Transcript Animal Farm Introduction

ANIMAL FARM
INTRODUCTION
WARM UP
• Finish packet from yesterday
ANIMAL FARM
BY GEORGE
ORWELL
• Written in 1945
• At the time it was
published, the UK and
US were in alliance with
the Soviet Union
making the book very
controversial and it was
initially rejected by a
number of publishers.
•Novella - a work of fiction with a compact and
pointed plot that is intermediate in length and
complexity between a short story and a novel
•Satire - a literary work holding up human vices
and follies to ridicule or scorn
•Fable - a narration intended to enforce a useful
truth; especially one in which animals speak and
act like human beings
LITERARY CATEGORIES
• Allegory - Symbolic, fictional figures and actions are
designed to represent truths or generalizations
about human existence
• Based on the events leading up to the Russian
Revolution between 1917 and 1943.
• Orwell creates an allegory to compare the Russian
Revolution to a farm, Animal Farm.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ANIMAL FARM IS A FABLE, AN ALLEGORY,
AND A SATIRE!
IT IS A SATIRICAL RETELLING OF THE
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AND THE RISE OF
STALIN, TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
ANIMALS.
REFERENCED FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Communist government follows a theory advocating
elimination of private property;
goods are owned in common
and are available to all as
needed
• Reality - Karl Marx
introduces communism, Leon
Trotsky tries to implement a
communist government.
• Book – Old Major dies,
Snowball tries to implement
communist/classless society
run by the animals
Socialism, a type of society
between capitalism and
communism distinguished by
unequal distribution of goods and
pay according to work done.
• Reality - people are
oppressed under Czar
Nicholas II
• Book – People are
oppressed under Mr. Jones
REFERENCED FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Totalitarian government - the political concept that the
citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state
• Reality - Joseph Stalin manipulates people to enforce a totalitarian
government then kills off allies
• Book – Napoleon manipulates the animals to enforce a society that
caters to the pigs. authority.
CHARACTERS AND THE GROUPS THEY REPRESENT
• Mollie – horse, pampered, that still support owner
– Represents middle class, usually property owners
• Boxer – horse, hard workers, have to work to live
– Represents working class, must work to live
• Cat – Careless uninvolved
– Represents the politically inactive
• Moses – Raven that is left out
– Represents religion, Grigori Rasputin, left/stayed out
CHARACTERS AND THE GROUPS THEY REPRESENT
• Muriel – Goat, literate
– Represents the educated
• Benjamin – Donkey; sceptics
– Represents people who were skeptical. Those who knew the revolution would not
work
• Dogs – loyal to the revolution
– Represents the KGB – The Committee for State Secretary
• Squealer – pig, convinces others the pigs need more
– Represents the Propaganda Dept.
CHARACTERS AND THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT
• Mr. Jones = Czar Nicolas II
–Czar before revolution. Was harsh and oppressive
CHARACTERS AND THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT
• Old Major = Karl Marx
– Designed communism, wanted a classless society, made the plan
• Snowball = Leon Trotsky
– Opposed Czar, Charismatic, conceited, believed in Marx;
supports communism
• Napoleon = Joseph Stalin
– Quiet but manipulative to get what he wants, Eventually beats
Trotsky/Snowball, Totalitarian Ruler = government rule
EVENTS IN THE BOOK VERSUS REALITY
(ALLEGORY)
• Old Majors Dream – Communist Manifesto Marx’s, outlines communism
• The fall of Mr. Jones - represents the overthrow Tsar Nicholas II.
• Battle of Cowshed – represents the Russian Civil War
• The Windmill - the decision whether to expand communism.
• Napoleon's Initiative – represents Stalin’s 5 Year Plan
• Hen’s Rebellion - represents Stalin's Great Purge
• Battle of Windmill - represents World War II.
• Boxers Death - represents Stalin's betrayal of the proletariat
• Final Feast - alludes to the beginning of the Cold War.
Places Represented:
Manor Farm: Russia
Animal Farm: USSR
Pinchfield: Germany
Willingdon: English
Sugar Candy Mountain: Heaven
Animalism: Communism
Windmill: Stalin’s Five Year Plan
Selling of the wood: Nazi-Russian agreement
Battle at the Windmill: Battle of Stalingrad (Nazi invades
Russia )
ANNOTATIONS
• Unknown words
• Summary (Per Chapter)
– Include author’s purpose
• Characterization
• Symbolism
• Allegory
• Theme
– Corrupt government
– Uneducated citizens
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