"The Manor Farm near Willingdon was a fairly typical small English farm of the time Orwell was writing (1940's)."
"It was a mixed farm, making a profit from the sale of dairy produce, poultry and eggs, a variety of crops and the rearing and sale of pigs and sheep."
" "
"At the beginning of the novel, the farm is in a neglected state, due to the laziness and lack of care of Jones and his men."
"Once the animals take over, many improvements are made."
7
"The farm had only the most primitive machinery and no electricity, so all work was done by hand, by the farmer and his men."
"The machines and improvements later suggested by Snowball were quite innovative for the time."
" "
"Physically, the farm consisted of a cluster of farm buildings around a central yard, and surrounding fields (paddocks) devoted to grazing or crops."
"A few details are revealed in the text of the novel:"
"There was a knoll, the highest point on the farm, in the long field that led to the main road; a spinney (small clump of trees); a stream; a pool; an orchard and a limestone quarry."
"*See Farm Map"
5
"Allegorically, the farm represents Russia, as the neighbouring farms represent Britain and Germany."
"Some details of the farm clearly refer to particular historical places."
"e.g. the farmhouse = Russian Imperial Palace in St Petersburg."
"Harness rooms = prisons"
"The windmill stands for the Russian 5-Year Plans."
