Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 28

Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others.

• Afterwards: after a particular time or event [ˈæftərwərdz]
• Squealer: name of a character [squealer]
• was sent: past tense of 'to be sent', meaning to be directed or dispatched [wɑz sɛnt]
• round: around; in a circular or encompassing manner [raʊnd]
• the farm: the agricultural land and buildings [ðə fɑrm]
• to explain: to make clear or understandable [tɪ ɪkˈspleɪn]
• the new arrangement: the recently established plan or agreement [ðə nu ərˈeɪnʤmənt]
• to the others: to the remaining animals or individuals [tɪ ðə ˈəðərz]

‘Comrades,’ he said, ‘I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself.

• Comrades: a term of address suggesting fellowship and common cause, often used in socialist or communist contexts [‘‘comrades’*’]
• he said: indicates that the following words are a direct quote from a male character [hi sɛd]
• I trust: I believe; I have confidence [aɪ trəst]
• that every animal here: that each and every animal present in this location [ðət ˈɛvəri ˈænəməl hir]
• appreciates: understands the value of; is grateful for [əˈpriʃiˌeɪts]
• the sacrifice: the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else [ðə ˈsækrəˌfaɪs]
• that Comrade Napoleon: referring to Napoleon, using the term 'Comrade' to denote a fellow member of the animal community [ðət ˈkɑmˌræd nəˈpoʊljən]
• has made: has performed or carried out [həz meɪd]
• in taking: in the act of assuming or accepting [ɪn ˈteɪkɪŋ]
• this extra labour: this additional work or burden [ðɪs ˈɛkstrə ˈleɪbər]
• upon himself: taking responsibility for it personally [əˈpɑn hɪmˈsɛlf]

Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure!

• Do not imagine: do not think or believe [du nɑt ˌɪˈmæʤən]
• comrades: fellow members; friends [ˈkɑmˌrædz]
• that leadership: the act of leading or guiding a group [ðət ˈlidərˌʃɪp]
• is a pleasure: is something enjoyable or easy [ɪz ə ˈplɛʒər]

On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility.

• On the contrary: conversely; on the opposite side [ɔn ðə ˈkɑntrɛri]
• it is: it refers to leadership [ɪt ɪz]
• a deep and heavy responsibility: a serious and burdensome obligation [ə dip ənd ˈhɛvi riˌspɑnsəˈbɪləti]

No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal.

• No one: not a single person [noʊ wən]
• believes: accepts as true; has faith in [bɪˈlivz]
• more firmly: with greater conviction [mɔr ˈfərmli]
• than Comrade Napoleon: than Napoleon [ðən ˈkɑmˌræd nəˈpoʊljən]
• that all animals: that every animal [ðət ɔl ˈænəməlz]
• are equal: have the same rights and status [ər ˈikwəl]

He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves.

• He would be: he refers to Napoleon [hi wʊd bi]
• only too happy: very willing and pleased [ˈoʊnli tu ˈhæpi]
• to let you: to allow you [tɪ lɛt ju]
• make your decisions: formulate and choose your own courses of action [meɪk jʊr dɪˈsɪʒənz]
• for yourselves: independently; without guidance [fər ˈjɔrsɛlvz]

But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?

• But sometimes: however; occasionally [bət ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]
• you might: you could possibly [ju maɪt]
• make the wrong decisions: choose courses of action that are incorrect or detrimental [meɪk ðə rɔŋ dɪˈsɪʒənz]
• comrades: fellow members; friends [ˈkɑmˌrædz]
• and then: and in that case [ənd ðɛn]
• where should we be: what would become of us; what would our situation be [wɛr ʃʊd wi bi]

‘He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed,’ said somebody.

• He: Referring to a male individual, in this context, likely an animal character [‘‘he]
• fought: Past tense of 'fight', meaning to engage in a battle or struggle [fɔt]
• bravely: In a courageous manner [ˈbreɪvli]
• at: Indicates location or participation [æt]
• the Battle of the Cowshed: A specific battle named 'The Battle of the Cowshed' [ðə ˈbætəl əv ðə cowshed]
• said: Past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]
• somebody: An unspecified person [ˈsəmˌbɑdi]

‘Bravery is not enough,’ said Squealer.

• Bravery: Courageous behavior or quality [‘‘bravery]
• is: Present tense of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
• not: Negation [nɑt]
• enough: Sufficient or adequate [ɪˈnəf]
• said: Past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]
• Squealer: Name of a character [squealer]

‘Loyalty and obedience are more important.

• Loyalty: Faithfulness or devotion to a person, country, group, or cause [‘‘loyalty]
• and: Conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• obedience: Compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority [oʊˈbidiəns]
• are: Present tense of the verb 'to be', plural form [ər]
• more: Greater in amount, number, or degree [mɔr]
• important: Of great significance or value [ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt]

And as to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated.

• And: Conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• as to: With regard to; concerning [ɛz tɪ]
• the Battle of the Cowshed: A specific battle named 'The Battle of the Cowshed' [ðə ˈbætəl əv ðə cowshed]
• I: First-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• believe: To accept something as true; to have faith in [bɪˈliv]
• the time: A point or period when something occurs [ðə taɪm]
• will: Auxiliary verb used to express future tense [wɪl]
• come: To move or travel towards or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker [kəm]
• when: At or during the time that [wɪn]
• we: First-person plural pronoun [wi]
• shall: Auxiliary verb used to express future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• find: To discover or perceive [faɪnd]
• that: Conjunction used to introduce a subordinate clause [ðət]
• Snowball's: Possessive form of the name 'Snowball', indicating ownership or association [sˈnoʊˌbɔlz]
• part: A portion or share of something [pɑrt]
• in: Expressing the situation of something surrounded or enclosed [ɪn]
• it: Referring to the Battle of the Cowshed [ɪt]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• much: A large amount or degree of [məʧ]
• exaggerated: Represented as greater than is actually the case [ɪgˈzæʤərˌeɪtɪd]

Discipline, comrades, iron discipline!

• Discipline: The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience [ˈdɪsəplən]
• comrades: A colleague or fellow member of an organization, especially in a leftist political movement; friends [ˈkɑmˌrædz]
• iron: Resembling iron in color, strength, or other properties [aɪərn]
• discipline: The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience [ˈdɪsəplən]

That is the watchword for today.

• That: Referring to something previously mentioned or known [ðət]
• is: Present tense of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
• the watchword: A word or phrase used to rally support or signal a particular belief or aim [ðə ˈwɑʧˌwərd]
• for: Expressing the purpose or reason for something [fər]
• today: The current day [təˈdeɪ]

One false step, and our enemies would be upon us.

• One: The number 1 [wən]
• false: Not correct or true; erroneous [fɔls]
• step: An act or movement of putting one foot in front of the other in walking or running [stɛp]
• and: Conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• our: Belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people [ɑr]
• enemies: A person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something [ˈɛnəmiz]
• would: Auxiliary verb used to express a conditional or possible event [wʊd]
• be: To exist or occur [bi]
• upon: More formal way of saying 'on' [əˈpɑn]
• us: Objective form of 'we' [ˈjuˈɛs]

Once again this argument was unanswerable.

• Once: One time only [wəns]
• again: Another time; once more [əˈgɛn]
• this: Referring to something nearby or being mentioned [ðɪs]
• argument: A reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong [ˈɑrgjəmənt]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• unanswerable: Not able to be refuted or disproved [ˌəˈnænsərəbəl]

Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back, then the debates must stop.

• Certainly: Without doubt; definitely [ˈsərtənli]
• the animals: Plural of animal, referring to the animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• did: Auxiliary verb used for emphasis or to form questions [dɪd]
• not: Negation [nɑt]
• want: To have a desire for something [wɔnt]
• Jones: Name of a character [ʤoʊnz]
• back: To the original place or condition [bæk]
• if: Conditional conjunction [ɪf]
• the holding: The act of possessing or controlling something [ðə ˈhoʊldɪŋ]
• of: Expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• debates: A formal discussion on a particular topic in which opposing arguments are put forward [dəˈbeɪts]
• on: Expressing the surface of something [ɔn]
• Sunday: The first day of the week [ˈsənˌdi]
• mornings: The early part of the day [ˈmɔrnɪŋz]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• liable: Responsible by law; likely to do or be something [ˈlaɪəbəl]
• to: Expressing direction or purpose [tɪ]
• bring: To take or go with someone or something to a place [brɪŋ]
• him: Objective form of 'he', referring to Jones [ɪm]
• back: To the original place or condition [bæk]
• then: At that time; also [ðɛn]
• the debates: A formal discussion on a particular topic in which opposing arguments are put forward [ðə dəˈbeɪts]
• must: Expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• stop: To cease doing something [stɑp]

‘If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right.’ And from then on he adopted the maxim, ‘Napoleon is always right,’ in addition to his private motto of ‘I will work harder’.

• If: Used to introduce a conditional clause [‘‘if]
• Comrade: A term used to address or refer to a fellow member of a socialist or communist organization [ˈkɑmˌræd]
• Napoleon: Referring to Napoleon, a pig leader in the story [nəˈpoʊljən]
• says: States or declares something [sɪz]
• it: Refers to what Napoleon says [ɪt]
• it must be: Expresses certainty or necessity [ɪt məst bi]
• from then on: From that point forward; from that time onward [frəm ðɛn ɔn]
• he: Referring to an unspecified character who adopted the maxim [hi]
• adopted: Began to use or follow [əˈdɑptəd]
• the maxim: A general truth or rule of conduct; a principle [ðə ˈmæksəm]
• Napoleon is always right: The maxim being adopted, indicating unquestioning belief in Napoleon's correctness [‘‘napoleon ɪz ˈɔlˌweɪz right’*’]
• in addition to: Besides; as well as [ɪn əˈdɪʃən tɪ]
• his: Referring to the same character's [hɪz]
• private motto: A personal saying or guiding principle [ˈpraɪvət ˈmɑtoʊ]
• of: Introducing the content of the motto [əv]

By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Every Sunday morning at ten o'clock the animals assembled in the big barn to receive their orders for the week. The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff, beside the gun. After the hoisting of the flag the animals were required to file past the skull in a reverent manner before entering the barn. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. Napoleon, with Squealer and another pig named Minimus, who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems, sat on the front of the raised platform, with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them, and the other pigs sitting behind. The rest of the animals sat facing them in the main body of the barn. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style, and after a’ single singing of ‘Beasts of England’ all the animals dispersed.

• By this time: At this point in the narrative [baɪ ðɪs taɪm]
• the weather: The atmospheric conditions [ðə ˈwɛðər]
• had broken: Changed for the worse, typically referring to a change in weather [hæd ˈbroʊkən]
• and: Connects two related events [ənd]
• the spring ploughing: The act of preparing the land for planting in the spring [ðə spərɪŋ ploughing]
• where: Indicates the location [wɛr]
• Snowball: Referring to Snowball, a pig character [sˈnoʊˌbɔl]
• had drawn: Had created a drawing [hæd drɔn]
• his plans: The designs or blueprints [hɪz plænz]
• of the windmill: Plans for constructing a windmill [əv ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• had been shut up: Had been closed and secured [hæd bɪn ʃət əp]
• and: Connects two related actions [ənd]
• it: Refers to the shed [ɪt]
• was assumed: It was believed or supposed [wɑz əˈsumd]
• that: Introduces the content of the assumption [ðət]
• the plans: Referring to Snowball's plans [ðə plænz]
• had been rubbed off: Had been erased or removed [hæd bɪn rəbd ɔf]
• at ten o'clock: At the specific time of 10:00 AM [æt tɛn əˈklɑk]
• the animals: The collective group of animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• assembled: Gathered together [əˈsɛmbəld]
• in the big barn: In the large barn structure [ɪn ðə bɪg bɑrn]
• to receive: For the purpose of getting [tɪ rɪˈsiv]
• their orders: The instructions or commands [ðɛr ˈɔrdərz]
• of old Major: Referring to the skull of old Major, a deceased pig [əv oʊld ˈmeɪʤər]
• now clean of flesh: With all the flesh removed [naʊ klin əv flɛʃ]
• had been disinterred: Had been dug up or exhumed [hæd bɪn disinterred]
• from the orchard: From the area where fruit trees are grown [frəm ðə ˈɔrʧərd]
• and: Connects two related actions [ənd]
• set up: Placed or erected [sɛt əp]
• on a stump: On the remaining part of a tree trunk after it has been cut down [ɔn ə stəmp]
• at the foot of: At the base of [æt ðə fʊt əv]
• the flagstaff: The pole on which a flag is flown [ðə ˈflægˌstæf]
• beside: Next to; alongside [ˌbiˈsaɪd]
• the hoisting: The act of raising [ðə ˈhɔɪstɪŋ]
• of the flag: Raising the flag [əv ðə flæg]
• the animals: The animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• were required: Were obligated or expected [wər rikˈwaɪərd]
• to file past: To walk in a line past something [tɪ faɪl pæst]
• the skull: The skull of old Major [ðə skəl]
• in a reverent manner: Showing deep respect and awe [ɪn ə ˈrɛvərənt ˈmænər]
• before: Prior to [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• entering: Going into [ˈɛnərɪŋ]
• they: Referring to the animals [ðeɪ]
• did not sit: Did not take a seat [dɪd nɑt sɪt]
• all together: In a unified group [ɔl təˈgɛðər]
• as: In the same way that [ɛz]
• they had done: They had previously acted [ðeɪ hæd dən]
• with: Accompanied by [wɪθ]
• Squealer: Referring to Squealer, another pig character [squealer]
• and: Connects Squealer with another pig [ənd]
• another pig: An additional pig character [əˈnəðər pɪg]
• named Minimus: Whose name is Minimus [neɪmd minimus]
• who: Referring to Minimus [hu]
• had: Possessed [hæd]
• a remarkable gift: An exceptional talent [ə rɪˈmɑrkəbəl gɪft]
• for composing: For creating [fər kəmˈpoʊzɪŋ]
• songs and poems: Musical compositions and written verses [sɔŋz ənd poʊəmz]
• sat: Took a seat [sæt]
• on the front: At the foremost part [ɔn ðə frənt]
• of the raised platform: Of the elevated stage [əv ðə reɪzd ˈplætˌfɔrm]
• with: Accompanied by [wɪθ]
• the nine young dogs: Nine young canine animals [ðə naɪn jəŋ dɔgz]
• forming: Creating [ˈfɔrmɪŋ]
• a semicircle: A half-circle shape [ə semicircle]
• round: Surrounding [raʊnd]
• them: Around Napoleon, Squealer, and Minimus [ðɛm]
• and: Connects the dogs with the other pigs [ənd]
• the other pigs: The remaining pigs [ðə ˈəðər pɪgz]
• sitting: Taking a seat [ˈsɪtɪŋ]
• sat: Took a seat [sæt]
• facing: Looking towards [ˈfeɪsɪŋ]
• them: Facing Napoleon, Squealer, and Minimus [ðɛm]
• in the main body: In the central area [ɪn ðə meɪn ˈbɑdi]
• read out: Announced aloud [rɛd aʊt]
• the orders: The instructions [ðə ˈɔrdərz]
• for the week: For the upcoming week [fər ðə wik]
• in a gruff: In a rough or harsh manner [ɪn ə grəf]
• soldierly style: In a manner resembling a soldier [soldierly staɪl]
• and: Connects the reading with the singing [ənd]
• after: Following [ˈæftər]
• a’ single singing: One instance of singing [ə ˈsɪŋgəl ˈsɪŋɪŋ]
• of: Introducing the song [əv]
• Beasts of England: The name of the song [‘‘beasts əv england’*’]
• all the animals: Every animal [ɔl ðə ˈænəməlz]