Animal Farm and The Russian Revolution The history and inspiration for George Orwell’s novel

 George Orwell wrote Animal Farm between November 1943 and February  He wrote a preface to this novel that was never published. In the preface, he explained his purpose in writing Animal Farm.  He was angry that people in Europe admired Soviet Russia.  He wanted to write a critical novel about Joseph Stalin. But Why????

Russian Society  Russia was in an appalling state of poverty while the Tsar lived in luxury. There was tremendous dissatisfaction.

The Key Players

Czar Nicholas II  Czar Nicholas II was Russia’s last czar. He was part of the Romanov dynasty that ruled Russia for over 300 years!  Russian czars lived in a magnificent palace called the Kremlin.  He was a poor leader, but believed he had been appointed by God and held complete political power.  In 1905, he had unarmed protestors murdered in the streets.  In March 1917, there were food riots and army mutinies in Petrograd (a Russian city).  Czar Nicholas couldn’t cope with the difficult situation, so he abdicated the throne.

 Marx believed the workers (proletarians) were the true producers of wealth. But the capitalists (bourgeoisie) owned the means of production – land and industry. Therefore, the capitalists made huge profits while the workers earned just enough to survive. Not fair!  Marx called for “workers of the world” to unite against their capitalist oppressors.  Marx believed that private ownership should be abolished in favor of a “Communal” way of life where everyone shares in the prosperity. Enter Karl Marx

Communism  All people equal  Government owns everything, People own government

The Russian Revolution  The Russian Empire collapsed with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, and the old regime was replaced by a provisional government during the first revolution of February  In the second revolution that October, the Provisional Government was removed and replaced with a Bolshevik (Communist) government.

Vladimir Lenin  Served as Head of Government from  Lenin adopted Marx’s ideas. He believed that the bourgeoisie (middle class) exploited the workers and must therefore be overthrown.  While in power, he changed Russia’s name to the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

Power Vacuum  When Lenin died, there was a power struggle between Trotsky and Stalin.

 Believed in “pure” communism as Marx had described it.  He wanted to improve life for everyone in Russia.  Stalin defeated Trotsky at the Communist Party Congress in 1927 and gained control of the secret police.  Trotsky was chased away by the KGB (secret police) and fled to Mexico City, where a Soviet agent killed him with an axe in Leon Trotsky

 While most Russian leaders belonged to the middle-class, Joseph Stalin was born into the peasant class.  Didn’t follow Marx’s ideas of Communism exactly.  Craved power and was willing do kill for it.  Used KGB and propaganda to keep control. Joseph Stalin

Moscow Purge Trials  By 1936, Stalin began to use what would become known as the Moscow Purge Trials to control workers.  In 1936, sixteen prominent and loyal Communists publicly confessed to unbelievable crimes – spying, terrorism, and plotting with Leon Trotsky.  There was no evidence of their guilt other than the confessions.  All sixteen were immediately executed.  About 70% of the Party leadership became victims of the Great Purge.  These trials served as an example of what would happen to people if they opposed Stalin.

 Under Joseph Stalin, the country fell under totalitarianism – a form of government with strong central rule that tries to control individual freedoms.  Stalin instituted the “Five Years Plan” to increase economic growth, but ordered farms to give most of their produce to the government.  Peasants who opposed Stalin were sent to labor camps, deported, or executed.

 George Orwell wrote Animal Farm between November 1943 and February  He wrote a preface to this novel that was never published. In the preface, he explained his purpose in writing Animal Farm.  He was angry that people in Europe admired Soviet Russia.  He wanted to write a critical novel about Joseph Stalin. But Why????

The Styles of Animal Farm George Orwell wrote Animal Farm using 4 literary styles and techniques. Fairy Story/Tale Fable Satire Allegory

Literary Form  George Orwell decided to write Animal Farm in the form of a fairy story, or fairy tale.  A fairy tale is usually written for children about magical or fantastic events that are not true.  Orwell originally subtitled Animal Farm “a fairy story” in order to stress that it was fantastic, but unfortunately, it was not untrue.  The literary form of the animal fable has been used for centuries.  Animal fables are short stories that teach a moral lesson. They include animals that often talk and act like humans. (Ex: Aesop’s fables)

 Animal fables soon developed into more complex forms of literature called allegories.  An allegory is a story that includes characters, setting, etc. that have both literal and figurative meanings.

 George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an allegory. Therefore, the novel has both a literal and figurative meaning.  On the surface, Animal Farm tells the story of farm animals who are tired of obeying the orders of a cruel master. This is the story’s literal meaning.  A pig is a pig.  It is important to understand that Animal Farm also has a figurative meaning. This novel also tells the story of Soviet Russia during the Russian Revolution.  A pig is a political leader.

Satire  Animal Farm is also written as a satire.  A satire is a form of literature that criticizes a subject by making it seem ridiculous, amusing, or contemptible.  Purpose of satire:  To make a moral judgment  To correct wrongs  To criticize injustices  Animal Farm makes the Soviet Union seem both laughable and despicable.

What to do while we read…  We will be focusing on 2 main areas while reading Animal Farm- Story Structure and Characterization  Story Structure- Plot, Setting, Conflict  Characterization- analyzation of main characters  As we read take notes on story structure in your notebook.  Use established 2 column process  Take notes on characterization on worksheets  Code the text, record evidence, explain significance