1. What You Need To Know Before Reading….

2. About the Author… George Orwell was the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair.
He was born in in India (His dad was in the Opium business)
Became deeply suspicious of the entrenched class system
in English society.
Socialist
Unlike many Socialists of the time, he did not approve of the Soviet
Union
Orwell became a sharp critic of both capitalism and socialism.

3. About Animal Farm…
Animal Farm is a story about a group of farm animals that take over the farm that was once run by humans. They set out to create a society of their own where every animal is equal and every animal shares the results of the work. In essence, they seek to create a perfect society.
Animal Farm is known as an allegory, or a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.
It is also known as a fable, which is a short story, typically with animals as characters, that conveys a moral.
Satire is also found in Animal Farm. This is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices.

4. Originally, George Orwell subtitled Animal Farm as a fairy tale
Originally, George Orwell subtitled Animal Farm as a fairy tale. This is ironic for a few reasons….
1 . Fairy tales are typically for children. Animal Farm contains some very dark themes and events that would disturb mot children. 2. Fairy tales typically are used as an escape from the “real world” and tell of imaginary events. While not all aspects of Animal Farm are realistic, it does use satire to convey the very real events of the Russian Revolution. Essentially, Animal Farm tells two stories- the one that takes place in the novel itself, and that of the real-life Russian Revolution.

5. A Few Terms to Know… Utopian Society- modeled on or aiming
for a state in which everything is perfect;
idealistic.
Totalitarianism- a political system in
which the state holds total control
over the society and seeks to control all
aspects of public and private life wherever
possible.

6. Socialism- any system in which the production and distribution of goods and services is a shared responsibility of a group of people. Socialism is based upon economic and political theories that advocate for collectivism. In a state of socialism, there is no privately owned property. 
Example: You have two cows. The government takes one of your cows and gives it to your neighbor.
Communism- a system of government where all the property is public and the government owns and controls the manufacturing and transportation industries. People share equally from the benefits of labor and they receive the things they need from the government.
Example:  You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk.

7. Some Brief Info on the Russian Revolution
Because no, it wasn’t just like this.
--->
This guy was real though, and still very creepy.

8. The Russian Revolution

9. Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat
Karl Marx
Wrote The Communist Manifesto
attempts to explain the goals of Communism
Claimed that a class struggle had been in place for most of history
Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat
(Upper class) (Working Class)

10. Key Characters in the Russian Revolution and Animal Farm

11. Czar Nicholas II The last reigning czar, or king, of Russia.
Crowned in 1896
Very little experience
He and his entire family were executed
(Most likely ordered by Lenin)
In Animal Farm, he is symbolized by the character
of Mr. Jones.

12. Vladimir Lenin Russian Communist revolutionary, politician,
and political theorist.
The leader of the Bolshevik Party
Seized control in the 1917 Revolution
Inspired by the ideas of Marxism
Warned against ideas of unchecked power
He died before he could see how his disciples
carried out his plan.
In Animal Farm, he is symbolized by the character of
Old Major.

13. Leon Trotsky Waged Russia's 1917 revolution alongside Vladimir Lenin.
Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet
politician, and the founder and first
leader of the Red Army
He is eventually exiled and killed by the
agents of Joseph Stalin
In Animal Farm, Trotsky is symbolized
with the character of Snowball.

15. Joseph Stalin One of the world’s most feared and brutal dictators.
Expanded the powers of the secret police
Encouraged citizens to spy on one another
Had millions of people killed or sent to the Gulag system of forced labor camps.
Valued power and did not care for debate or the ideas of others.
Used propaganda and a secret police force to eliminate all opposition.
Manipulation of the media:
Cities were renamed in his honor.
History books rewritten
Artwork, literature and music
Soviet national anthem
In Animal Farm, he is represented by the character of Napoleon.

16. Stalin’s Secret Police
Also known as the KGB, or
Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti 
Carried out the orders of Stalin
Executed enemies of the state- The Great Purge
In Animal Farm, the secret police is represented by the dogs.

17. Russian Orthodox Church
Separation of Church and State when the Bolshevik
party seized control- this had never happened before.
Decline in power of the church.
The government claimed religious tolerance, but
actually discouraged organized religion.
Tolerated because of the hope it gave the people.
The Russian Orthodox church is represented by
the character of Moses in Animal Farm.

18. Propaganda and Slogans
Propaganda- ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc.
Slogan- a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention
In Animal Farm, propaganda is
personified in the character of Squealer

19. England & The United States
Capitalist Governments
Allied Intervention
Didn’t recognize the Soviet Union officially until 1933
Represented in Animal Farm by the character of
Mr. Pilkington, an easy-going gentleman farmer.

20. Germany and Hitler Stalin’s non-aggression pact with Hitler
Made Britain nervous- this would mean an alliance between Germany and the Soviet Union
Hitler broke the pact and made a surprise attack on the Soviet Union (this happens in the novel- The Battle of the Windmill)
Germany/Hitler is represented in Animal Farm
with the character of Mr. Frederick

21. The Bourgeoisie
The Russian Middle Class- business owners, bankers, doctors, etc.
According to Marxist ideals, these are the common citizens that own the majority of society’s wealth.
Most of them did not like the idea of communism, and fled Russia when asked to give up their luxuries
In Animal Farm, this group is represented by
the character of Mollie.

22. The Working Class Helped to get rid of the Czar and build up
the Soviet Union
Eventually betrayed by Stalin
Great strength- little education
This group is symbolized by Boxer
in Animal Farm.

23. The General Populace Made up the majority of the population
Ignorant and uneducated
Easily influenced by slogans and propaganda
In Animal Farm, the Russian peasants are
represented by the sheep that live on the farm.

24. Apathetic Individuals and Intellectuals
MARTIN NIEMÖLLER: "FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS...“ First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
George Orwell felt that humans in general have a tendency to be apathetic.
Intellectuals
Life is hard- and then you die
In Animal Farm, Benjamin the donkey represents the individuals that were apathetic to the rise of communism. They may have known something was wrong- but they did nothing.

25. Results of the Russian Revolution
End of the reign of the Russian czars
Russia officially enters the industrial age
Joseph Stalin rises to power
The USSR is established

26. Some Themes in Animal Farm
When Power Corrupts
Freedom and Responsibility
Idealism
Persuasion
Education
Power of Language
Power of Song and Mantras
Rebellion
Equality