Animal Farm By George Orwell Allegory - Satire - Fable “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
(1903-1950)
Real Name: Eric Blair British Political Novelist Born: To English parents in India
After his father retired, Eric and his family moved back to England.
He was sent to boarding school at the age of eight to prepare for Eton, an exclusive prep school. Because he had a scholarship, he was teased and humiliated frequently.
At eighteen, he passed the Empire’s Civil Service Exam and became a police officer in Burma.
1927 Returned in Europe
He chose to live in poverty because he felt guilty for the job he had done in Burma - for having been a part of an oppressive government.
oppressed and helpless He saw poverty as a way to understand the problems of the oppressed and helpless by becoming one of them.
Orwell was a Socialist Socialist: someone who believes that the government should own businesses so that everyone will be equal.
Two Things That Influenced Orwell To Write Animal Farm: His hatred for: Injustice Political Lying
in which separate classes He desired a society in which separate classes would not exist.
His second famous book:
It's a Fable It's an Allegory Most fables have two levels of meaning. On the surface, the fable is about animals, but on a second level, the animals stand for types of people or ideas. The way the animals interact and the way the plot unfolds says something about the nature of people or the value of ideas. Any type of fiction that has multiple levels of meaning in this way is called an allegory.
It's a Satire A composition making fun of something, usually political. Animal Farm makes fun of political society after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Historical Context Russian society in the early twentieth century had two social classes: a tiny minority (bourgeoisie) controlled the country’s wealth. The working class was called the proletariat.
Communism arose in Russia when the nation’s workers & peasants rebelled against and overwhelmed the wealthy and powerful class of capitalists & aristocrats.
This was based on Karl Marx and his
The call for action was . . .
Tsar Nicholas II, monarch of Russia, was forced to abdicate the throne.
His daughter, Anastasia, was lost.
Lenin, a Russian revolutionary, took power in the name of the Communist Party.
When Lenin died, Joseph Stalin & Leon Trotsky competed for control of the Soviet Union.
Stalin banished Trotsky & took control. He began his brutal killings, overseeing the deaths of approximately twenty million Soviet citizens.
Themes 1. Freedom & individual dignity must be guarded very carefully.
Themes 2. Language is a powerful tool; used improperly, it can enslave and confuse us.
Themes 3. Weakness can be dominated by strength, fear, and trickery.
Themes 4. Hope & vision must be kept alive, or we might live like the animals of Manor Farm.
Themes 5. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Characters
Types of Characters Characters: the personalities in a novel Developing Character (Round): a character who changes in some way during the course of the story; usually a major character who has several sides or traits to his personality Static Character (Flat): a character (usually a minor character) who does not change during the story; this kind off character generally has only one or two personality traits. Protagonist: a character who is trying to achieve some goal (usually the main character) Antagonist: a character who is trying to stop the protagonist
Farmer Jones = Czar Nicholas II The irresponsible owner of the farm Lets his animals starve and beats them with a whip Sometimes shows random kindness Czar Nicholas II Weak Russian leader during the early 1900s Often cruel and brutal to his subjects Displays isolated kindess
Snowball = Leon Trotsky Boar who becomes one of the rebellion’s most valuable leaders. After drawing complicated plans for the construction of a windmill, he is chased off of the farm forever by Napoleon’s dogs and thereafter used as a scapegoat for the animals’ troubles. Leon Trotsky A pure communist leader who was influenced by the teachings of Karl Marx. He wanted to improve life for people in Russia, but was driven away by Lenin’s KGB.
Old Major = Karl Marx Old Major Karl Marx An old boar whose speech about the evils perpetrated by humans rouses the animals into rebelling. His philosophy concerning the tyranny of Man is named Animalism. He teaches the animals the song “Beasts of England” Dies before revolution Karl Marx The inventor of communism Wants to unite the working class to overthrow the government. Dies before the Russian Revolution
Napoleon = Joseph Stalin Boar who leads the rebellion against Farmer Jones After the rebellion’s success, he systematically begins to control all aspects of the farm until he is an undisputed tyrant. Joseph Stain The communist dictator of the Soviet Union from 1922-1953 who killed all who opposed him. He loved power and used the KGB (secret police) to enforce his ruthless, corrupt antics.
Other Characters Boxer A strong and hard-working carthorse, Boxer A strong and hard-working carthorse, he shows tremendous faith in the rebellion and its leaders.
Other Characters Squealer A pig with the ability to make any Squealer A pig with the ability to make any idea sound reasonable, he is Napoleon's side-kick and is in charge of communicating to the animals.
Animalism = Communism Animalism Communism Taught my Old Major No rich, but no poor Better life for workers All animals are equal Everyone owns the farm Communism Invented by Karl Marx All people are equal Government owns everything People own the government
Animal Farm Revolution = Russian Revolution Was supposed to make life better for all, but . . . Life was worse at the end. The leaders became the same as, or worse than the other farmers (humans) they rebelled against. Russian Revolution Was supposed to fix the problems created by the Czar, but . . . Life was even worse after the revolution. Stalin made the Czar look like a nice guy.
Animal Farm Trailer