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The Trees Summary in English by Adrienne Rich

The Trees by Adrienne Rich About the Poet

Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She was a famous poet, essayist and feminist. She has published nineteen volumes of poetry, three collections of essays and other writings.

The Trees Summary in English

The poet has unusual theme for the trees which want to break all the barriers of man-made things so as to reunite with their natural surroundings. The poet very clearly depicts the disadvantage of growing trees inside the houses in enclosures which are cramped enough to make these trees revolt. They lose their natural utility by housing the insects and birds and spreading their shadow to the tired souls. The trees though appear to be weak, make ceaseless efforts from all the sides to come out of the boundaries by smashing the glass.

The condition of land without forest
a. No bird will be there.
b. No insect will be there.
c. The sunlight cannot make shadow.
Activities by plants for reforestation
d. Plants are coming out of the pots kept in veranda.
e. The leaves in the picture frames are breaking the glasses.
f. Very small plants that look like discharged patients are also moving for reforestation.
The reaction of poet
g. She is happy to hear the movement sound of plants.
h. She writes a letter but does not mention this departure of plants because she is afraid that those people may again cut the forest.
The image of moon
i. Unbroken moon – It is sad for not scattering its light over forest because all trees are cut.
j. Broken Moon – It has scattered its rays over the reforested jungle.

The Trees Summary Questions and Answers

1. I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.

a. ‘I’ in the above lines is ___________
(i) a young man
(ii) the poet
(iii) a boy
(iv) a young woman
Answer:
(ii) the poet

b. The speaker is ___________
(i) in her house
(ii) is writing letters
(iii) watching the departure of the forest
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv) all of the above

c. The trees are moving ___________
(i) inside
(ii) outside
(iii) nowhere
(iv) sideways
Answer:
(ii) outside

2. All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.

a. Where are the roots?
Answer:
The roots are entangled in the cracks of the veranda floor.

b. What are the roots doing?
Answer:
The roots are trying to disengage themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor so that they can move out into the forest.

c. Where have the cracks appeared?
Answer:
The cracks have appeared on the veranda floor.

3. I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.

a. Who is ‘I’?
Answer:
The poet is ‘I’ here.

b. What is he doing?
Answer:
She is writing letters.

c. Where are the trees in the poem?
Answer:
The trees are inside the house. But now they are moving out of the house.

Question 4.
What are the three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest?
Answer:
The forest has been empty all these days because its trees have been cut down. Three things cannot happen in a treeless forest. Firstly, birds cannot sit there. Secondly, insects can’t hide themselves. Thirdly; the sun cannot bury its rays in shadow.

Question 5.
In the poem ‘Trees4, where are the trees? What are their roots, twigs, etc. trying to do?
Answer:
The trees are inside the houses. Their roots, twigs, etc. are making ceaseless efforts from all the sides to come out of the boundaries by smashing the glass.

Question 6.
What does the poet mean by the sun’s feet? What picture do these words create in mind?
Answer:
The sun’s feet refer to the sunrays which are not able to penetrate through the thick cluster of trees. These words create a dark and gloomy image in the mind.

Question 7.
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof Like newly discharged patients.
Why does the poet compare branches with patients?
Answer:
The poet compares the ‘long-cramped’ branches that have been shuffling under the roof to newly discharged patients who look half-dazed as they move towards the hospital doors after long illnesses and wait to get out of the hospital. The branches also have cramped under the roof and want to get out into the open to spread themselves in fresh air.

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Animal Farm Chapter 2 Summary

Soon after the meeting, something unusual happened at Manor Farm. Old Major died peacefully in his sleep, three days after the meeting took place. The animals buried him in the farm’s orchard. In the three months that followed, the most intelligent of the animals began meeting regularly. Even though they didn’t know when the Rebellion would happen, yet, they organized for it. The work of organizing and teaching fell upon the pigs, who were considered to be the cleverest of all animals.

The two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, took the responsibility upon themselves. Snowball was a vivacious pig, whereas Napoleon was a large, rather fierce pig who was not much of a talker. Another pig named Squealer, joined Napoleon and Snowball, as he was well known for his powers of speech and persuasion. The three pigs worked together to formalize old Major’s ideas into a system of ideas called ‘Animalism’.

They held several secret meetings to expound the principles of Animalism to others. The pigs faced difficulty to convince other animals about the need for Rebellion. Some wondered why they should work for the Rebellion that might not happen in their life times. Among them was Moses, the raven, who promised them that they would go to a land of plenty called ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’, when they died. Boxer and Clover proved helpful in winning the animals over to the cause, because the animals believed the horses to be trustworthy.

Soon the animals got the opportunity to rebel against Mr. Jones who had lately fallen into evil ways. He lost a lawsuit and therefore, continued to neglect the farm and drank too much. His men were dishonest who also neglected the farm and, thus the farm kept deteriorating and the animals were kept underfed.

One Saturday night, Mr. Jones got drunk in the Red Lion and forgot to feed the animals. The cows broke in the door of the store shed and, thus all animals helped themselves to food. When Mr Jones tried to stop and whip the animals, they fought back. Jones, his family and his men ran out of the farm.

The animals, seeing what they had accomplished and realizing that they were free, destroyed the farmer’s tools and the symbols of their bondage, such as bits, nose rings and halters. They burned everything that reminded them of their oppressor. After that, they all sang ‘Beasts of England’ seven times before they could go to sleep.

The next morning the animals hurled themselves into the air with leaps of excitement and gazed around in the morning light. They all agreed on the point that no animal must ever live there. In the meantime, the pigs had taught themselves to read and write and renamed Manor Farm as Animal Farm.

On the bam wall they wrote the basic tenets of Animalism as Seven Commandments :

• Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
• Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
• No animal shall wear clothes.
• No animal shall sleep in a bed.
• No animal shall drink alcohol.
• No animal shall kill any other animal.
• All animals are equal.

All animals agreed to them. Just before the animals moved out to the hayfield to harvest, they realized that the cows needed milking, so the pigs decided to do the job. When the animals wondered about what would be done with the buckets of milk, Napoleon told them not to worry. Soon after when the animals returned from the hayfield, they noticed that the milk in the buckets had disappeared.

Animal Farm Chapter 2 Summary Word Meaning

• Squealer – One who reveals confidential information in return for money.
• Unalterable – Not capable of being changed.
• Rebellion – Organized opposition to authority
• Manor – The land estate of a lord, including the house on it.
• Nimble – Moving quickly and lightly
• Vivacious – Vigorous and animated
• Apathy – An absence of emotion or enthusiasm
• Expound – Add details, as to an account or idea.
• Ecstasy – A state of elated bliss
• Persuasive – Intended or having the power to induce action or belief.

Animal Farm Chapter 2 Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
These three had elaborated Old Major’s teachings into a complete system of thought, to which they gave them the name of Animalism.
(i) Who had elaborated on Old Major’s teachings?
(ii) When and where did they hold their secret meetings? How did the meetings end?
(iii) What had the Old Major said about the nature of this life of ours’?
(iv) Who were the most faithful disciples? How did they contribute towards the preparations for the rebellion?
(v) Mention any two changes that were seen on the farm in the days immediately after the rebellion? How would you justify such a change ?
Answer:
(i) Two young boars, Snowball and Napolean, and a small fat pig Squealer, had elaborated on Old Major’s teaching.

(ii) The secret meetings were held several nights a week in barn, when Mr. Jones was fast asleep. The meetings always ended with the singing of song “Beasts of England” by Boxer and Clover leading other animals.

(iii) The Old Major said that nature of their lives (animal lives) was miserable, laborious and short. Animals were born, given as much food as would keep the breath in their bodies. And those of them who were capable were forced to work to the last of their strength in their bodies. The very instant their usefulness had come to an end, the animals were killed cruelly or slaughtered. No animal in England knew the meaning of happiness or leisure after it was a year old; no animal in England was free. The life of an animal was one of misery or slavery.

(iv) The most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses, Boxer and Clover. They accepted the pigs as their teachers, the two of them absorbed everything they were told, and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. They were the unfoiling attendants to the secret meetings in the barn and led the other animals in to singing ‘Beasts of England’, during the conclusion of the meetings.

(v) The two changes that took place on the farm after the rebellion were, firstly, Snowball changes the sign reading ‘Manor Farm’ to ‘Animal Farm’. Secondly, on the barn wall they wrote the basic tenets of Animalism as Seven Commandments. The change was justified because their owner Mr. Jones, ill-treated, and starved them to death. Nobody wants to lead a slave-life.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
These three had elaborated Old Major’s teachings into a complete system of thought, to which they gave them name of Animalism.
(i) Who had elaborated on Old Major’s teachings ?
(ii) When and where did they hold their secret meetings ? How did the meetings end ?
(iii) What had the Old Major said about the ‘nature of this life of ours’ ?
(iv) Who were the most faithful disciples ? How did they contribute towards the preparations for the rebellion?
(v) How did the animals celebrate the day after the rebellion ?
Answer:
(i) Two young boars, Snowball and Napoleon, and a small fat pig Squealer, had elaborated on Old Major’s teachings.

(ii) The secret meetings were held several nights a week in barn, when Mr. Jones was fast asleep. The meetings always ended with the singing of song “Beasts of England” by Boxer, and Clover leading other animals.

(iii) The Old Major said that nature of their lives (animal lives) was miserable, laborious and short. Animals were born, given as much food as would keep the breath in their bodies. And those of them who were capable were forced to work to the last of their strength in their bodies. The very instant their usefulness had come to an end, the animals were killed cruelly or slaughtered. No animal in England knew the meaning of happiness or leisure after it was a year old; no animal in England was free. The life of an animal was one of misery or slavery.

(iv) The most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses, Boxer and Clover. They accepted the pigs as their teachers, the two of them absorbed everything that they were told, and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. They were the unfoiling attendants to the secret meetings in the bam and led the other animals in to singing ‘Beasts of England’ during the conclusion of the meetings.

(v) The day after the rebellion, the animals woke up early as usual and raced out into the pasture together. They rushed to the top of a knoll and gazed around them in the clear morning light. In ecstasy, the animals gambolled round and round, they hurled themselves into the air in great leaps of excitement. They rolled in the dew, cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. They kicked up clods of the block earth and snuffed its rich scent, made a tow of inspection of the whole farm and surveyed with speechless admiration the plough land, the hayfield, the orchard, the pool, the spinney.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Three nights later Old Major died peacefully in his sleep. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. This was Piaetice the important event and epnodei of the stouf. Each incident in the novel mint he given due importance. early in March. During the next three months there was much secret activity.
(i) Who is the Old Major?
(ii) What dream did the Major have?
(iii) What secret activity was going on in the farm?
(iv) Who was responsible for expounding the teachings of the Old Major?
(v) Who was Moses? What lies was he spreading?
Answer:
(i) The Old Major was a prized Middle White Boar living at the Manor Farm, through the name under which he had been exhibited was, ‘Willingdon Beauty’. He was highly regarded by the residents of the farm.

(ii) The Old Major talked about the dream that he had the previous night. In his dream, all men had vanished from Earth. It also reminded him of a song, ‘Beasts of England’, that he had long forgotten.

(iii) The Major had sown the seeds of rebellion in the hearts of the residents of the farm. After his speech, they all started to prepare for the rebellion to happen not knowing when it would actually happen. They began teaching and organising themselves.

(iv) The work of teaching and organising the other animals fell naturally upon the pigs, who were generally considered the cleverest of the animals. Two of them were young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. The others were porkers and the best known amongst them was a pig named Squealer.

(v) The pigs were trying to convince the animals that the rebellion was much needed. But they had a hard time counteracting the lies put about by Moses, the tame raven. He was Jones’ special pet. He kept telling the animals that he knew of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain, to which all the animals went when they died.

Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
‘Now as it turned out, the Rebellion was achieved much earlier and more easily than anyone had expected.’
(i) What was the “Rebellion”?
(ii) How was it achieved?
(iii) Whose idea was it and what preparations were required to achieve it?
(iv) Why do you think it was easily achieved?
(v) Describe the animals’ reaction after achieving success in the Rebellion.
Answer:
(i) The Farm animals depicted a rebellion for their freedom from the human tyranny. The farm animals revolted because of farmer Jones’ malnourishment and disinterest in them.

(ii) The thoughts which Old Major had instilled in his fellow comrades lived on and inspired them. They started to prepare for the rebellion not knowing when it would happen.

(iii) The idea of rebellion was planted by Old Major who had a vision of a farm owned by animals, who would work together for the common goal. His ideas were taken and expanded by the three clever pigs, Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer.

(iv) The rebellion happened more quickly than expected. Mr. Jones had been a good farmer before, but lately he had fallen into evil ways. He did not care much for the farm and the animals. One night Mr. Jones got drunk in the Red Lion and forgot to feed the animals. One of the cows broke into the store shed and all the other animals also started to help themselves. When Jones and four of his farmhands started whipping the animals to get them under control, they turned and butted and kicked, driving Jones off his farm. His wife packed her bags quickly and followed. Mr. Jones was expelled and his farm belonged to the animals now.

(v) The animals could hardly believe their luck. They searched the farm to ascertain if any of the humans were hiding there. Then they reached back to the farm buildings to wipe out the last traces of Jones hated reign. They burned everything reminding of Jones. They sang ‘Beasts of England1 and slept as they had never slept before. The merry making corginued even on the next day.

Question 5.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
In a very little while, the animals had destroyed everything that reminded them of Mr Jones. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of com to everybody, with two biscuits for each dog.
(i) Which major incident took place before this extract?
(ii) Why were the animals destroying the things belonging to Mr. Jones?
(iii) What happened right after this extract?
(iv) What did the animals do the very next morning?
(v) Later in the chapter, the pigs give out the Seven Commandments. What were these?
Answer:
(i) Just before this extract, the rebellion had happened. However, it had happened before anyone had expected it to occur. Mr Jones had forgotten to feed the animals one day. The animals were not able to bear the hunger and broke free. Then they scared Jones out of the farm.

(ii) The animals were living under the tyrannical rule of Mr Jones. They had been exploited by him. They were starved and had suffered many of his atrocities. But when he was overthrown, they did not want to see his belongings. These reminded them of the suffering and hence, they destroyed them.

(iii) After the animals had destroyed everything that reminded them of Mr Jones, they sang ’Beasts of England’ from beginning to end seven times running, and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before.

(iv) The animals raced out into the pasture together. They went to the knoll from where they could see the whole farm. They enjoyed in the natural surroundings and were very happy to see that the whole farm belonged to them now. ’

(v) The pigs revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write. Snowball took a brush and renamed the Manor Farm as Animal Farm. They further explained that they had reduced the principles of Animalism to Seven Commandments.

These would become an unalterable law by which all the animals on the Animal Farm must live ever after. They ran thus:

• Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
• Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
• No animal shall wear clothes.
• No animal shall sleep in a bed.
• No animal shall drink alcohol.
• No animal shall kill any other animal.
• All animals are equal.

Question 6.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters that could be read thirty yards away.
(i) What were the Commandments?
(ii) Why did the animals need Commandments?
(iii) Who devised the Commandments and who wrote them on the wall?
(iv) Were the animals able to read and learn all the Commandments?
(v) What was the significance of the Seven Commandments in the ’Animal Farm1?
Answer:
(i) The Seven Commandments were as follow :

• Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
• Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
• No animal shall wear clothes.
• No animal shall sleep in a bed.
• No animal shall drink alcohol.
• No animal shall kill any other animal.
• All animals are equal.

(ii) The animals needed commandments, because principles of Animalism were reduced to Seven Commandments and this will help all the animals of the farm to follow such unalterable law if they wanted to live happily ever after on the Animal Farm.

(iii) The three pigs, Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer, devised the commandments and Snowball who was best at writing them on the wall.

(iv) No, not all the animals were able to read and learn all the commandments. Snowball read it aloud for the benefits of others. All the animals nodded in complete agreement, and the cleverer ones at once began to learn the commandments

(v) Without law and order, it is nearly proven that civilization will fail. Because of this, Snowball saw it necessary to create a set of rules for the animals on the newly evolving farm, in Seven Commandments.

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.

Animals Summary in English by Walt Whitman

Animals by Walt Whitman About the Poet

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is a major figure in early American poetry. He broke the tradition of rhymed and metrical poetry. He was famous for writing a revolutionary new kind of poetry which was in free verse. The poem ‘animals’ is from his work ‘Song of Myself’ in Leaves of grass.

Animals Summary in English

Having fed up in the company of human beings, the poet wants to turn his way and live with animals. He finds the animals peaceful and satisfied. They don’t have any feeling of repentance. They don’t have any lust or greed. They have nothing to do with material things.

There is complete equality among animals. They do not have any hierachy. Animals don’t need to bow down before others. Poet feels that the traits of human being like truthfulness, honesty, commitment, loyalty, purity, innocence etc. have now passed on to the animals. He wonders how these qualities have passed on to the animals. Did he negligently drop all these qualities and animals acquired them?

Animals Summary Questions and Answers

1. I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition

a. ‘They’ in the above lines are ……………….
(i) human beings
(ii) animals
(iii) the poets
(iv) the audience
Answer:
(ii) animals.

b. The author keeps looking at them for long because he ………………..
(i) never finds them unhappy or dissatisfied
(ii) finds them calm and peaceful
(iii) feels more at home with them
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv) all of the above.

c. They are unlike human beings who are ………………..
(i) always complaining
(ii) calm and quiet
(iii) contented
(iv) not prone to anger
Answer:
(i) always complaining.

2. So they show their relations to me and I accept them.
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession.

a. In the above lines ‘they’ stand for …………………..
(i) listeners
(ii) audience
(iii) animals
(iv) viewers
Answer:
(iii) animals.

b. The author feels related to them as they remind him of ……………………
(i) his ego.
(ii) the basic qualities of his nature.
(iii) inhuman characteristics.
(iv) his greed.
Answer:
(ii) the basic qualities of his nature.

c. They seem to possess those qualities which man has chosen to ………………..
(i) ignore
(ii) deny
(iii) drop
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(iv) All of the above.

3. So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself they evince
them plainly in their possession.

a. The speaker accepts that
(i) animals are better than men.
(ii) animals are his best friends.
(iii) there is a close relation between man and animal.
(iv) all of the above.
Answer:
(iv) all of the above.

b. By ‘tokens of myself the speaker means
(i) animals are like men.
(ii) coins dropped by the speaker.
(iii) they remind him of the basic values of the human beings.
(iv) the marks of animal’s goodness.
Answer:
(iii) they remind him of the basic values of the human beings.

c. Animals have the ‘tokens’ dropped by man.
(i) retained and preserved
(ii) searched
(iii) robbed
(iv) lost
Answer:
(i) retained and preserved.

4. I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain’d,
I stand and look at them long and long.

a. The poet wants to live with the animals because they are …………….
(i) calm
(ii) self-contained
(iii) satisfied
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv) all of the above.

b. The poet feels more at home with animals than
(i) birds and insects
(ii) human beings
(iii) natural things
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(ii) human beings

c. The word which means ‘calm and quiet’ is
(i) placid
(ii) complex
(iii) groan
(iv) contented
Answer:
(i) placid

5. They do not lie awake in the dark and
Weep for their sin ……………

Question 1.
Who are ‘they’? How are they different from human beings?
Answer:
They’ here refers to the animals. They are different from human beings as they do not sweat and whine about their pathetic condition. Animals do not feel guilty for their actions so they need not awake in the dark and weep for their sins.

Question 2.
‘Not one is respectable or unhappy Over the whole earth.’
Who is the poet talking about? What is their state of mind?
Answer:
The poet is talking about the animals. They are placid and self contained. They are not worried about getting respect or disrespect as they have no ego.

Question 3.
‘They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God’
Who are ‘they’? What makes him sick?
Answer:
They’ are here the animals. The discussions about subjects of philosophy or religion which the animals do not indulge in make him sick.

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Amanda Summary in English by Robin Klein

Amanda by Robin Klein About the Poet

Robin Mc Maugh Klein is an Australian author of books for children. She writes Children’s and young adult fiction. Some of her famous books are Hating Alison Ashley, People might hear you, etc.

Amanda Summary in English

Amanda’s mother tells Amanda in a very strict voice not to bite her nails. Then she tells Amanda not to slouch her shoulder’s. Instead she wants Amanda to sit up with her back straightened. Amanda withdraws from her real life to an imaginaty world. She imagines that there is a beautiful green sea, in which only she lives and there is nobody there to bother her Moreover, she is no longer a human being, but has taken the form of a mermaid, and is drifting along in a relaxed fashion within that sea.

Amanda’s mother asks Amanda whether she has completed the homework. She further asks Amanda whether she has cleaned up her own room. Finally, she asks Amanda whether she has cleaned her shoes or not. Amanda withdraws into again an imaginary world. She imagines that she is an orphan and is romancing around on the street bare feet. She designs in the soft dust with her bare feet thus making them dirtier. She cherishes the silence and the freedom.

Amanda’s mother forbids her to have any chocolate for they might cause her to develop acne on her face. She commands her to look at her when she is talking to her. Amanda withdraws into her fantasy world and imagines herself to be Rapunzel. She imagines that she is perfectly happy to live alone in the tower, for she has nothing to worry about. In fact, she is so happy with her life that she will never let down her hair in an attempt to escape from the tower.

Amanda’s mother tells her to stop sulking. She also accuses her daughter of having mood swings very frequently. Finally, she tells Amanda that anyone who saw her would think that her mother has been nagging at her.

(The poem depicts the dilemma of a teenage girl when she feels that her freedom is curtailed.)

Amanda Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow’s by choosing the most appropriate options.

Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you,
Amanda!

a. The speaker in the above lines is ……………….
(i) Amanda’s n-eighbour
(ii) Amanda’s friend
(iii) Amanda’s mother
(iv) Amanda’s physician
Answer:
(iii) Amanda’s mother

b. She is advised not to eat the chocolate because eating of chocolate ……………….
(i) causes skin problems
(ii) spoils the habits
(iii) is not good for children
(iv) is a very costly habit
Answer:
(i) causes skin problems

c. The person addressed here is listening to the advice ……………….
(i) inattentively
(ii) angrily
(iii) attentively
(iv) indifferently
Answer:
(iv) indifferently

Question 2.
Who is Amanda? What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Answer:
If Amanda were a mermaid she could drift in the sea. It shows her desire to get away from the restrictions of her mother.

Question 3.
(I am an orphan, roaming the street ….)
Who is ‘I’? Is she an orphan? Why does she say so?
Answer:
‘I’ here refers to Amanda. No, she is not an orphan. She imagines to be an orphan as she feels her freedom is curtailed in her present position. By imagining herself as an orphan she can do whatever she wants to do.

Question 4.
‘The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet’
Why does Amanda say so?
Answer:
Amanda is a child and she does not like several restrictions put on her by her mother.
Therefore, she wants solitude and. freedom.

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.

Animal Farm Chapter 1 Summary

Soon after the meeting, something unusual happened at Manor Farm. Old Major died peacefully in his sleep, three days after the meeting took place. The animals buried him in the farm’s orchard. In the three months that followed, the most intelligent of the animals began meeting regularly. Even though they didn’t know when the Rebellion would happen, yet, they organized for it. The work of organizing and teaching fell upon the pigs, who were considered to be the cleverest of all animals.

The two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, took the responsibility upon themselves. Snowball was a vivacious pig, whereas Napoleon was a large, rather fierce pig who was not much of a talker. Another pig named Squealer, joined Napoleon and Snowball, as he was well known for his powers of speech and persuasion. The three pigs worked together to formalize old Major’s ideas into a system of ideas called ‘Animalism’. They held several secret meetings to expound the principles of Animalism to others.

The pigs faced difficulty to convince other animals about the need for Rebellion. Some wondered why they should work for the Rebellion that might not happen in their lifetimes. Among them was Moses, the raven, who promised them that they would go to a land of plenty called ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’, when they died. Boxer and Clover proved helpful in winning the animals over to the cause because the animals believed the horses to be trustworthy.

Soon the animals got the opportunity to rebel against Mr. Jones who had lately fallen into evil ways. He lost a lawsuit and therefore, continued to neglect the farm and drank too much. His men were dishonest who also neglected the farm and, thus the farm kept deteriorating and the animals were kept underfed.

One Saturday night, Mr. Jones got drunk in the Red Lion and forgot to feed the animals. The cows broke in the door of the storage shed and, thus all animals helped themselves to food. When Mr Jones tried to stop and whip the animals, they fought back. Jones, his family, and his men ran out of the farm.

The animals, seeing what they had accomplished and realizing that they were free, destroyed the farmer’s tools and the symbols of their bondage, such as bits, nose rings, and halters. They burned everything that reminded them of their oppressor. After that, they all sang ‘Beasts of England’ seven times before they could go to sleep.

The next morning the animals hurled themselves into the air with leaps of excitement and gazed around in the morning light. They all agreed on the point that no animal must ever live there. In the meantime, the pigs had taught themselves to read and write and renamed Manor Farm as Animal Farm.

On the bam wall they wrote the basic tenets of Animalism as Seven Commandments :

• Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
• Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
• No animal shall wear clothes.
• No animal shall sleep in a bed.
• No animal shall drink alcohol.
• No animal shall kill any other animal.
• All animals are equal.

All animals agreed to them. just before the animals moved out to the hayfield to harvest, they realized that the cows needed milking, so the pigs decided to do the job. When the animals wondered about what would be done with the buckets of milk, Napoleon told them not to worry. Soon after when the animals returned from the hayfield, they noticed that the milk in the buckets had disappeared.

Animal Farm Chapter 1 Summary Word Meanings:

1. Dissentient – Refusing to attend service of the church in England
2. Resolution – A decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
3. Tyrant – A cruel and oppressive dictator
4. Tyranny – Government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
5. Tread – Put down or press the foot, place the foot
6. Rebellion – Organized opposition to authority
7. Tidings – Information about recent and important events
8. Knacker – Someone who buys up old horse for slaughter
9. Cynical – Believing the worst of human nature and motives
10. Majestic – Having or displaying great dignity or nobility
11. Lurch – Walk as if unable to control one’s movements
12. Confinement – The state of being enclosed

Animal Farm Chapter 1 Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
” your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that man and the animals have a common interest we must not come to resemble him No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade.”
(i) Who is the speaker of the above lines? Where is the speaker at this moment and why?
(ii) Name the animals who attended the meeting.
(iii) How does the rebellion finally happen?
(iv) According to the speaker, how are animals different from men?
(v) What are the Seven Commandments of the Animal Farm?
Answer:
(i) The above lines were spoken by the Old Major, a boar. The speaker was at the big barn when he spoke these lines. He was standing on a raised platform. He was addressing a gathering of animals and was telling them the ill ways of man and about his dream.

(ii) All the animals of the farm had gathered for the meeting. The pigs- Snowball, Napoleon etc., Boxer the horse, Clover the mare, Muriel the goat, Benjamin the donkey. Only Moses the raven was absent from the meeting.

(iii) Major had incited all the animals that the rebellion must happen. The drunkard owner of the farm, Mr Jones, forgot to feed the animals one day. Overtaken by starvation and years of exploitation, the animals broke through their stalls. They then chased away Jones and his men.

(iv) According to Old Major, man was very different from the animals. The animals produced their own food and were hardworking. However, the man was selfish and he exploited the animals to get food and other things.

(v) The Seven Commandments of the Animal Farm were :

• Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
• Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
• No animal shall wear clothes.
• No animal shall sleep in bed.
• No animal shall drink alcohol.
• No animal shall kill an other animal.
• All animals are equal.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
‘Comardes’, he said,’here is a point that must be settled.’
The wild creatures, such as rats and rabbits- are they our friends or our enemies?
Let us put it to the vote. I propose this question to the meeting: “Are rats comrades ?”
(i) Name the speaker. What makes the speaker say the above words?
(ii) What is done immediately after this extract? What is found out?
(iii) What advice does the speaker give to the comrades?
(iv) The speaker talks about his dream later. What does he say about his dream?
(v) What is the effect of the song that is sung later? How do the comrades sing the song? How is the song interrupted?
Answer:
(i) The speaker of these lines is the Old Major, a prize-winning boar. The gathering was disturbed by the entry of the rats. The cats and dogs did not like them and they were a threat to the farm. However, the Old Major thought that all animals were equal in the rebellion and they had just one enemy and that was man.

(ii) Immediately after this, a vote was taken to ascertain whether the animals should consider rats as comrades or not. There was an overwhelming majority to support this. Only the dogs had opposed the motion while the cats had voted on both sides.

(iii) Old Major told the animals that they had only one common enemy and that was man. He advised them not to follow his ways ever in their lives. Instead, they should remain hostile to him and all animals must rebel against his tyranny.

(iv) Old Major talked about the dream that he had the previous night. In his dream, all men had vanished from Earth. It also reminded him of a song, “Beasts of England”, that he had long forgotten. The song was sung by his mother and other sons.

(v) The Old Major started singing a song, “Beasts of England”. Everybody picked up the tune and the lyrics of the song sooner or later. The song threw them into the wildest excitement. Even the stupidest of them were singing it. The uproar awoke Mr Jones and he, fearing that a fox had entered the farm, fired his gun. The bang of the gun scared all the animals and they ran to their respective sheds.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tiding Of the golden future time.
(i) Who sings these lines and why?
(ii) What is the significance of these lines?
(iii) Is the Old Major responsible for Rebellion?
(iv) Explain how does the Rebellion come about?
(v) What happens after the Rebellion is over?
Answer:
(i) These lines constitute the first verse of the song that Old Major hears in his dream, and which he teaches to the rest of the animals during the fateful meeting in the barn. All the animals sing these lines at the end of the meeting called by Old Major.

(ii) As it spreads rapidly across the other farms, the song gives the beasts both courage and solace on many occasions. The lofty optimism of the words “golden future time,” which appear in the last verse as well, serves to keep the animals focused on the Rebellion’s goals so that they will ignore the suffering along the way.

(iii) Yes, the Old Major is responsible for the Rebellion. It’s he who sows the seed of Rebellion in the minds of the animals. Even though he dies after a few nights after planting the ideas but he’s the one who brings about a revolution on the Animal Farm.

(iv) After the death of Old Major, Napoleon and Snowball, the more intelligent of the animals, developed Major’s ideas into a complete system of thought-Animalism. They went about instigating the other animals with those principles. Soon they got an opportunity to put them to use and when Jones started neglecting the animals they openly attacked him and his men which led to the expulsion of Jones from Animal Farm.

(v) After the Rebellion is over and Napoleon acquires control over the farm, The song’s revolutionary nature becomes dangerous. Squealer discourages animals from singing it, noting that the song was the song of the Rebellion. Now that the Rebellion is over and a new regime has gained power, Squealer fears the power of such idealistic, future-directed lyrics. Wanting to discourage the animals’ capacities for hope and vision, he orders Minimus to write a replacement for “Beasts of England” that praises Napoleon and emphasizes loyalty to the state.

Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“All men are enemies. All animals arficomrades. Whatever goes upon two legs in an enemy”.
(i) Who is the speaker of these lines? To whom are these lines addressed?
(ii) What are the reasons for these lines to be said?
(iii) What are the basic values which the speaker of these lines dreams about?
(iv) What does he warn the listeners about?
(v) Do you think the listeners are able to achieve the dreams and aspirations of the speaker?
Answer:
(i) The speaker of these lines is Old Major. These lines are addressed to all the animals who are present in the meeting called by Old Major.

(ii) The reason he says all these lines to the animals is, because he had dreamt of a world where all the animals are free and liberated. He calls a meeting to convey his message to all the animals on the farm.

(iii) The basic values that the Old Major dreams about are

• a world in which all the animals are free and equal,
• where they don’t have to serve any human beings and
• lead a life free of misery and slavery.

(iv) The Old Major warns his listeners about Man, a species which consumes without producing. He informs the animals that all habits of “Man” are evil. He is selfish and can never treat animals equally so they should stay away from Man as far as possible.

(v) The listeners are able to gain independence and freedom for a short period of time till some other animals i.e., pigs gain ascendancy and leadership and started ruling over the other animals.