Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 63

Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour.

• Napoleon himself: referring to Napoleon, the leader of the pigs [nəˈpoʊljən hɪmˈsɛlf]
• appeared at the meeting: attended the gathering [əˈpɪrd æt ðə ˈmitɪŋ]
• on the following Sunday morning: on the subsequent Sunday morning [ɔn ðə ˈfɑloʊɪŋ ˈsənˌdi ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• and pronounced a short oration: delivered a brief speech [ənd prəˈnaʊnst ə ʃɔrt ɔˈreɪʃən]
• in Boxer's honour: to pay tribute to Boxer [ɪn ˈbɑksərz ˈɑnər]

It had not been possible, he said, to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm, but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave.

• It had not been possible: it was not feasible [ɪt hæd nɑt bɪn ˈpɑsəbəl]
• he said: reporting Napoleon's words [hi sɛd]
• to bring back their lamented comrade's remains: to return the body of their deceased friend [tɪ brɪŋ bæk ðɛr ləˈmɛntɪd comrades rɪˈmeɪnz]
• for interment on the farm: for burial on the farm [fər interment ɔn ðə fɑrm]
• but he had ordered a large wreath: but he had arranged for a big garland [bət hi hæd ˈɔrdərd ə lɑrʤ riθ]
• to be made from the laurels: to be created from the laurel leaves [tɪ bi meɪd frəm ðə ˈlɔrəlz]
• in the farmhouse garden: located in the garden of the farmhouse [ɪn ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs ˈgɑrdən]
• and sent down: and dispatched [ənd sɛnt daʊn]
• to be placed on Boxer's grave: to be positioned on Boxer's burial site [tɪ bi pleɪst ɔn ˈbɑksərz greɪv]

And in a few days’ time the pigs intended to hold a memorial banquet in Boxer's honour.

• And in a few days’ time: soon [ənd ɪn ə fju deɪz taɪm]
• the pigs intended: the pigs planned [ðə pɪgz ˌɪnˈtɛndɪd]
• to hold a memorial banquet: to organize a commemorative feast [tɪ hoʊld ə məˈmɔriəl ˈbæŋkwət]
• in Boxer's honour: to celebrate Boxer's life [ɪn ˈbɑksərz ˈɑnər]

Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims, ‘I will work harder’ and ‘Comrade Napoleon is always right’ – maxims, he said, which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.

• Napoleon ended his speech: Napoleon concluded his address [nəˈpoʊljən ˈɛndɪd hɪz spiʧ]
• with a reminder: by recalling [wɪθ ə riˈmaɪndər]
• of Boxer's two favourite maxims: of Boxer's two preferred sayings [əv ˈbɑksərz tu ˈfeɪvərɪt ˈmæksəmz]
• I will work harder: Boxer's first motto, expressing his dedication to labor [‘‘i wɪl wərk ˈhɑrdər]
• and: connecting the two maxims [ənd]
• Comrade Napoleon is always right: Boxer's second motto, showing his loyalty to Napoleon [‘‘comrade nəˈpoʊljən ɪz ˈɔlˌweɪz raɪt]
• maxims: referring back to the two sayings [–* ˈmæksəmz]
• he said: reporting Napoleon's words [hi sɛd]
• which every animal: that each animal [wɪʧ ˈɛvəri ˈænəməl]
• would do well: should consider [wʊd du wɛl]
• to adopt as his own: to embrace as their personal principles [tɪ əˈdɑpt ɛz hɪz oʊn]

On the day appointed for the banquet a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse.

• On the day appointed for the banquet: Refers to a specific day that was previously chosen or scheduled for a formal celebratory meal [ɔn ðə deɪ əˈpɔɪntɪd fər ðə ˈbæŋkwət]
• a grocer's van: a delivery vehicle belonging to a grocer, a store that sells food and household supplies [ə ˈgroʊsərz væn]
• drove up: arrived by driving a vehicle [droʊv əp]
• from Willingdon: indicating the origin or location from which the van came, likely a town or area named Willingdon [frəm willingdon]
• and delivered: and brought something to a place [ənd dɪˈlɪvərd]
• a large wooden crate: a big container made of wood, typically used for transporting goods [ə lɑrʤ ˈwʊdən kreɪt]
• at the farmhouse: to the location of the farmhouse [æt ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs]

That night there was the sound of uproarious singing, which was followed by what sounded like a violent quarrel and ended at about eleven o'clock with a tremendous crash of glass.

• That night: referring to the night of the day mentioned earlier [ðət naɪt]
• there was the sound of: something could be heard [ðɛr wɑz ðə saʊnd əv]
• uproarious singing: very loud and energetic singing, often indicating merriment or celebration [uproarious ˈsɪŋɪŋ]
• which was followed by: that was succeeded by [wɪʧ wɑz ˈfɑloʊd baɪ]
• what sounded like: seemed to be [wət ˈsaʊndɪd laɪk]
• a violent quarrel: an intense and heated argument or disagreement [ə ˈvaɪələnt kˈwɔrəl]
• and ended: and finished [ənd ˈɛndɪd]
• at about eleven o'clock: approximately at 11:00 PM [æt əˈbaʊt ˈilɛvən əˈklɑk]
• with a tremendous crash of glass: with a very loud noise of glass breaking [wɪθ ə trɪˈmɛndəs kræʃ əv glæs]

No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day.

• No one stirred: nobody moved [noʊ wən stərd]
• in the farmhouse: inside the farmhouse [ɪn ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs]
• before noon: prior to 12:00 PM [ˌbiˈfɔr nun]
• on the following day: on the day after the one previously mentioned [ɔn ðə ˈfɑloʊɪŋ deɪ]

And the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.

• And the word went round: and the rumor spread [ənd ðə wərd wɛnt raʊnd]
• that from somewhere or other: from some unspecified place [ðət frəm ˈsəmˌwɛr ər ˈəðər]
• the pigs had acquired: the pigs had obtained or gained possession of [ðə pɪgz hæd əkˈwaɪərd]
• the money: funds [ðə ˈməni]
• to buy themselves: for the purpose of purchasing for themselves [tɪ baɪ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• another case of whisky: one more box or set of bottles containing whisky [əˈnəðər keɪs əv ˈwɪski]

X

Years passed.

• Years passed: A period of years has gone by. [jɪrz pæst]

The seasons came and went, the short animal lives fled by.

• The seasons: Referring to the four divisions of the year, typically spring, summer, autumn, and winter. [ðə ˈsizənz]
• came and went: A common expression indicating the cyclical nature of the seasons, implying they arrived and then departed. [keɪm ənd wɛnt]
• the short animal lives: Referring to the brief lifespans of the animals on the farm. [ðə ʃɔrt ˈænəməl lɪvz]
• fled by: Passed quickly. [flɛd baɪ]

A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion, except Clover, Benjamin, Moses the raven, and a number of the pigs.

• A time came: A point in time arrived. [ə taɪm keɪm]
• when there was no one: Indicating that nobody existed. [wɪn ðɛr wɑz noʊ wən]
• who remembered: Who had a memory of. [hu rɪˈmɛmbərd]
• the old days: Referring to the time before a significant event. [ðə oʊld deɪz]
• before the Rebellion: Referring to the period preceding the animal uprising. [ˌbiˈfɔr ðə rɪˈbɛljən]
• except: Excluding. [ɪkˈsɛpt]
• Clover, Benjamin, Moses the raven, and a number of the pigs: Listing the characters who still remembered the old days. [ˈkloʊvər ˈbɛnʤəmən ˈmoʊzɪs ðə ˈreɪvən ənd ə ˈnəmbər əv ðə pɪgz]

Muriel was dead.

• Muriel was dead: Muriel, a character, has died. [mˈjʊriəl wɑz dɛd]

Bluebell, Jessie and Pincher were dead.

• Bluebell, Jessie and Pincher were dead: Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher, characters, have died. [ˈbluˌbɛl ˈʤɛsi ənd ˈpɪnʧər wər dɛd]

Jones too was dead-he had died in an inebriates’ home in another part of the county.

• Jones too was dead: Jones, a character, also died. [ʤoʊnz tu wɑz dɛd]
• he had died: He experienced death. [hi hæd daɪd]
• in an inebriates’ home: A place for people suffering from alcohol addiction. [ɪn ən ˌɪˈnɛbriˌeɪts hoʊm]
• in another part of the county: Located in a different area of the region. [ɪn əˈnəðər pɑrt əv ðə ˈkaʊnti]

Snowball was forgotten.

• Snowball was forgotten: Snowball, a character, was no longer remembered. [sˈnoʊˌbɔl wɑz fərˈgɑtən]

Boxer was forgotten, except by the few who had known him.

• Boxer was forgotten: Boxer, a character, was no longer remembered. [ˈbɑksər wɑz fərˈgɑtən]
• except by the few: Excluding a small number of individuals. [ɪkˈsɛpt baɪ ðə fju]
• who had known him: Who had a personal acquaintance with him. [hu hæd noʊn ɪm]

Clover was an old stout mare now, stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes.

• Clover was an old stout mare now: Clover, a character, is now an elderly, strong female horse. [ˈkloʊvər wɑz ən oʊld staʊt mɛr naʊ]
• stiff in the joints: Experiencing difficulty in moving joints due to age or condition. [stɪf ɪn ðə ʤɔɪnts]
• and with a tendency to rheumy eyes: And prone to having watery eyes. [ənd wɪθ ə ˈtɛndənsi tɪ rheumy aɪz]

She was two years past the retiring age, but in fact no animal had ever actually retired.

• She was two years past the retiring age: She was older than the age at which animals were supposed to stop working. [ʃi wɑz tu jɪrz pæst ðə rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ eɪʤ]
• but in fact no animal had ever actually retired: But in reality, no animal had ever stopped working. [bət ɪn fækt noʊ ˈænəməl hæd ˈɛvər ˈæˌkʧuəli rɪˈtaɪrd]

The talk of setting aside a comer of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped.

• The talk of setting aside a comer of the pasture: The discussion about allocating a specific area of grassland. [ðə tɔk əv ˈsɛtɪŋ əˈsaɪd ə ˈkəmər əv ðə ˈpæsʧər]
• for superannuated animals: For animals that are too old to work. [fər superannuated ˈænəməlz]
• had long since been dropped: Had been abandoned a long time ago. [hæd lɔŋ sɪns bɪn drɑpt]

Napoleon was now a mature boar of twenty-four stone.

• Napoleon was now a mature boar: Napoleon, a character, was now a fully grown male pig. [nəˈpoʊljən wɑz naʊ ə məˈʧʊr bɔr]
• of twenty-four stone: Weighing twenty-four stone, a unit of weight. [əv tˈwɛntiˌfɔr stoʊn]

Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes.

• Squealer was so fat: Squealer, a character, was extremely overweight. [squealer wɑz soʊ fæt]
• that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes: That he had trouble seeing because of his weight. [ðət hi kʊd wɪθ ˈdɪfɪˌkəlti si aʊt əv hɪz aɪz]

Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever, except for being a little greyer about the muzzle, and, since Boxer's death, more morose and taciturn than ever.

• Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever: Only Benjamin, a character, remained largely unchanged. [ˈoʊnli oʊld ˈbɛnʤəmən wɑz məʧ ðə seɪm ɛz ˈɛvər]
• except for being a little greyer about the muzzle: Apart from having some grey hairs around his mouth and nose. [ɪkˈsɛpt fər biɪŋ ə ˈlɪtəl greyer əˈbaʊt ðə ˈməzəl]
• and, since Boxer's death, more morose and taciturn than ever: And, since the death of Boxer, more gloomy, bad-tempered, and reserved than before. [ənd sɪns ˈbɑksərz dɛθ mɔr məroʊs ənd ˈtæsɪˌtərn ðən ˈɛvər]