Transcript Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm
by George Orwell
George Orwell = Pen Name…born
Eric Blair, 1903-1950
• Idealist…gave up family wealth to be a
journalist.
• Supported revolution in Spain…shot in
neck.
• Disillusioned by corruption and results
of rebellions in Spain & Russia.
• Bitter towards communist policy &
totalitarianism.
• Animal Farm, 1945…very
popular…first edition sold out in one
month.
Novel
A long fictional story,
somewhere between 100-500
pages, using all the elements
of storytelling: plot, setting,
character, theme, point of
view, foreshadowing, irony,
etc.
Novella
A “little novel”…about 50 pages.
Totalitarianism
A kind of dictatorship
where one political party
has total control and all
opposition is ruthlessly
suppressed.
Fable
A humorous story in
which animals speak
and act like humans in
order to expose some
human weakness.
Allegory: A story that can be read on 2 levels.
1.
Animal Farm can be
read as a funny fable
about animals who
rebel against their
owner and take over
a farm in England,
only to allow
corruption to ruin it.
2.
Animal Farm can be
read as an allegory of
the Russian
Revolution of 1917
with animals
representing
characters from
Russian history.
Satire
A form of literature that uses ridicule to
make fun of people or events in order to
bring about change.
Irony
• Situational: We realize there is a difference
between what we expect to
happen and what really happens.
• Dramatic: We know something the
characters do not know…what is
stated on the page is different
from what is meant.
Themes
• Freedom and individual dignity must be
guarded very carefully.
• Language is a powerful tool; used improperly,
it can enslave and confuse us.
• Weakness can be dominated by strength, fear,
and trickery.
• Hope and vision must be kept alive, or they will
be lost.
Animal Farm
Characters = Russian Revolution
Farmer Jones = Czar Nicholas II
• Czar Nicholas II was a
selfish, cruel leader, and
was overthrown by the
people…Communism.
• Farmer Jones was a cruel,
drunken farmer, and was
overthrown by the
animals…Animalism.
Old Major = Karl Marx
•
•
•
•
Invented animalism/communism
Incited rebellion
Died before the revolution
All animals are equal
Boxer (the horse) = loyal, hard working
supporters of revolution
• Boxer unwittingly supported
the corrupt government of the
pigs through hard work and
his two maxims:
1. “I must work harder.”
2. “Napoleon is always right.”
Benjamin (the donkey) = the stubborn
people who did not support the revolution
and felt nothing would ever be better or
worse.
• Benjamin was loyal to boxer.
• “Donkeys live a long time.”
• Smart…knows what is going
on, but won’t talk about it.
Moses = The Church (religion)
• Pigs exile Moses when
they want animals to
work hard and rebell.
• Pigs allow him back
when they want
animals happy.
• Promises of SugarCandy Mountain =
Heaven
Pigs
• Original leaders of
rebellion/revolution.
• Let greed and
corruption ruin vision.
• Dominated other
animals with fear and
trickery.
• Very smart.
Napoleon = Joseph Stalin
• An original leader of
rebellion.
• Became a dictator.
• Ruled with absolute
power and cruelty.
• Greedy and selfish.
• Killed or exiled any
opposition.
Snowball = Leon Trotsky
• An original leader of
rebellion.
• Stuck to the beliefs of
Marx.
• Constantly disagreed
with Napoleon.
• Wanted good life for
all animals/Russians.
Squealer = Propaganda Network
• Squealer is propaganda.
• He adds words to the
commandments.
• He convinces the animals
that their memories fail.
• He uses fear of Jones.
• He uses fake statistics.
Sheep = blind followers of rebellion
• Sheep represent those
with blind loyalty to
the rebellion and
communism.
• They shout down
those who try to speak
or ask questions.
• “Four legs good; two
legs bad.”
Dogs = KGB (secret police)
• Work for the pigs
• Loyal to Napoleon
• Intimidate the animals
by growling & barking
• Executioners