Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 9

June came and the hay was almost ready for cutting.

• June: the sixth month of the year [ʤun]
• came: arrived; past tense of 'come' [keɪm]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• the hay: grass that has been cut and dried for use as animal fodder [ðə heɪ]
• was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• almost: nearly; not quite [ˈɔlˌmoʊst]
• ready: prepared; in a suitable state for an action or purpose [ˈrɛdi]
• for cutting: to be cut; prepared to be harvested [fər ˈkətɪŋ]

On Midsummer’s Eve, which was a Saturday, Mr. Jones went into Willingdon and got so drunk at the Red Lion that he did not come back till midday on Sunday.

• On: preposition indicating a specific day or date [ɔn]
• Midsummer’s Eve: the evening before Midsummer Day, traditionally celebrated on June 24th [midsummers iv]
• which: relative pronoun referring to Midsummer's Eve [wɪʧ]
• was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• a Saturday: the day of the week between Friday and Sunday [ə ˈsæˌtɪˌdeɪ]
• Mr. Jones: the name of a person, likely the owner of the farm [ˈmɪstər ʤoʊnz]
• went: past tense of 'go' [wɛnt]
• into: preposition indicating movement to or toward the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]
• Willingdon: a place name [willingdon]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• got: past tense of 'get', meaning 'became' [gɑt]
• so drunk: intoxicated to a high degree [soʊ drəŋk]
• at: preposition indicating location [æt]
• the Red Lion: the name of a pub or inn [ðə rɛd laɪən]
• that: conjunction introducing a result clause [ðət]
• he: pronoun referring to Mr. Jones [hi]
• did not come back: did not return [dɪd nɑt kəm bæk]
• till: until; up to the time of [tɪl]
• midday: the middle of the day; noon [ˈmɪdˌdeɪ]
• on Sunday: the day of the week following Saturday [ɔn ˈsənˌdi]

The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting, without bothering to feed the animals.

• The men: plural of man, referring to the workers on the farm [ðə mɛn]
• had milked: past perfect tense of 'milk', meaning they had extracted milk from [hæd mɪlkt]
• the cows: adult female cattle [ðə kaʊz]
• in: preposition indicating location in time [ɪn]
• the early morning: the first part of the morning [ðə ˈərli ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• then: at that time; next [ðɛn]
• had gone out: past perfect tense of 'go out', meaning they had left to go [hæd gɔn aʊt]
• rabbiting: hunting rabbits [rabbiting]
• without: preposition meaning 'not having' or 'lacking' [wɪˈθaʊt]
• bothering: taking the trouble or effort [ˈbɑðərɪŋ]
• to feed: to give food to [tɪ fid]
• the animals: the creatures on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]

When Mr. Jones got back he immediately went to sleep on the drawing-room sofa with the 'News of the World' over his face, so that when evening came, the animals were still unfed.

• When: conjunction introducing a time clause [wɪn]
• Mr. Jones: the name of a person, likely the owner of the farm [ˈmɪstər ʤoʊnz]
• got back: returned [gɑt bæk]
• he: pronoun referring to Mr. Jones [hi]
• immediately: at once; without delay [ˌɪˈmiˌdiətli]
• went: past tense of 'go' [wɛnt]
• to sleep: to begin sleeping [tɪ slip]
• on: preposition indicating location [ɔn]
• the drawing-room sofa: a couch in a formal living room [ðə drawing-room ˈsoʊfə]
• with: preposition indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]
• over: preposition indicating covering [ˈoʊvər]
• his face: the front part of his head [hɪz feɪs]
• so that: conjunction introducing a result clause [soʊ ðət]
• when: conjunction introducing a time clause [wɪn]
• evening: the period of time at the end of the day [ˈivnɪŋ]
• came: arrived [keɪm]
• the animals: the creatures on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• were still: remained [wər stɪl]
• unfed: not having been given food [unfed]

At last they could stand it no longer.

• At last: finally; after a long time [æt læst]
• they: pronoun referring to the animals [ðeɪ]
• could stand: were able to tolerate [kʊd stænd]
• it: pronoun referring to the situation of being unfed [ɪt]
• no longer: not any more [noʊ ˈlɔŋgər]

One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins.

• One: a single [wən]
• of the cows: belonging to the cows [əv ðə kaʊz]
• broke in: forced entry [broʊk ɪn]
• the door: the entrance to a building or room [ðə dɔr]
• of the store-shed: a shed used for storing goods [əv ðə store-shed]
• with: using [wɪθ]
• her horn: a pointed projection on the head of a cow [hər hɔrn]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• all: every one of [ɔl]
• the animals: the creatures on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• began: started [bɪˈgæn]
• to help themselves: to take what they wanted without permission [tɪ hɛlp ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• from: preposition indicating origin or source [frəm]
• the bins: containers for storing things [ðə bɪnz]

It was just then that Mr. Jones woke up.

• It: pronoun referring to the situation [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• just then: at that precise moment [ʤɪst ðɛn]
• that: conjunction introducing a clause [ðət]
• Mr. Jones: the name of a person, likely the owner of the farm [ˈmɪstər ʤoʊnz]
• woke up: became conscious [woʊk əp]

The next moment he and his four men were in the store-shed with whips in their hands, lashing out in all directions.

• The next moment: immediately after [ðə nɛkst ˈmoʊmənt]
• he: pronoun referring to Mr. Jones [hi]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• his four men: the workers on the farm [hɪz fɔr mɛn]
• were: past tense of 'be' [wər]
• in: preposition indicating location [ɪn]
• the store-shed: a shed used for storing goods [ðə store-shed]
• with: carrying [wɪθ]
• whips: instruments used for striking or flogging [wɪps]
• in their hands: held by them [ɪn ðɛr hænz]
• lashing out: striking violently [ˈlæʃɪŋ aʊt]
• in all directions: everywhere [ɪn ɔl dɪˈrɛkʃɪnz]

This was more than the hungry animals could bear.

• This: pronoun referring to the situation [ðɪs]
• was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• more than: exceeding [mɔr ðən]
• the hungry animals: the creatures on the farm that were feeling hunger [ðə ˈhəŋgri ˈænəməlz]
• could bear: could tolerate [kʊd bɛr]

With one accord, though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand, they flung themselves upon their tormentors.

• With one accord: in complete agreement [wɪθ wən əˈkɔrd]
• though: although [ðoʊ]
• nothing of the kind: nothing like that [ˈnəθɪŋ əv ðə kaɪnd]
• had been: past perfect tense of 'be' [hæd bɪn]
• planned beforehand: arranged in advance [plænd bɪˈfɔˌrhænd]
• they: pronoun referring to the animals [ðeɪ]
• flung themselves: threw themselves forcefully [fləŋ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• upon: onto [əˈpɑn]
• their tormentors: those who inflict suffering on them [ðɛr ˈtɔrˌmɛntərz]

Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides.

• Jones: the last name of a person, likely the owner of the farm [ʤoʊnz]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• his men: the workers on the farm [hɪz mɛn]
• suddenly: quickly and unexpectedly [ˈsədənli]
• found themselves: realized they were [faʊnd ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• being butted: being struck with the head [biɪŋ butted]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• kicked: struck with the foot [kɪkt]
• from all sides: everywhere around them [frəm ɔl saɪdz]

The situation was quite out of their control.

• The situation: the state of affairs [ðə ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃən]
• was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• quite: completely [kwaɪt]
• out of their control: beyond their ability to manage [aʊt əv ðɛr kənˈtroʊl]

They had never seen animals behave like this before, and this sudden uprising of creatures whom they were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose, frightened them almost out of their wits.

• They: pronoun referring to Jones and his men [ðeɪ]
• had never seen: had not ever witnessed [hæd ˈnɛvər sin]
• animals: creatures [ˈænəməlz]
• behave: act [bɪˈheɪv]
• like this: in this way [laɪk ðɪs]
• before: previously [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• this sudden uprising: this unexpected revolt [ðɪs ˈsədən ˈəˌpraɪzɪŋ]
• of creatures: belonging to the animals [əv ˈkriʧərz]
• whom: relative pronoun referring to the creatures [hum]
• they: pronoun referring to Jones and his men [ðeɪ]
• were used to: were accustomed to [wər juzd tɪ]
• thrashing: beating severely [θˈræʃɪŋ]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• maltreating: treating cruelly or violently [maltreating]
• just as: in any way [ʤɪst ɛz]
• they chose: they wanted [ðeɪ ʧoʊz]
• frightened: made afraid [ˈfraɪtənd]
• them: pronoun referring to Jones and his men [ðɛm]
• almost: nearly [ˈɔlˌmoʊst]
• out of their wits: to a state of extreme fear or confusion [aʊt əv ðɛr wɪts]

After only a moment or two they gave up trying to defend themselves and took to their heels.

• After: following [ˈæftər]
• only: just [ˈoʊnli]
• a moment: a short period of time [ə ˈmoʊmənt]
• or two: a small number [ər tu]
• they: pronoun referring to Jones and his men [ðeɪ]
• gave up: stopped trying [geɪv əp]
• trying: making an effort [traɪɪŋ]
• to defend: to protect [tɪ dɪˈfɛnd]
• themselves: their own persons [ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• took to: started [tʊk tɪ]
• their heels: running away [ðɛr hilz]

A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart-track that led to the main road, with the animals pursuing them in triumph.

• A minute later: one minute after [ə ˈmɪnət ˈleɪtər]
• all five: every one of the five [ɔl faɪv]
• of them: belonging to them [əv ðɛm]
• were: past tense of 'be' [wər]
• in full flight: running away as fast as possible [ɪn fʊl flaɪt]
• down: in the direction of [daʊn]
• the cart-track: a path made for carts [ðə cart-track]
• that: relative pronoun referring to the cart-track [ðət]
• led: went [lɛd]
• to: toward [tɪ]
• the main road: the principal road [ðə meɪn roʊd]
• with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
• the animals: the creatures on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• pursuing: chasing [pərˈsuɪŋ]
• them: pronoun referring to Jones and his men [ðɛm]
• in triumph: victoriously [ɪn traɪəmf]

Mrs.

• Mrs: Abbreviation of 'Mistress', a title used before a married woman's surname or full name [ˈmɪsɪz]

Jones looked out of the bedroom window, saw what was happening, hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag, and slipped out of the farm by another way.

• Jones: A common surname, likely referring to a character in the story [ʤoʊnz]
• looked out of: to direct one's gaze towards the outside from within a building [lʊkt aʊt əv]
• the bedroom window: the window of the bedroom, a room for sleeping [ðə ˈbɛˌdrum ˈwɪndoʊ]
• saw: past tense of 'see', meaning to perceive with the eyes [sɔ]
• what was happening: referring to the events that were taking place [wət wɑz ˈhæpənɪŋ]
• hurriedly: in a quick or rushed manner [ˈhəridli]
• flung: past tense of 'fling', meaning to throw forcefully [fləŋ]
• a few possessions: a small number of items that belong to someone [ə fju pəˈzɛʃənz]
• into: expressing movement or direction to enter something [ˈɪntu]
• a carpet bag: a bag made of carpet material, used for traveling [ə ˈkɑrpət bæg]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• slipped out of: to leave quietly or secretly [slɪpt aʊt əv]
• the farm: an area of land and its buildings used for growing crops or raising animals [ðə fɑrm]
• by another way: using a different route or method [baɪ əˈnəðər weɪ]

Moses sprang off his perch and flapped after her, croaking loudly.

• Moses: A proper noun, likely the name of a character [ˈmoʊzɪs]
• sprang off: jumped quickly from [spræŋ ɔf]
• his perch: a place where a bird sits or rests [hɪz pərʧ]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• flapped: moved wings up and down [flæpt]
• after her: following behind her [ˈæftər hər]
• croaking: making a low, harsh sound like a frog [ˈkroʊkɪŋ]
• loudly: in a loud manner [ˈlaʊdli]

Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them.

• Meanwhile: at the same time [ˈminˌwaɪl]
• the animals: the creatures living on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• had chased: past perfect tense of 'chase', meaning to pursue in order to catch or drive away [hæd ʧeɪst]
• Jones: A proper noun, likely the name of a character [ʤoʊnz]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• his men: the people working for Jones [hɪz mɛn]
• out on to: moving from inside to outside and onto a surface [aʊt ɔn tɪ]
• the road: a way or course for traveling between places [ðə roʊd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• slammed: shut forcefully and loudly [slæmd]
• the five-barred gate: a gate with five horizontal bars [ðə five-barred geɪt]
• behind them: at the back of them [bɪˈhaɪnd ðɛm]

And so, almost before they knew what was happening, the Rebellion had been successfully carried through: Jones was expelled, and the Manor Farm was theirs.

• And so: therefore; as a result [ənd soʊ]
• almost before: very shortly before [ˈɔlˌmoʊst ˌbiˈfɔr]
• they knew: past tense of 'know', meaning to be aware of [ðeɪ nu]
• what was happening: the events that were taking place [wət wɑz ˈhæpənɪŋ]
• the Rebellion: an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler [ðə rɪˈbɛljən]
• had been: past perfect continuous tense of 'be' [hæd bɪn]
• successfully: in a successful manner [səkˈsɛsfəli]
• carried through: completed successfully [ˈkɛrid θru]
• Jones: A proper noun, likely the name of a character [ʤoʊnz]
• was expelled: forced to leave [wɑz ɪkˈspɛld]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• the Manor Farm: the main farm on an estate [ðə ˈmænər fɑrm]
• was theirs: belonged to them [wɑz ðɛrz]