1. The Russian Revolution
Allegory in Animal Farm
English I Honors

2. Who Could Be Who?
Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution
Allegory: A symbolic story; meanings lie outside of the narrative.
As we read Animal Farm, brainstorm which characters represent the real people or ideas from History…

3. General Overview: 1917 WWI – Famine & economic collapse
Czar Nicholas II brutally oppressed the people
February Revolution
Overthrew Czar Nicholas II (monarchy)
Established a provisional government
October Revolution
Bolsheviks (Communists) overthrew provisional government
Eventually, became a dictatorship.

4. Key People Karl Marx Czar Nicholas II
Believed capitalism produced tension between classes
A “workers state” would reduce social tension
Socialism/Communism
Died in 1883 – Revolution occurred in 1917
Mistrusted religion – “Opiate of the people”
Czar Nicholas II
Highly reactionary
“Bloody Sunday”
Supported WWI

5. Government owns everything, people own the government
Communism
One social class
All people are equal
Government owns everything, people own the government

6. Key People Continued Josef Stalin Leon Trotsky Rose to power in 1924
Ruled as a dictator
Directed the economy (“planned economy”)
Lead “Great Purge” in 1930s – disposed of opponents, traitors, etc.
Used NVKD  Secret Police known for brutality.
Used propaganda
Leon Trotsky
Lead October Revolution with Lenin
Believed in Marx’s theory of socialism
Vocally opposed Stalin
Forced out of Russia by Stalin
Was murdered by the NVKD (Stalin’s police force)

7. Overall details of the Russian Revolution
It was suppose to make life better for all
Life was worse at the end
Supposed to fix problems that existed under Czarist rule
Life was even worse long after the revolution
Stalin made the Czar look like a nice guy