(1903-1950)

Orwell was a Socialist Socialist: someone who believes that the government should own businesses so that everyone will be equal

in which separate classes He desired a society in which separate classes would not exist.

It's a Fable It's an Allegory Most fables have two levels of meaning. On the surface, the fable is about animals. But on a second level, the animals stand for types of people or ideas. The way the animals interact and the way the plot unfolds says something about the nature of people or the value of ideas. Any type of fiction that has multiple levels of meaning in this way is called an allegory.

It's a Satire A written work making fun of something, usually political. Animal Farm satirizes the Russian Revolution because it was a failure.

Russian Revolution: arose in Russia when the nation’s workers & peasants rebelled against and overwhelmed the wealthy and powerful classes.

First. He was a harsh ruler But helped the people at first Lenin, took power First. He was a harsh ruler But helped the people at first

When Lenin died, Joseph Stalin & Leon Trotsky competed for control of the Soviet Union (Russia).

Stalin banished Trotsky & took control. He began his brutal killings, overseeing the deaths of approximately twenty million Soviet citizens.

Themes 1. Freedom & individual dignity must be guarded very carefully.

Themes 2. Language is a powerful tool; used improperly, it can enslave and confuse us.

Themes 3. Weakness can be dominated by strength, fear, and trickery.

Themes 4. Hope & vision must be kept alive, or we might live like the animals of Manor Farm.

Themes 5. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Characters Farmer Jones A drunk and a poor farmer, his cruelty towards the farm animals inspires their rebellion.

Characters Snowball A clever pig with a head for ideas,                                Snowball A clever pig with a head for ideas, he becomes one of the main leaders of Animal Farm and the author of its central commandments.

Characters Napoleon A pig with a gift for techniques of control,                        Napoleon A pig with a gift for techniques of control, he establishes most of the farm’s rules and eventually becomes its sole leader.

Characters Old Major An elderly show pig whose                        Old Major An elderly show pig whose instruction to the animals about "animalism" becomes the philosophical basis for the creation of Animal Farm.

Characters Squealer A pig with the ability to make any                        Squealer A pig with the ability to make any idea sound reasonable, he is Napoleon's side-kick and is in charge of communicating to the animals.

Characters Boxer A strong and hard-working carthorse,                        Boxer A strong and hard-working carthorse, he shows tremendous faith in the rebellion and its leaders.