the perspective from which the book is told effect the reader's relationship with the book's content?

R: The book is told in a third person perspective describing the accounts from each side of the novel. The author relates to readers the perspective of the pigs, the chickens, the horses, the humans, each characters thoughts and actions are represented. I appreciate this depiction because it leaves the novel free from any one sided view of what is happening. Along with the reactions of the lower animals we also are told the thoughts of the "more intelligent" animals such as the pigs. Had the novel been told from say only the pigs perspective the reader may feel as though the pigs actions are completely legitimate and never see the other side. This allows for the reader to develop an opinion of the on goings at the farm and decide for themselves how they feel about what is happening. Besides the third person nature of the perspective I also wanted to note the fact that Orwell focuses his commentary almost entirely on the animals. It seems a truly inspired idea to relate human politics to the nature of something as simple as farm animals. By choosing simplistic subjects Orwell is able to compact complicated (at the time) current events into more relatable and understandable subjects. The fluff of the politics is left off in retelling the events from this perspective and this satirical piece is able to take flight while still providing interest to the readers. One of the leader pigs is actually meant to represent Marshal Stalin and the other represents Trotsky. Political events are depicted in moments such as "The Battle of the Windmill" allowing the story to either be an entertaining read for some, or a satirical look at the history of Stalinist Russia.

Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell

Publication: New York

P: Why did you choose this book? What were your expectations? Why did you expect what you did? How is the book living up to your expectations?

R: I chose this book mainly because I had heard a lot about it. I knew that it was required reading in a number of schools, and truthfully I had always wondered what the novel was about. I knew that it was a reflection of the politics in Russia after WWII which I knew had the potential to loose my interest very quickly, however, I was incredibly curious as to how these issues could possibly be reflected into the creation of an animal run farm. I wondered how such a seemingly strange novel could have not only stood the test of time but also be a best seller at any point in time. In addition to all of this curiosity we were also studying this time period in AP U.S. History when I initially decided to read the book. Before beginning reading I actually did expect to loose interest rather quickly and potentially even switch to another book, however as I continue to read I am discovering that the book is actually quite fast paced. The book begins with Major (the prized boar) describing his dream that the animals will one day take over the Manor Farm, a few more than ten pages later the rebellion is fulfilled and the animals are now free to rule the farm. I'm finding the plot very engaging as I continue to wonder more and more about the fate of the animals. I do not regret my choice of novel, as my expectations have, in fact, been proven wrong.

Through the Looking Glass

P: What do you think is Carroll's implicit purpose for creating this novel?

R: I think that, of course, Carroll wrote this novel as a sequel to the first and to continue Alice's journey, however, I also believe that both of these novels have and implicit purpose as well and I'd like to include a passage I've found that I feel reflects this purpose:

"I can't believe that!" said Alice.

"Can't you?" the Queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again; draw a long breath, and shut your eyes."

Alice laughed . "There's no use trying," she said; one can't believe impossible things."

"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age I always did it for half and hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." (p. 222).

I believe that as Carroll wrote these novels for the entertainment of children, he was indeed carrying most of his purpose in expanding the imaginations of young girls and boys. I have heard through other's that have read the tale that there were political undertones in the novel, but the fact of the matter is he was truly writing a fairy tale no matter what way you look at it. Carroll has created now two dream worlds that revolve around impossible characters and impossible events but this never stopped readers from admiring the novel. I believe he created these books to show readers that no matter what age you are, it is never a bad thing to use your imagination. Alice is advised throughout the tale to keep an open mind and she learns that the logical thing is not always the right thing to do when trying to get where you are going. Carroll provides a fresh perspective on each thing that Alice encounters and I feel like Carroll wanted that same mind set to reflect back to his readers. I know that in reading these two novels I have found a deep appreciation for the years where creating imaginary worlds was a easy as closing my eyes and letting my creativity run free.

Through the Looking Glass

P: What passage(s) do you particularly like in the book? Why?

R: "Do you hear the snow against the window panes Kitty? How nice and soft it sounds! Just as if someone was kissing the window all over outside. I wonder is the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'" ( p. 153). This passage continues on for a few more sentences but I just wanted to include and excerpt. As I mentioned in a previous blog, Carroll has a brilliant way of portraying the mind of a seven year old girl. I felt like this passage aptly reflected that brilliance. He has a way of making Alice's thoughts so curious and sweet that you can't help but appreciate her. The thoughts he has created are so new and fresh that you just wish you still saw the world in this same fantasy filled way. Alice is also speaking to her kitten as she begins this train of thought and I thought that this was a nice continuation of a character trait from the first novel. In Alice in Wonderland we learn of Alice's pet cat Dinah whom she talks about often but we never directly meet. The kitten Alice is speaking to now is actually one of Dinah's kittens. This represents that time has passed since the first book depicting a time in Alice's life and also carries over Alice's love for cats from the first novel to the second.

Through the Looking Glass

P: How has Carroll shaped the idea that Alice has gone into a mirrored world?

R: As I have continued reading I have found some very clever and literal means as to showing Alice has walked through a mirror and other more obscure means of relating this idea to readers. To begin with Alice pulls a book off of a table to find inside a poem titled "YKCOWREBBAJ" continuing along with more nonsensical words that she can't seem to make out. Finally she realizes that, "it's a Looking-glass book of course! And if I hold it up to a glass, the words will all go the right way again" (p. 164). The poem was, in fact, titled "JABBERWOKY" which had simply been printed backwards. Alice then intends to walk down the stairs but finds herself floating upside down with her fingers lightly placed on the handrail as she travels to the bottom floor. Alice also finds that walking the opposite direction of where you intend to go is the only way to arrive at your destination in the mirrored world. These are some examples of the literal translation through the looking glass, however, there are still some component to the make believe world that seem to be added simply for the sake of creating a more interesting imaginary world. For example, talking flowers are in no way some example of a backwards real world concept but simply and interesting attribution to Alice's imaginary creation. Carroll does continue to add clever examples though in instances such as when Alice attempts to cut a cake but finds instead that she must first pass the whole cake around and then cut it into slices for the action to follow through.