George Orwell(A famous English novelist and essayist, known for his dystopian novels and social commentary. [ʤɔrʤ ˈɔrˌwɛl])
Animal Farm(A satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell, published in England on 17 August 1945. [ˈænəməl fɑrm])
I(The speaker or writer referring to themself. [aɪ])
Mr. Jones(The owner of Manor Farm in the story. [ˈmɪstər ʤoʊnz]), of the Manor Farm(Indicates Mr. Jones's ownership or association with the Manor Farm. [əv ðə ˈmænər fɑrm]), had locked(Past perfect tense of 'to lock', indicating an action completed before another action in the past. [hæd lɑkt]) the hen-houses(Buildings where hens are kept. [ðə hen-houses]) for the night(Indicates the purpose of locking the hen-houses was for the duration of the night. [fər ðə naɪt]), but(A conjunction indicating a contrast. [bət]) was too drunk(Indicates Mr. Jones was inebriated to an excessive degree. [wɑz tu drəŋk]) to remember(Indicates the consequence of being drunk was the inability to recall something. [tɪ rɪˈmɛmbər]) to shut(To close. [tɪ ʃət]) the popholes(Small openings in the hen-house for the hens to enter and exit. [ðə popholes]). With(Expressing accompaniment or possession. [wɪθ]) the ring of light(The circular area illuminated by the lantern. [ðə rɪŋ əv laɪt]) from his lantern(The source of the light, a portable lamp. [frəm hɪz ˈlæntərn]) dancing(Moving erratically or quickly. [ˈdænsɪŋ]) from side to side(Indicates the direction of the light's movement. [frəm saɪd tɪ saɪd]), he lurched(Moved unsteadily. [hi lərʧt]) across the yard(Indicates movement over the open area surrounding the farm buildings. [əˈkrɔs ðə jɑrd]), kicked off(Removed by kicking. [kɪkt ɔf]) his boots(Type of footwear. [hɪz buts]) at the back door(Location where the boots were removed. [æt ðə bæk dɔr]), drew himself(Poured for himself. [dru hɪmˈsɛlf]) a last glass of beer(The final serving of beer. [ə læst glæs əv bɪr]) from the barrel(The container holding the beer. [frəm ðə ˈbɛrəl]) in the scullery(A small kitchen or room for washing dishes and doing dirty work. [ɪn ðə scullery]), and made his way(Proceeded. [ənd meɪd hɪz weɪ]) up to bed(Indicates movement towards the place of sleep. [əp tɪ bɛd]), where(At which place. [wɛr]) Mrs. Jones(Mr. Jones's wife. [ˈmɪsɪz ʤoʊnz]) was already snoring(Was already making a loud breathing sound during sleep. [wɑz ɔˈrɛdi sˈnɔrɪŋ]).
As soon as(Immediately after. [ɛz sun ɛz]) the light(Referring to the light. [ðə laɪt]) in the bedroom(Specifies the location of the light. [ɪn ðə ˈbɛˌdrum]) went out(Was extinguished. [wɛnt aʊt]) there was(Indicates existence. [ðɛr wɑz]) a stirring(A slight movement or excitement. [ə stərɪŋ]) and a fluttering(A light, rapid flapping of wings. [ənd ə ˈflətərɪŋ]) all through(Throughout. [ɔl θru]) the farm buildings(The structures on the farm. [ðə fɑrm ˈbɪldɪŋz]). Word had gone round(News had spread. [wərd hæd gɔn raʊnd]) during the day(Specifies when the news spread. [ˈdʊrɪŋ ðə deɪ]) that(Introduces a clause. [ðət]) old Major(The name of an old pig on the farm. [oʊld ˈmeɪʤər]), the prize Middle White boar(Describes Major as a highly valued pig of a specific breed. [ðə praɪz ˈmɪdəl waɪt bɔr]), had had(Past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another action in the past. [hæd hæd]) a strange dream(An unusual or peculiar dream. [ə streɪnʤ drim]) on the previous night(The night before the current day. [ɔn ðə ˈpriviəs naɪt]) and wished(Desired. [ənd wɪʃt]) to communicate it(To share or convey the dream. [tɪ kəmˈjunəˌkeɪt ɪt]) to the other animals(The recipients of the communication. [tɪ ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz]). It had been agreed(A consensus had been reached. [ɪt hæd bɪn əˈgrid]) that(Introduces a clause. [ðət]) they should all meet(They should all gather together. [ðeɪ ʃʊd ɔl mit]) in the big barn(The location of the meeting. [ɪn ðə bɪg bɑrn]) as soon as(Immediately after. [ɛz sun ɛz]) Mr. Jones(The owner of the farm. [ˈmɪstər ʤoʊnz]) was safely out of the way(Was in a location where he could not interfere. [wɑz ˈseɪfli aʊt əv ðə weɪ]). Old Major(Referring to the character Old Major. [oʊld ˈmeɪʤər]) (so he was always called(Explains how Old Major was referred to. [(soʊ hi wɑz ˈɔlˌweɪz kɔld]), though(Despite the fact that. [ðoʊ]) the name(The designation. [ðə neɪm]) under which he had been exhibited(The name he was shown under. [ˈəndər wɪʧ hi hæd bɪn ɪgˈzɪbətəd]) was Willingdon Beauty(The name under which he was exhibited. [wɑz willingdon ˈbjuti])) was so highly regarded(Was held in such high esteem. [wɑz soʊ ˈhaɪli rɪˈgɑrdɪd]) on the farm(Specifies the location of the high regard. [ɔn ðə fɑrm]) that(Introduces a clause. [ðət]) everyone(All the animals. [ˈɛvriˌwən]) was quite ready(Was willing. [wɑz kwaɪt ˈrɛdi]) to lose an hour’s sleep(To sacrifice sleep. [tɪ luz ən aʊərz slip]) in order to hear(For the purpose of hearing. [ɪn ˈɔrdər tɪ hir]) what he had to say(The message he wanted to convey. [wət hi hæd tɪ seɪ]).
At one end of the big barn(describes the location as being at one extremity of a large agricultural building used for storage or livestock [æt wən ɛnd əv ðə bɪg bɑrn]), on a sort of raised platform(indicates a slightly elevated area, acting as a stage or higher surface [ɔn ə sɔrt əv reɪzd ˈplætˌfɔrm]), Major(the name of a character, likely an animal in the story [ˈmeɪʤər]) was already ensconced(means comfortably settled or established; implies a sense of security and being well-positioned [wɑz ɔˈrɛdi ɪnˈskɑnst]) on his bed of straw(describes the bedding material made of dried stalks of grain, providing a comfortable surface [ɔn hɪz bɛd əv strɔ]), under a lantern(positioned beneath a light source, likely for illumination [ˈəndər ə ˈlæntərn]) which hung from a beam(the lantern is suspended from a horizontal structural element, typically made of wood [wɪʧ həŋ frəm ə bim]). He was twelve years old(Major's age is stated as twelve years [hi wɑz twɛlv jɪrz oʊld]) and had lately grown rather stout(he has recently become somewhat overweight or bulky [ənd hæd ˈleɪtli groʊn ˈrəðər staʊt]), but he was still a majestic-looking pig(despite his weight gain, he maintains an impressive and dignified appearance [bət hi wɑz stɪl ə majestic-looking pɪg]), with a wise and benevolent appearance(he looks intelligent and kind [wɪθ ə waɪz ənd bəˈnɛvələnt əˈpɪrəns]) in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut(despite the fact that his canine teeth (tusks) were never trimmed or removed [ɪn spaɪt əv ðə fækt ðət hɪz ˈtʊʃɪz hæd ˈnɛvər bɪn kət]). Before long the other animals began to arrive(soon, the rest of the animals started coming [ˌbiˈfɔr lɔŋ ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz bɪˈgæn tɪ əraɪv]) and make themselves comfortable(settling in and relaxing [ənd meɪk ðɛmˈsɛlvz ˈkəmfərtəbəl]) after their different fashions(each in their own way or according to their individual habits [ˈæftər ðɛr ˈdɪfərənt ˈfæʃənz]). First came the three dogs, Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher(the initial arrivals were the three dogs, named Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher [fərst keɪm ðə θri dɔgz ˈbluˌbɛl ˈʤɛsi ənd ˈpɪnʧər]), and then the pigs(followed by the other pigs [ənd ðɛn ðə pɪgz]), who settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform(they made themselves comfortable in the straw directly before the raised area [hu ˈsɛtəld daʊn ɪn ðə strɔ ˌɪˈmiˌdiətli ɪn frənt əv ðə ˈplætˌfɔrm]). The hens perched themselves on the window-sills(the chickens positioned themselves on the ledges at the bottom of the windows [ðə hɛnz pərʧt ðɛmˈsɛlvz ɔn ðə window-sills]), the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters(the pigeons flew upwards to the beams supporting the roof [ðə ˈpɪʤənz ˈflətərd əp tɪ ðə ˈræftərz]), the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs(the sheep and cows settled down behind the pigs [ðə ʃip ənd kaʊz leɪ daʊn bɪˈhaɪnd ðə pɪgz]) and began to chew the cud(regurgitating and re-chewing partially digested food, a common practice for ruminants [ənd bɪˈgæn tɪ ʧu ðə cud]).The two cart-horses, Boxer and Clover, came in together(the two horses used for pulling carts, named Boxer and Clover, entered at the same time [ðə tu cart-horses ˈbɑksər ənd ˈkloʊvər keɪm ɪn təˈgɛðər]), walking very slowly(moving at a deliberate and unhurried pace [ˈwɔkɪŋ ˈvɛri sˈloʊli]) and setting down their vast hairy hoofs with great care(placing their large, furry feet cautiously [ənd ˈsɛtɪŋ daʊn ðɛr væst ˈhɛri hʊfs wɪθ greɪt kɛr]) lest there should be some small animal concealed in the straw(for fear that a small animal might be hidden in the straw [lɛst ðɛr ʃʊd bi səm smɔl ˈænəməl kənˈsild ɪn ðə strɔ]). Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life(Clover is described as a heavy-set, nurturing female horse nearing middle age [ˈkloʊvər wɑz ə staʊt ˈməðərli mɛr əˈproʊʧɪŋ ˈmɪdəl laɪf]), who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal(she had not regained her pre-pregnancy shape after giving birth to her fourth offspring [hu hæd ˈnɛvər kwaɪt gɑt hər ˈfɪgjər bæk ˈæftər hər fɔrθ foʊl]). Boxer was an enormous beast(Boxer is described as a very large animal [ˈbɑksər wɑz ən ɪˈnɔrmɪs bist]), nearly eighteen hands high(approximately six feet tall, a hand being a unit of measurement for horses [ˈnɪrli ˈeɪˈtin hænz haɪ]), and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together(his strength is equivalent to that of two average horses combined [ənd ɛz strɔŋ ɛz ˈɛni tu ˈɔrdəˌnɛri ˈhɔrsɪz pʊt təˈgɛðər]). A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance(the white marking on his nose made him look a bit unintelligent [ə waɪt straɪp daʊn hɪz noʊz geɪv ɪm ə ˈsəmˈwət ˈstupɪd əˈpɪrəns]), and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence(he was not particularly smart [ənd ɪn fækt hi wɑz nɑt əv ˌfərˈstreɪt ˌɪnˈtɛləʤəns]), but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character(he was widely admired for his reliable and consistent personality [bət hi wɑz ˌjunəˈvərsəli rɪˈspɛktɪd fər hɪz ˈstɛdinɪs əv ˈkɛrɪktər]) and tremendous powers of work(and his exceptional ability to work hard [ənd trɪˈmɛndəs paʊərz əv wərk]). After the horses came Muriel, the white goat, and Benjamin, the donkey(following the horses were Muriel, the white goat, and Benjamin, the donkey [ˈæftər ðə ˈhɔrsɪz keɪm mˈjʊriəl ðə waɪt goʊt ənd ˈbɛnʤəmən ðə ˈdɔŋki]). Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm(Benjamin is the most senior animal on the farm [ˈbɛnʤəmən wɑz ðə ˈoʊldəst ˈænəməl ɔn ðə fɑrm]), and the worst tempered(and has the most irritable or bad-natured disposition [ənd ðə wərst ˈtɛmpərd]). He seldom talked(he rarely spoke [hi ˈsɛldəm tɔkt]), and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark(when he spoke, it was typically to express a pessimistic or distrustful comment [ənd wɪn hi dɪd ɪt wɑz ˈjuʒəwəli tɪ meɪk səm ˈsɪnɪkəl rɪˈmɑrk]) – for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off(as an example, he would say that God provided him with a tail to ward off flies [fər ˈɪnstəns hi wʊd seɪ ðət gɑd hæd ˈgɪvɪn ɪm ə teɪl tɪ kip ðə flaɪz ɔf]), but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies(but he would prefer to have neither a tail nor flies [bət ðət hi wʊd ˈsunər hæv hæd noʊ teɪl ənd noʊ flaɪz]). Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed(unlike all the other animals, he never expressed amusement through laughter [əˈloʊn əˈməŋ ðə ˈænəməlz ɔn ðə fɑrm hi ˈnɛvər læft]). If asked why, he would say that he saw nothing to laugh at(when questioned, he would respond that he found nothing humorous [ɪf æst waɪ hi wʊd seɪ ðət hi sɔ ˈnəθɪŋ tɪ læf æt]).Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer(however, secretly, he cared deeply for Boxer [ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs wɪˈθaʊt ˈoʊpənli ədˈmɪtɪŋ ɪt hi wɑz dɪˈvoʊtɪd tɪ ˈbɑksər]); the two of them usually spent their Sundays together(they typically spent Sundays in each other's company [ðə tu əv ðɛm ˈjuʒəwəli spɛnt ðɛr ˈsənˌdiz təˈgɛðər]) in the small paddock beyond the orchard(in the small enclosed area past the fruit trees [ɪn ðə smɔl ˈpædək bɪɔnd ðə ˈɔrʧərd]), grazing side by side and never speaking(eating grass next to each other without conversing [ˈgreɪzɪŋ saɪd baɪ saɪd ənd ˈnɛvər ˈspikɪŋ]).