How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
All the animals were now present except Moses, the tame raven, who slept on a perch behind the back door. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively, he cleared his throat and began: (1.5)
Orwell starts us off with a bang: the raven is "tame" and absent when Old Major lays out his dream. Notice the emphasis on "tame"—as though religion is just a subset of the corrupt power structure that Mr. Jones heads.
Quote #2
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the golden future time.
Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,
And the fruitful fields of England
Shall be trod by beasts alone.
Rings shall vanish from our noses,
And the harness from our back,
Bit and spur shall rust forever,
Cruel whips no more shall crack.
Riches more than mind can picture,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
Shall be ours upon that day.
Bright will shine the fields of England,
Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.
For that day we all must labour,
Though we die before it break;
Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,
All must toil for freedom's sake.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken well and spread my tidings
Of the golden future time. (1.19)
Hm. This sounds a lot like some version of paradise. It's no Sugarcandy Mountain, but it is a vision of peaceful harmony and leisure. Is Old Major's dream just another form of religion?
Quote #3
These three had elaborated Old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought, to which they gave the name of Animalism. Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. (2.3)
Secret meetings, an "ism" name—yep. Sounds a lot like a religion to us. All it needs is a charismatic leader, and… oh. It has that, too.