Explain the significance of the barn in the novel as a whole.

In Animal Farm, the barn acts as an important symbol for two reasons.

First of all, the barn represents the animals' vision of utopia. It is the scene of Major's speech in Chapter One, for example, in which he talks of the inhumanity of man and the need for revolution. It is also the place in which he teaches the animals the song "The Beasts of England." Similarly, it is also the scene of...

In Animal Farm, the barn acts as an important symbol for two reasons.

First of all, the barn represents the animals' vision of utopia. It is the scene of Major's speech in Chapter One, for example, in which he talks of the inhumanity of man and the need for revolution. It is also the place in which he teaches the animals the song "The Beasts of England." Similarly, it is also the scene of Mr Jones' cruelty, when he fires shots at the barn to silence the animals during this meeting.

The Seven Commandments are also inscribed on the end wall of the barn. Again, these commandments represent the utopian ideals of the animals. They envisage a society in which animals are not dominated by man and thus emphasise equality and liberty.

Secondly, the barn is symbolic of the loyalty and dedication of the working animals on Animal Farm. As the leadership of the pigs intensifies, for example, they move further away the barn and it is left to those who perform the majority of the work. This occurs in Chapter Six and is justified by Squealer as being necessary for all the "brainwork" they have to do during the day. Over time, the pigs completely remove themselves from the barn, a move that is symbolic of their social distinction, and which spells disaster for the other animals.