IZ #24.006 - [Shelf Aware] "Animal Farm"
#ShelfAware #Books
“Shelf Aware” is a new weekly series from IZ, featuring questions on one book, movie or artefact from my collection. Some well-known, some lesser-known. I hope you enjoy this series.
For the first edition, I’ve chosen “Animal Farm”, the 1945 novella by George Orwell. I began 2024 by reading the book (quite literally - that was the first reading-related activity I did on the morning of Jan 1 2024). It had been 20+ years since I last read Animal Farm; plus I wanted to read a sequel “Beasts of England” (the subject of an IZ question here).
Quick recap: "Animal Farm" is a classic allegorical work by George Orwell, depicting a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where all animals are equal, free, and happy. However, their utopian dream is quickly corrupted as the pigs, who seize power, become as oppressive as their human predecessors. It’s a small book!
Here are five qs on the classic.
The book’s main ‘villain’ is Napoleon, a pig who takes totalitarian control of the Manor Farm. On which real-life figure was this character based?
For the French translation, George Orwell is said to have suggested the title “Union des républiques socialistes animales”. Why did he suggest this particular title?
Originally, the book had the sub-title “A ____ Story”. What word was in the blank, which Orwell presumably chose as an ironic piece of black humour?
There is a card game at the end of the book, featuring pigs and humans as equals. While Orwell is not on record saying so, this game is considered a reference to a World War II conference between the leaders of the US, USSR, and UK in an Asian capital city. Which city?
In the novel, the construction of a type of building plays an important role in the story. This type of building is also seen in novels like Don Quixote and The Princess Bride. Which building?
#interludez
During World War II, the manuscript of "Animal Farm" was almost lost when a German V-1 flying bomb destroyed Orwell's home. Orwell was not at home, but the manuscript survived and he managed to locate it intact.
Answers
The book’s main ‘villain’ is Napoleon, a pig who takes totalitarian control of the Manor Farm. On which real-life figure was this character based?
ANS: Joseph Stalin. Much of the book is based on Orwell’s distaste for the Soviet experiment.
For the French translation, George Orwell is said to have suggested the title “Union des républiques socialistes animales”. Why did he suggest this particular title?
ANS: To form the acronym URSA, which means “bear”, the symbol of Russia. It also is similar to the acronym USSR.
Originally, the book had the sub-title “A ____ Story”. What word was in the blank, which Orwell presumably chose as an ironic piece of black humour?
ANS: “Fairy”
There is a card game at the end of the book, featuring pigs and humans as equals. While Orwell is not on record saying so, this game is considered a reference to a World War II conference between the leaders of the US, USSR, and UK in an Asian capital city. Which city?
ANS: The Tehran conference
In the novel, the construction of a type of building plays an important role in the story. This type of building is also seen in novels like Don Quixote and The Princess Bride. Which building?
ANS: Windmill
Next week: “The Prestige”. Do tell me what you thought of the concept of this series, and if you’d like me to cover anything else as part of this.
Nice work. love the idea of a deep dive into a book or a movie