1. Honors English 9
Animal Farm

2. What a Text!
Allegory: Orwell uses animal characters and their lives to represent historical people and events
Fable: Orwell has a specific message he seeks to communicate using animal characters
Satire: Orwell is seriously critical of the Soviet Union and the outcome of the Revolution and uses this fictional piece to transmit his message

3. Why, George, Why? George Orwell stood against oppression
of the lower classes through injustice and
political lying.
Skeptical of totalitarian regimes in which
one or few people held all the power
Orwell aims to portray the Russian (or
Bolshevik) Revolution of 1917 as one that
resulted in a government more oppressive,
totalitarian, and deadly than the one it
overthrew

4. The Russian Revolution: The Basics
Abrupt but deep-rooted causes
Two social classes of Russia in conflict and struggling for power/rights
Bourgeoisie: control the country’s wealth (minority)
Proletariat: working class, poverty-stricken (majority)

5. The Russian Revolution: The People
Tsar Nicholas II: Last Russian emperor ( ), time of terrible poverty for lower classes
Vladimir Lenin: Bolshevik leader, died in 1924
Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin: Battled for control after Lenin’s death (Stalin eventually wins out)
Karl Marx: Came up with Communist theory—workers of the world unite against economic oppressors and live communally

6. The Russian Revolution: The Events
February 1917: Revolution—Provisional Government takes over
Middle class, conservative
Temporary
Bolsheviks (lower class/liberal) still not satisfied; want more social reform
March 1917: Nicholas II abdicates
October 1917: Bolsheviks organize strike and overthrow Provisional Government
: Russian Civil War
1922: Creation of the Soviet Union

7. Essential Questions
How does Animal Farm allegorically represent the events of the Russian Revolution?
What is a fable, an allegory, and satire, and how does Animal Farm fit these literary categories?
What are the different forms of propaganda, and how are they used to persuade?
What is Orwell’s message, and how does he communicate that message?