Background information on animal farm

Book was written during World War II. Based on major events from the Soviet Union during the era of Joseph Stalin, communism, and the Russian Revolution Joseph Stalin -> A dictator who was leader of the Soviet Union during World War II. Political party of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Russian Revolution (1917) – many people in poorer classes dealing with poverty were becoming very discontent and upset because of many …

poor and dangerous living conditions, long work hours, low wages, overcrowded housing, and oppression towards the poor and working class caused this discontent. many of these people lived in St. Petersburg which was becoming more and more crowded patience ran out and the workers went on strike and demanded food and better living conditions…this later escalated into riots. Government officials responsible for public order were getting worried about how much of a disaster this would turn into.

the Parliament in Russia told ruler Tsar Nicholas II to run a government to keep things in order, but he ignored it. His regime was overthrown and he and his entire family were executed a year later. Nicholas II was overthrown by the government which later was overthrown by the Bolsheviks who were a party of radicals that wanted to take over Russia and spread communism. Communism - the state and government is all powerful and everyone works equally for the benefit of the state - classes are abolished and property is commonly controlled

Communism (cont’d) - in Russia, many of the poor believed that the property they worked on and took care of should be owned by them - the problem with communism was said to be it lead to a society and life of dictatorship. Allegory - in literature, symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface. The characters in an allegory often have no individual personality, but have displays of moral qualities and other thoughts.

Satire - a literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human downfalls or weakness. - literary art of ridiculing foolishness or stupidity in order to expose or correct it.

Propaganda - the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

Why do you think revolutions occur Why do you think revolutions occur? What circumstances would lead people to overthrow the daily political and economical structure of their lives?