Question

What is the new anthem that replaces "Beasts of England"?

• A. "Animal Revolution"
• B. "Comrade Napoleon's Anthem"
• C. Animal Farm, Animal Farm"
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Animal Farm, Animal Farm"

Understanding the Replacement of 'Beasts of England' in Animal Farm

• Original Anthem: 'Beasts of England' was the revolutionary anthem of the animals in George Orwell's allegorical novel, Animal Farm. It symbolized their initial hopes for freedom, equality, and a utopian society after overthrowing human oppressors.
• Composer: The song was taught to the animals by Old Major, the venerable boar whose vision inspired the Animal Revolution. It embodied the core tenets of Animalism.
• Reason for Replacement: As the pigs, led by Napoleon and Squealer, gradually consolidated power and betrayed the principles of Animalism, they suppressed 'Beasts of England'. This was a crucial step in their manipulation and control of the other animals. The song's hopeful and revolutionary message became inconvenient and even dangerous to the pigs' totalitarian regime, as it reminded animals of their original ideals.
• First Replacement Anthem: The first song to replace 'Beasts of England' was 'Comrade Napoleon', composed by the pig poet, Minimus. This song glorified Napoleon and served as propaganda, shifting the animals' loyalty from revolutionary ideals to the dictator himself.
• Second Replacement Anthem: Later, as the pigs became even more corrupt and indistinguishable from humans, another anthem emerged: 'Animal Farm, Animal Farm'. This final anthem, also likely composed or propagated by the ruling pigs, emphasized the farm itself, but under the pigs' absolute control, rather than the ideals of freedom or equality. It reflects the complete perversion of the revolution.
• Symbolic Significance: The changing anthems in Animal Farm symbolize the progressive erosion of the revolution's original ideals and the rise of totalitarian control. Each replacement marked a further step away from liberation and towards oppression.
• Author and Context: Animal Farm (published 1945) is a satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair). It reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.
• Key Characters Involved:
  • Old Major: The visionary, representing figures like Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin.
  • Napoleon: The dictator pig, representing Joseph Stalin.
  • Snowball: Napoleon's rival, representing Leon Trotsky.
  • Squealer: The propagandist pig, representing the Soviet press (Pravda) or Vyacheslav Molotov.
  • Minimus: The poet pig, representing artists who serve the state's propaganda.
• Orwell's Intent: Orwell, a democratic socialist, wrote Animal Farm as a critique of Stalinism and totalitarianism in general, highlighting how revolutionary ideals can be corrupted and twisted by power.