1. Animal Farm by George Orwell A Comparison of Characters to the Russian Revolution

2. Animal Farm as Allegory  As we know, George Orwell ’ s novel Animal Farm is an allegory. –A work that can be read on two levels.  On one level, we can simply enjoy the stories of animals on the farm.  On a deeper level, we can examine the symbolism behind these characters.

3. Mr. Jones  Irresponsible to his animals  Sometimes cruel: beats them with a whip  Sometimes kind: mixes milk in animals mash Tsar Nicholas II  A poor leader a best, compared with Western kings  Sometimes cruel: brutal with opponents  Sometimes kind: hired students as spies to make money

4. Old Major  Taught Animalism  Workers do the work, the rich keep the money, animals revolt  Dies before the revolution Karl Marx  Invented Communism  “ Workers of the world unite! ”  Dies before the Russian Revolution Vladimir Lenin  Inspires the revolution  After his death, power is divided

5. Animalism  No owners  No rich, but no poor  Workers get a better life; all animals equal  Everyone owns the farm Communism  Same  All people equal  Government owns everything  People own the government

6. Snowball  Young, smart, good speaker, idealistic  Really wants to make life better for all  One of the leaders of the revolution  Chased away into exile by Napoleon ’ s dogs Leon Trotsky  Other leader of the “ October Revolution ”  Pure Communist; followed Marx  Wanted to improve life for all in Russia  Chased away by Lenin ’ s secret police

7. Napoleon  Not a good speaker; not clever like Snowball  Cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt  His ambition is for power; willing to kill opponents  Uses dogs, Moses, and Squealer to control animals Joseph Stalin  Not a good speaker; not educated like Trotsky  Did not follow Marx ’ s ideas purely  Killed all those that opposed him  Used KGB and propaganda to control his people

8. Squealer  Big mouth  Talks a lot  Convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon  Changes and manipulates the commandments Stalin ’ s Propagandists  Worked for Stalin to support his image  Used lies to convince people to follow Stalin  Benefited from the fact that education was controlled.

9. Focus for Reading  As you continue to read the novel, try to identify other places where Orwell uses allegorical symbolism.  By doing some independent research on the Russian Revolution – or by paying attention in history class – you should be able to pick up on many more references to history in the novel.