1. Historical Parallels to the Russian Revolution
Animal Farm
Historical Parallels to the Russian Revolution

2. Mr. Jones Czar Nicholas II
The ineffective leader of Manor Farm prior to the animal rebellion
Cruel and oppressive in his treatment of the animals
Czar Nicholas II
The ineffective leader of Russia prior to the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution
Cruel and oppressive with his own people and especially with political opponents

3. Old Major Karl Marx Originator of the ideas of Animalism
Dies prior to animal rebellion
Karl Marx
Originator of the ideas of Communism
Dies prior to the 1917 Revolution

4. Animalism Communism All animals are equal to one another
Animals own everything and govern themselves
“Four legs good, two legs bad!”
Communism
All people are equal to one another
Government owns everything; “the people” are the government
“Workers of the world unite!”

5. Snowball
Escaped from Animal Farm after losing a power struggle with Napoleon
Went into exile on neighboring farm
Wanted to improve life for all animals (reading, windmill, etc.)
Leon Trotsky
Escaped from Russia after losing a power struggle with Stalin
Went into exile in Mexico; found and murdered by KGB agents
Wanted to improve life for all Russians

6. Napoleon Joseph Stalin Emerges as the leading power on Animal Farm
Greedy and power hungry (milk and apples, not working, etc.)
Responsible for the deaths of many animals, including Boxer
The book’s most obvious symbol of tyranny and warning against the abuses of power
Joseph Stalin
Emerges as the leading power in Russia
Greedy and power hungry
Responsible for the deaths of millions of his fellow citizens
A symbol of tyranny and a warning against abuses of power

7. Propaganda Department
Squealer
Controlled both access to information and the information itself
Provided the public face for Napoleon’s government
Carefully shaped Napoleon’s image
Benefited from the controlled education system
Propaganda Department
Controlled both access to information and the information itself
Provided the public face of the government
Carefully shaped Stalin’s image
Benefited from the controlled education system

8. The Dogs KGB – Secret Police Enforced obedience to Napoleon
Deeply feared for their ability to carry out the most terrible of orders
Forced support of Napoleon
Attacked and killed animals (confession scene)
Very loyal to Napoleon
KGB – Secret Police
The Enforcer of the Communist Party
Deeply feared for their ability to carry out the most terrible of orders
Forced support of Stalin
Often killed entire families for disobedience
Very loyal to Stalin

9. Moses
Talks of Sugar Candy Mountain as the animals’ heaven which helps divert attention away from their present misery because a better future awaits
Napoleon eventually supports the return of Moses to keep the animals working
Religion
According to Marx, religion spread lies in order to make people do their work without complaint
Stalin tolerated religion in order to help prevent violent revolutions and keep the masses working

10. Boxer (and the other “dumb” animals)
Always supported Napoleon on faith alone
Loyal to Napoleon despite obvious evidence that he was a tyrant
Betrayed by Napoleon who sold him to the knacker to be killed
The Proletariat (the laboring or working class)
People who believed Stalin because he was “Communist” and “one of us”
Many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin was a tyrant
Betrayed by Stalin who ignored or killed them

11. Skeptical people inside and outside of Russia
Benjamin
Doubted that the revolution would change anything
Knew that Animalism wouldn’t work with power hungry pigs
Skeptical people inside and outside of Russia
Doubted that the revolution would change anything
Knew that Communism wouldn’t work with power hungry leaders