Background to Animal Farm Russian Revolutions, Allegories, and Fables… OH MY!

Making it Personal: What do you know about Animal Farm? What do you know about fables? Allegories? Examples?

Genres: Fable Fable: a short story that typically involves animals that talk; conveys a moral The Tortoise and the Hare The Lion and the Mouse The Ants and the Grasshopper

Genre: Allegory Allegory: a story, poem, picture that can be interpreted to have a hidden or symbolic meaning—often political or moral Examples: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis The Wizard of Oz Wall-E by Disney

Genre: Satire Satire: attacking a serious issue by presenting it in a ridiculous light or otherwise poking fun at it Orwell uses satire to expose what he saw as the myth of Soviet socialism. Thus, the novel tells a story that people of all ages can understand, but it also tells us a second story— that of the real-life revolution. Soviet Coat of Arms

the Author: George Orwell Lived from 1903-1950 Real name: Eric Arthur Blair used a pen name so his family wouldn’t be embarrassed by his writing Wrote a lot about social injustice, democratic socialism, and anti-totalitarianism Also well known for writing 1984

Children’s Book? – No! After Animal Farm was published in 1945, George Orwell discovered with horror that booksellers were placing his novel on children’s shelves. According to his housekeeper, he began traveling from bookstore to bookstore requesting that the book be shelved with adult works. This dual identity — as children’s story and adult satire — has stayed with Orwell’s novel for more than fifty years.

Key Words Comrade: a close friend you have worked with, been in the military with, etc.; an equal Tyranny: cruel and unfair treatment by people with power over others Maxim: a well-known phrase that expresses a general truth about life Apathy: not having much emotion or interest

More Key Words: Utopia: imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect Communism: a way of organizing society in which the government owns the things used to make everything and there is not privately owned property Socialism: a way of organizing society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than individuals

Historical Background: Russian Revolution Time: 1917 Czar Nicholas II was overthrown in the Bolshevik Revolution Czar was a poor leader; often cruel; and not well-liked People wanted to rule themselves Anyone know anything else about the last Czar of Russia?

Anastasia

Other Key Historical Players Karl Marx Vladimir Lenin Founder of Communism Lead the revolution; died before it could be completed

Other Key Historical Players Leon Trotsky Joseph Stalin 1 of 2 leaders after the revolution pure communist; wanted to improve the lives of Russians overthrown and exiled by Stalin the other main leader overthrew Trotsky and took over head of Communist party killed all opposition

Predictions… What do you think Animal Farm is going to be about? What do you think the theme might be?