Written Assignment English B

TASK 1: RATIONALE

The novel that I have chosen is Animal Farm by George Orwell. I have written an interview in transcript format between Snowball and an interviewer from a local newspaper. The main reason I wrote this interview is because I wanted to show Snowballs side of the story after he was chased out of Animal Farm and was not seen or heard from off again. I chose an interview format because Animal Farm was a hot and controversial topic in England in the story and I assume many media authorities would like to interview Snowball as he was an influential figure in Animal Farm. The situation that I have chosen for Snowball is that he is hiding in a small farm which is not involved in the conflict between Animal Farm, Foxwood and Pinchfield. I wanted to show Snowballs opinion and view of the changes that happened to Animal Farm after Napoleon took full control. I loosely based this continuation of Snowballs story on the history of the Marxist revolutionary, Leon Trotsky whom Snowball is based off in this George Orwell’s allegory.

TASK 2: CREATIVE WRITING

…………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………… Interviewer:

Good Morning Mr. Snowball I am Jon Ahlquist and on behalf of The Daily Bulletin I would like to thank you for agreeing to this Interview. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Snowball:

The pleasure is all mine.

Interviewer:

Lets head straight to the questions shall we? I have been told that you were one of the two most influential figures in Animal Farm. What caused you to be chased out and exiled?

Snowball:

Napoleon… That greedy pig wanted to seize power for himself! He had been raising Jessie’s and Bluebell’s pups to be his own loyal personal bodyguards. He set them on me during one of our Sunday meetings and I narrowly escaped with my life. Then I came here to River Cottage Farm, the owner was kind enough to grant me stay here.

Interviewer:

Do you have any plans of returning to Animal Farm?

Snowball:

Sadly, I don’t see myself ever returning to that farm. Napoleon has started a propaganda campaign against me, convincing the animals that I am to blame for anything bad that happens to Animal Farm. Napoleon has labelled me as a traitor, to ensure that if I ever show my face there again I’ll be met with hostility!

Interviewer:

How did you come about with this information?

Snowball:

There are still a few animals who I can trust. I managed to get a fellow crow to pass messages between me and a loyal comrade. I occasionally meet up with him at night through a secluded corner at the edge of the farm to find out about

the recent happenings. I still care very deeply about my comrades there. Napoleon has done some atrocious things to them. Interviewer:

What has Napoleon changed since he assumed full control of the farm? And what are these atrocities you speak of?

Snowball:

Napoleon has replaced the democracy we struggled for with a bureaucracy. The animals toil through hours of hard labour worse than when Mr Jones was around whilst the pigs live a life of luxury and hoard all the produce. And if anybody steps out of line he’ll threaten to set the dogs on them. He has even carried out public executions on our own comrades! He has made no plans on how to improve the lives of the animals. The future I and Old Major envisioned for the farm is gone.

Interviewer:

What are your future plans for yourself? And would you predict would happen to Animal Farm?

Snowball:

I’m not really sure but I’m not going to stay here for long. I think Napoleon is plotting to assassinate me and I still fear for my life. Maybe I would try and find another farm to settle down far away from here and maybe write a book on Animalism. As for Animal Farm, day by day it’s starting to look like what we fought against in the beginning. I’m not sure but I dread the possibility of the farmers coming back and regaining control.

Interviewer:

Last question, can you explain to me briefly on what is Animalism?

Snowball:

Animalisms main aim is to destroy the class boundaries of farmers and animals. To make sure that the fruits of our labour; the milk, the eggs and all the crops do not get taken away from us. Wistfully, that is not the case in Animal Farm anymore nor do I think it will ever be.

Interviewer:

Once again thank you Mr. Snowball. I pray for your safety and hope the best for you and Animal Farm.