Chapter 4
“the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer, rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with his great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion”
Chap. 3 pg. 28 “I will work harder”
Chapter 4, pg. 37
“I have no wish to take life, not even human life,' repeated Boxer, and his eyes were full of tears."
Snowball and Boxer each receive medals with the inscription “Animal Hero, First Class.”
Chapter 6
Boxer, in particular, commits himself to Animal Farm, doing the work of three horses but never complaining.
Chapter 7
Squealer gives ennobling speeches on the glory of sacrifice, but the other animals acquire their real inspiration from the example of Boxer, who works harder than ever.
The dogs,
apparently without orders, even attack Boxer, who effortlessly knocks them away with his huge hooves.
The terrible bloodshed leaves the animals deeply shaken and confused. After Napoleon leaves, Boxer says that he would never have believed that such a thing could happen on Animal Farm. He adds that the tragedy must owe to some fault in the animals themselves; thus, he commits to working even harder.
Chapter 9
Wearily and weakly, the animals set about rebuilding the windmill. Though Boxer remains seriously injured, he shows no sign of being in pain and refuses to leave his work for even a day. Clover makes him a poultice for his hoof, and he eventually does seem to improve, but his coat doesn’t seem as shiny as before and his great strength seems slightly diminished. He says that his only goal is to see the windmill off to a good start before he retires.
Though no animal has yet retired on Animal Farm, it had previously been agreed that all horses could do so at the age of twelve. Boxer now nears this age, and he looks forward to a comfortable life in the pasture as a reward for his immense labors.
He claims to have been at the great horse’s side as he died and calls it the most moving sight he has ever seen—he says that Boxer died praising the glories of Animal Farm.