Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 38

Nevertheless, towards the end of January it became obvious that it would be necessary to procure some more grain from somewhere. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public, but spent all his time in the farmhouse, which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs. When he did emerge it was in a ceremonial manner, with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near. Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings, but issued his orders through one of the other pigs, usually Squealer.

• Nevertheless: in spite of that; notwithstanding; however [ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs]
• towards: in the direction of; approaching [təˈwɔrdz]
• the end of January: the final days of the first month of the year [ðə ɛnd əv ˈʤænjuˌɛri]
• it became obvious: it became clear or apparent [ɪt bɪˈkeɪm ˈɑbviəs]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• it would be necessary: it was essential or required [ɪt wʊd bi ˈnɛsəˌsɛri]
• to procure: to obtain or acquire, especially with effort [tɪ proʊˈkjʊr]
• some more grain: an additional quantity of cereal crops [səm mɔr greɪn]
• from somewhere: from an unspecified place [frəm ˈsəmˌwɛr]
• Napoleon: referring to a character named Napoleon [nəˈpoʊljən]
• rarely appeared: seldom showed up; infrequently made an appearance [ˈrɛrli əˈpɪrd]
• in public: openly; where people can see [ɪn ˈpəblɪk]
• but: a conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]
• spent: past tense of 'spend', meaning to pass time [spɛnt]
• all his time: the entirety of his time [ɔl hɪz taɪm]
• in the farmhouse: inside the house on the farm [ɪn ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs]
• which: relative pronoun referring to the farmhouse [wɪʧ]
• was guarded: was protected or watched over [wɑz ˈgɑrdɪd]
• at each door: at every entrance [æt iʧ dɔr]
• by fierce-looking dogs: by dogs that appeared aggressive and dangerous [baɪ fierce-looking dɔgz]
• he did emerge: he actually came out or appeared [hi dɪd ˈimərʤ]
• it was: referring to the manner of his appearance [ɪt wɑz]
• in a ceremonial manner: in a formal and ritualistic way [ɪn ə ˌsɛrəˈmoʊniəl ˈmænər]
• with an escort: accompanied by a protective group [wɪθ ən ˈɛskɔrt]
• of six dogs: a group of six canines [əv sɪks dɔgz]
• who: relative pronoun referring to the dogs [hu]
• closely surrounded: kept him tightly enclosed [ˈkloʊsli sərˈaʊndɪd]
• him: referring to Napoleon [ɪm]
• and: a conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• growled: made a low, guttural sound of hostility [graʊld]
• if: on the condition that; whenever [ɪf]
• anyone came: any person approached [ˈɛniˌwən keɪm]
• too near: too close in proximity [tu nɪr]
• he did not even appear: he didn't even show up [hi dɪd nɑt ˈivɪn əˈpɪr]
• on Sunday mornings: on the mornings of Sundays [ɔn ˈsənˌdi ˈmɔrnɪŋz]
• but: a conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]
• issued his orders: gave his commands or instructions [ˈɪʃud hɪz ˈɔrdərz]
• through: by means of; via [θru]
• one of the other pigs: one of the other swine [wən əv ðə ˈəðər pɪgz]
• usually: generally; normally [ˈjuʒəwəli]
• Squealer: referring to a character named Squealer [squealer]

One Sunday morning Squealer announced that the hens, who had just come in to lay again, must surrender their eggs.

• One Sunday morning: Refers to a specific Sunday morning [wən ˈsənˌdi ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• Squealer: A character's name, likely a pig in the story [squealer]
• announced: Made a formal or public statement [əˈnaʊnst]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• the hens: Female chickens [ðə hɛnz]
• who had just come in to lay again: A relative clause describing the hens, indicating they had recently started laying eggs again [hu hæd ʤɪst kəm ɪn tɪ leɪ əˈgɛn]
• must surrender: Were required to give up [məst sərˈɛndər]
• their eggs: The eggs belonging to the hens [ðɛr ɛgz]

Napoleon had accepted, through Whymper, a contract for four hundred eggs a week.

• Napoleon: A character's name, likely a pig in the story, and the leader [nəˈpoʊljən]
• had accepted: Had agreed to [hæd ækˈsɛptɪd]
• through Whymper: Via Mr. Whymper, acting as an intermediary [θru whymper]
• a contract: A formal agreement [ə ˈkɑnˌtrækt]
• for four hundred eggs a week: Specifies the quantity of eggs required per week in the contract [fər fɔr ˈhənərd ɛgz ə wik]

The price of these would pay for enough grain and meal to keep the farm going till summer came on and conditions were easier.

• The price of these: The money received from selling the eggs [ðə praɪs əv ðiz]
• would pay for: Would be sufficient to purchase [wʊd peɪ fər]
• enough grain and meal: Sufficient quantity of grain and ground grain (meal [ɪˈnəf greɪn ənd mil]
• to keep the farm going: To sustain the farm's operations [tɪ kip ðə fɑrm goʊɪŋ]
• till summer came on: Until the arrival of summer [tɪl ˈsəmər keɪm ɔn]
• and conditions were easier: And circumstances became less difficult [ənd kənˈdɪʃənz wər ˈiziər]

When the hens heard this they raised a terrible outcry.

• When the hens heard this: Upon hearing this news [wɪn ðə hɛnz hərd ðɪs]
• they raised a terrible outcry: They protested loudly and vehemently [ðeɪ reɪzd ə ˈtɛrəbəl ˈaʊtˌkraɪ]

They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary, but had not believed that it would really happen.

• They had been warned earlier: They had received a prior warning [ðeɪ hæd bɪn wɔrnd ˈərliər]
• that this sacrifice might be necessary: That giving up their eggs could be required [ðət ðɪs ˈsækrəˌfaɪs maɪt bi ˈnɛsəˌsɛri]
• but had not believed: But they did not think [bət hæd nɑt bɪˈlivd]
• that it would really happen: That it would actually occur [ðət ɪt wʊd ˈrɪli ˈhæpən]

They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting, and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder.

• They were just getting their clutches ready: They were preparing their nests of eggs [ðeɪ wər ʤɪst ˈgɪtɪŋ ðɛr ˈkləʧɪz ˈrɛdi]
• for the spring sitting: For hatching eggs in the springtime [fər ðə spərɪŋ ˈsɪtɪŋ]
• and they protested: And they objected strongly [ənd ðeɪ ˈproʊˌtɛstəd]
• that to take the eggs away now: That removing the eggs at this time [ðət tɪ teɪk ðə ɛgz əˈweɪ naʊ]
• was murder: Was akin to killing their offspring [wɑz ˈmərdər]

For the first time since the expulsion of Jones there was something resembling a rebellion.

• For the first time: Previously not [fər ðə fərst taɪm]
• since the expulsion of Jones: Since Mr. Jones was removed from the farm [sɪns ðə ɪkˈspəlʃən əv ʤoʊnz]
• there was something resembling a rebellion: There was an action that looked like a revolt [ðɛr wɑz ˈsəmθɪŋ rɪˈzɛmbəlɪŋ ə rɪˈbɛljən]

Led by three young Black Minorca pullets, the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes.

• Led by three young Black Minorca pullets: Headed by three young female chickens of the Black Minorca breed [lɛd baɪ θri jəŋ blæk məˈnɔrkə pullets]
• the hens made a determined effort: The hens tried hard [ðə hɛnz meɪd ə dɪˈtərmənd ˈɛfərt]
• to thwart Napoleon's wishes: To prevent Napoleon from getting what he wanted [tɪ θwɔrt nəˈpoʊliənz ˈwɪʃɪz]

Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs, which smashed to pieces on the floor.

• Their method was: The way they did this was [ðɛr ˈmɛθəd wɑz]
• to fly up to the rafters: To fly to the beams supporting the roof [tɪ flaɪ əp tɪ ðə ˈræftərz]
• and there lay their eggs: And lay their eggs there [ənd ðɛr leɪ ðɛr ɛgz]
• which smashed to pieces on the floor: Which broke into fragments when they hit the floor [wɪʧ smæʃt tɪ ˈpisɪz ɔn ðə flɔr]

Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly.

• Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly: Napoleon took quick and merciless action [nəˈpoʊljən ˈæktɪd sˈwɪftli ənd ˈruθləsli]

He ordered the hens’ rations to be stopped, and decreed that any animal giving so much as a grain of corn to a hen should be punished by death.

• He ordered the hens’ rations to be stopped: He commanded that the hens' food supply be cut off [hi ˈɔrdərd ðə hɛnz ˈræʃənz tɪ bi stɑpt]
• and decreed: And officially declared [ənd dɪˈkrid]
• that any animal giving so much as a grain of corn: That any animal providing even a tiny amount of corn [ðət ˈɛni ˈænəməl ˈgɪvɪŋ soʊ məʧ ɛz ə greɪn əv kɔrn]
• to a hen: To any hen [tɪ ə hɛn]
• should be punished by death: Would be killed as punishment [ʃʊd bi ˈpənɪʃt baɪ dɛθ]

The dogs saw to it that these orders were carried out.

• The dogs saw to it: The dogs ensured [ðə dɔgz sɔ tɪ ɪt]
• that these orders were carried out: That these commands were followed [ðət ðiz ˈɔrdərz wər ˈkɛrid aʊt]

For five days the hens held out, then they capitulated and went back to their nesting boxes.

• For five days the hens held out: The hens resisted for five days [fər faɪv deɪz ðə hɛnz hɛld aʊt]
• then they capitulated: Then they surrendered [ðɛn ðeɪ kəˈpɪʧəˌleɪtɪd]
• and went back to their nesting boxes: And returned to their nests [ənd wɛnt bæk tɪ ðɛr ˈnɛstɪŋ ˈbɑksɪz]

Nine hens had died in the meantime.

• Nine hens had died in the meantime: Nine hens had died during this period [naɪn hɛnz hæd daɪd ɪn ðə ˈminˌtaɪm]

Their bodies were buried in the orchard, and it was given out that they had died of coccidiosis.

• Their bodies were buried in the orchard: Their corpses were put in the ground in the orchard [ðɛr ˈbɑdiz wər ˈbɛrid ɪn ðə ˈɔrʧərd]
• and it was given out: And it was announced [ənd ɪt wɑz ˈgɪvɪn aʊt]
• that they had died of coccidiosis: That they had died from a parasitic disease [ðət ðeɪ hæd daɪd əv coccidiosis]

Whymper heard nothing of this affair, and the eggs were duly delivered, a grocer's van driving up to the farm once a week to take them away.

• Whymper heard nothing of this affair: Whymper was not informed about this event [whymper hərd ˈnəθɪŋ əv ðɪs əˈfɛr]
• and the eggs were duly delivered: And the eggs were delivered as agreed [ənd ðə ɛgz wər ˈduli dɪˈlɪvərd]
• a grocer's van driving up to the farm once a week: A delivery truck from a grocery store coming to the farm weekly [ə ˈgroʊsərz væn ˈdraɪvɪŋ əp tɪ ðə fɑrm wəns ə wik]
• to take them away: To collect the eggs [tɪ teɪk ðɛm əˈweɪ]