Animal Farm: Chapters 5-6

by George Orwell
What would happen if the Russian Revolution of 1917 took place on a small English farm? This provocative novella blends fable, satire, and allegory while grappling with some of the twentieth-century's most consequential political ideas.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1-2, Chapters 3-4, Chapters 5-6, Chapters 7-8, and Chapters 9-10

Here are links to our lists for other works by George Orwell: 1984, Politics and the English Language, Shooting an Elephant
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. pretext
    a fictitious reason that conceals the real reason
    On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool, where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water.
  2. blithely
    in a joyous, carefree, or unconcerned manner
    One day, as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard, flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay, Clover took her aside.
  3. aloof
    away from another or others
    Only Napoleon held aloof. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start.
  4. procure
    get by special effort
    (How these were to be procured, Snowball did not say.)
  5. faction
    a dissenting clique
    The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogans, “Vote for Snowball and the three-day week” and “Vote for Napoleon and the full manger.”
  6. restive
    in a very tense state
    They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever.
  7. advocate
    speak, plead, or argue in favor of
    When the animals had assembled in the big barn, Snowball stood up and, though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep, set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill.
  8. expulsion
    the act of forcing out someone or something
    In spite of the shock that Snowball’s expulsion had given them, the animals were dismayed by this announcement.
  9. disinter
    dig up for reburial or for medical investigation
    The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff, beside the gun.
  10. arable
    capable of being farmed productively
    And again, since no animal now stole, it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land, which saved a lot of labour on the upkeep of hedges and gates.
  11. solicitor
    a British lawyer who gives legal advice
    A Mr. Whymper, a solicitor living in Willingdon, had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world, and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions.
  12. intermediary
    a negotiator who acts as a link between parties
    A Mr. Whymper, a solicitor living in Willingdon, had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world, and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions.
  13. reconcile
    bring into consonance or accord
    Nevertheless, the sight of Napoleon, on all fours, delivering orders to Whymper, who stood on two legs, roused their pride and partly reconciled them to the new arrangement.
  14. repose
    freedom from activity
    You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties?
  15. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
    There was a cry of indignation, and everyone began thinking out ways of catching Snowball if he should ever come back.
Created on Thu Dec 20 21:40:34 EST 2012 (updated Mon Jul 28 14:07:11 EDT 2025)

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