1. Animal Farm Introduction into the symbolism of Animal Farm Nathan B. Gilson Southwest Middle School

2. Animal Farm--Genre Animal Farm is an allegory –Allegory is a story where the characters or situations of the story, while fictitious in nature, are representative of real-world events George Orwell wrote the story to make a point about communism, and how it was working (or not working) for the people of the Soviet Union

3. Introducing the cast—Old Major Karl Marx (and Vladimir Lenin) Karl Marx was the man who is given the biggest amount of credit for the formation of the idea of Communism –Wrote the Communist Manifesto in 1848 There are aspects of Old Major that also represent Vladimir Lenin, particularly the close relationship that both Trotsky (Snowball) and Stalin (Napoleon) had with Lenin prior to his death.

4. Introducing the cast--Napoleon Joseph Stalin –Leader of the Soviet Union from 1930-1953 –Manipulator who very seldom got his own hands dirty, and during the Russian Revolution he actually did not fight himself. –Brutal leader who often used terror and fear to control his citizens through his secret police (KGB—dogs) –Also aggressively pursued propaganda campaigns to re-write history and make himself the hero of the Russian Revolution –Involved in an internal conflict with Trotsky (Snowball) and other Leninist leaders after Lenin’s death

5. Introducing the cast--Snowball Leon Trotsky –Stalin about Trotsky “All practical work in connection with the organization of the uprising was done under the immediate direction of Comrade Trotsky, the President of the Petrograd Soviet. It can be stated with certainty that the Party is indebted primarily and principally to Comrade Trotsky for the rapid going over of the garrison to the side of the Soviet and the efficient manner in which the work of the Military Revolutionary Committee was organized.” –Hero of the Russian Revolution and close follower of Lenin –Fled Stalinist Soviet Union after an internal conflict with Stalin led him to fear for his life –Later assassinated in Mexico

6. Introducing the cast--Squealer Propaganda –Stalin was a master of using propaganda against his people, and used it quite liberally –The press and all media outlets were taken over by the communist regime –Stalin gradually even changed the reality of historical events to increase his own role in the Russian Revolution and reduce the impact of other important communists.

7. Introducing the cast—Boxer & Windmill Hard-working peasant class (proletariat) –The proletariat was exploited by Stalin during the establishment of the communist regime in the Soviet Union –They were forced to work long and hard hours to industrialize the nation as quickly as possible. –Stalin had learned that the Soviet Union could not be competitive with the other great military powers without rivaling their industrial capability also –Developed his 5 year plans (Windmill) to industrialize the nation as quickly as possible. –Millions of peasants were worked to death in forced labor camps called Gulags or died as a result of the collectivization of the farms from starvation. –Especially impacted by propaganda due to the lack of education.

8. Introducing the cast--Benjamin The educated but apathetic Russians –There were many Russians, particularly those who were the Soviet government we were aware that Stalin was transforming their society into a dictatorship –Many were disillusioned with the previous governance of Tsar Nicholas II (Mr. Jones) and had gotten to the point that they really didn’t believe that a good government was possible. –Mainly stood by the sidelines of everything that was happening.

9. Introducing the cast—The Dogs KGB –The Soviet Secret Police (translated into English, the KGB words mean “Committee for State Security) –Used by Stalin (Napoleon) to arrest citizens when they acted against the government.

10. Introducing the cast—Mr. Jones Tsar Nicholas II –Nicholas was cruel to the peasants and most Russians in general –Incompetent control of Russia led to several embarrassing defeats for the Russians, including their very heavy losses during World War 1. –Strongly influenced by reckless advice given to him by Rasputin and others, which led him to seize control of all military operations in 1915 despite no ability to actually prosecute a war.

11. Introducing the cast—Pilkington and Frederick Frederick is the German Fascists –The Germans were cruel, vicious, and calculating –During World War 2, the Germans, under the leadership of Hitler, at first declared a non-aggression pact that led to both Stalin and Hitler expanding their influences in Eastern Europe –Germans double-crossed the Soviets during Operation Barbossa when Hitler launched a sneak attack against the Soviets Pilkington is the Allies (particularly the British) –Tends to avoid work and prefers recreation.