What questions do you want to ask about these two images? Russian politics Learning objective: to understand the themes that Orwell wanted to explore in ‘Animal Farm’. What questions do you want to ask about these two images? How might the images be linked?

Russian politics Russian politics Learning objective: to understand the themes that Orwell wanted to explore in ‘Animal Farm’. Russian politics Orwell was a democratic socialist who was appalled by oppressive political regimes. He was also disillusioned by revolutionaries who initially fought to overthrow oppressive regimes and then eventually mirrored that level of power, control and inequality within societies. He based his allegorical fable ‘Animal Farm’ on events in Russia (USSR); he ultimately wanted to expose the problems of revolution and of human weakness.

Russian politics Russian politics Learning objective: to understand the themes that Orwell wanted to explore in ‘Animal Farm’. Russian politics

Questions for discussion and research: What do you immediately notice about Russia? What sort of political/ economic problems can you anticipate that the country faces? What do you already know about Russia in the 1920s and 1930s? Why would a country revolt and overthrow their royal family? Russia

Subtitle: The Fall of the Romanovs Russian politics Learning objective: to understand the themes that Orwell wanted to explore in ‘Animal Farm’. Subtitle: The Fall of the Romanovs Tsar Nicolas II

Subtitle: The Fall of the Romanovs Problems with Tsarist Russia Huge class divide. Poor people were peasants, rich people were aristocrats Industrial workers worked 11 hours a day Harsh conditions with no concern for health and safety

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Known by the nickname ‘Lenin’ Wanted to overthrow the Tsar and take power. Believed in Communism and followed the works of Karl Marx. Was sent into exile but continued to influence Russian people from exile. In 1905 an attempted revolution failed. Set up the Bolshevik Party (with Trotsky) Took over Russia in 1917. Died in 1924.

Joseph Stalin Stalin and Trotsky were Lenin’s two loyal deputies. They are said to be the only ones who were allowed in Lenin’s office without an appointment. Stalin took over power after Lenin’s death expelled Trotsky from the party. Stalin is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler – he killed 20-25 million people. Initiated the first of the Five Year Plans. These were plans to industrialise and improve Russia. There have been 13 sets of Five Year Plans since 1928.

Russian politics Learning objective: to understand the themes that Orwell wanted to explore in ‘Animal Farm’. Russian politics What do you think that Orwell was trying to ‘expose’ in his novella, ‘Animal Farm’?