Animal Farm Written By George Orwell
Author Background
Early Life Born June 25, 1903 British India Eric Arthur Blair Returned to England at a year old - sickly Sought work as a colonial police officer, teacher, & book seller Early knack for writing but not much success
Later Life 1936 - Married Eileen O Shaughnessy Adopted a son, Richard, in 1944 She died in 1945 Battled tuberculosis Married Sonia Brownell in 1949 Died on January 21, 1950
Spanish Civil War 1936 Traveled to Spain Fought with anti-fascist forces Pushed against General Francisco Franco Injured during the war Throat and arm wounds Faced charges of treason against the Spanish state Never faced sentencing
Career Gained reputation for well written works Essays and critical reviews 1941 Gained employment at the BBC Worked for the eastern empire s news division Helped produce propaganda during the war 1943 Left job at the BBC Felt work was useless and meaningless
Animal Farm First published in 1945 Anti-Soviet allegory English pastoral setting Comparisons to historic events Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism Critical of Communist ideas, religion, and 20th ideologies Critical and financial gains
1984 First published in 1949 Bleak vision of a dystopian world Three rival & oppressive nations Oceania, Eurasia, & Eastasia Advanced technology Big Brother Panned by critics - negative reviews Financial success
Historical Connections
Czar Nicholas II 1868-1918 Inherited the throne in 1894 Disinterested in ruling & ill prepared Married Alexandra in 1894 Home body Suspected by the Russian people Five children together Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, & Alexi
Vastly unpopular and felt to be out of touch Eventually forced to allow popular elections and a legislature Forced out of power by the Duma Abdicated March of 1917 Family placed on house arrest Family executed in Yekaterinburg by order of Lenin
Pre-Revolutionary Russia Totalitarian monarchy under the Czar Revolution of 1905 Workers strikes, unrest, and military mutinies Bloody Sunday Duma, political parties, and a constitution in 1906 Modernism helped fuel change World War I Early disasters make war unpopular Opening for outsiders to gain control and influence
The Revolution February Revolution of 1917 Workers begin to riot and strike Anti-Czarist sentiments begin to rise Forced abdication of the Czar and his family Dual power between provisional government and revolutionaries October Revolution Full control by communists achieved End of dualist government Bolsheviks come to power under Lenin
Communist Figures Karl Marx (1818-1883) Father of Communism Wrote The Communist Manifesto Felt workers were mistreated by bosses Workers would eventually rise up and seize control Driving force throughout the 20th century
Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) Follower of Marxist ideas Felt that the workers should seize control Returned to Russia after the fall of the czar Led the Red Terror campaign Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) Worked alongside Lenin in the revolution Views eventually put him at odds with Stalin Led to exile and assassination
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) Revolutionary under Lenin Gained control of the Soviet Union after Lenin s death 5 Year Plans Massive infrastructure and farming initiatives Starvation and imprisonment for 1000s Vyacheslav Molotov - key assistant World War II - Led Red Army against Adolf Hitler Eventually be at odds with the West - Cold War
Communism Economy seen by Marx as a conflict Class struggle Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie Pro. - own no capital, sell labor for wages Bou. - own means of production, suppress Pro. Rule by the people; equally Socialization Seeks to have economy control by the society Socialism vs. Nationalism
Post-Revolutionary Russia Harsh control by the Communist inner party and leadership Suppression of media, speech, religion, etc. Long-term set goals for revitalization, renewal, and development Influence spread throughout Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Americas Seen as ideological enemy of the West
The Book
Terms Satire Tool used to highlight faults or shortcomings in human nature Often applied to government actions or current events Ex. Family Guy, The Simpsons Allegory Work that through interpretation can reveal a hidden meaning Moral based fables or fairy tales Ex. Avatar, The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe
Dystopian Style used to show a bleak and often unpleasant future Government imagery totalitarian Regression in standard of living Ex. The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, & Divergent
Characters The Pigs Old Major Aged and once prize winning boar Catalyst for the Revolution s beginning Represents Karl Marx Napoleon Only pig of his breed (individual) Known for pushy reputation Represents Joseph Stalin
Snowball Early leader after the Revolution Thinker and inventor Milks the cows, designs the windmill, works toward literacy Rival of Napoleon Combination of Trotsky & Lenin Squealer Second-in-Command to Napoleon Shifty Works with the Farm s propaganda machine Represents Molotov
Humans Mr. Jones Owner of Manor Farm Drunkard & lazy Often neglects the animals Represents Czar Nicholas II Mr. Frederick Owner of the neighboring Pinchfield Farm Rumored to be ruthless Early alliance with Manor Farm Represents Adolf Hitler Mr. Pilkington Owner of neighboring Foxwood Farm Concerned about the Revolution Represents the British Empire & United States
Equines Boxer & Clover Manor Farm s draft horses Boxer is a hard worker but gullible Clover much more observant of change Represents the workers of Soviet Russia Mollie White mare Self-centered and self indulgent Disappears after the Revolution Represents the pro-czarist Russians Benjamin Donkey Old & sarcastic but intelligent Represents educated Russians
Other Animals Muriel White goat Besides the pigs and Benjamin, she can read Questions but unsure of herself Represents Russia s educated working class The Dogs Police force of the pigs Represents the KGB The Sheep Easily manipulated Used by Squealer to the pig s benefit Represents uneducated Russians & Soviet media
Moses Pet raven of Mr. & Mrs. Jones Disappears after the Revolution but reappears years later Speaks of Sugarcandy Mountain Represents the Russian Orthodox Church Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Cows, & the Cat Early supporters of the Revolution (except the cat) Young hens lead a revolt against Napoleon Cat disinterested in what is happening works to reeducate the sparrows Represents farmers, fishermen, and intellectuals
Symbols Beasts of England Anthem of Animal Farm First sung by Old Major Similar to rallying songs of the Soviet Union The Commandments 7 basic commandments on the farm Go through changes over time Manipulated by the pigs
Animalism Term applied to the basic principles & understandings of the animals Post-Revolutionary term The Windmill Symbolizes the infrastructure improvements of the Soviets Limited supplies, resources, and know-how proves to be a problem Failure blamed on the enemies