Narration in Animal Farm By Mr. Keough Ps. Your Welcome

The narrator is the person who relates the events of a story to a reader or audience. It is the lens through which we view the story and characters. Three main types of narrator: o First Person: The narrator is a character in the story – uses the first person “I” to tell the story. o Third Person Limited: The narrator does not participate in the action of the story – relates the thoughts and feelings of only one character. o Third Person Omniscient: The ‘all knowing’ narrator does not participate in the action of the story, however does relate the thoughts and feelings of many different characters.

Animal Farm is told from the third person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader to see into the minds of characters and gain a better understanding of their true opinions of the happenings of Animal Farm. The narrator is a voice that has no part in the story, and tells the story of Animal Farm objectively.

As a result, the reader is able to understand the true situation throughout the story, even while the animals have a limited view and/or do not understand what is happening. One of successful aspects of Animal Farm is the neutral tone of the (mostly) unbiased narrator. The narrator rarely makes judgments; they rarely take sides. The narrator mostly reports the events as one would report the news.

This objectivity leaves the reader to make his/her own judgments, yet the way the plot is constructed, it is clear that the reader should ultimately see the point Orwell is trying to put across, without the narrator making assertions or stating opinions.

Chapter 1: Discussion ?’s Do you sympathize with the animals’ complaints and goals? Why or why not? How is Old Major’s speech similar to any political speeches you have ever heard or studied?

Chapter 2: Important Points and Questions We are told that the pigs are more intelligent than anyone else. o Discuss the issue of how with knowledge comes power / often the uneducated are at a disadvantage. We get to know Boxer and Clover; they are stupid, but trusting and hard working. o Why does this not bode well for them? Should we blindly trust those in authority? The Seven Commandments are designed. o What do we think of these? Are they fair? Why have they been chosen specifically? The pigs steal the milk from the cows. o Yikes! Isn’t this a little suspicious? How does it go against communist principles?

Chapter 3: Important Points and Questions Although the pigs do attempt to educate the other animals, they are not successful. o This resulting imbalance in knowledge has negative consequences. Do we ever see this happening in our own society? The pigs simplify the principles into the one slogan: “Four legs good, two legs bad”. o Is this an oversimplification? How are slogans powerful? Can you think of any political slogans which have stuck in your mind? We learn more about Mollie. She clearly enjoys the trappings of the past regime. o She represents the bourgeoisie. What do we think of her and Benjamin? The pigs steal the milk AND apples now… o We can clearly see that their abuse of power is taking shape.

Chapter 4 We are introduced to Mr Pilkington and Mr Frederick. o This is in line with the allegorical links to Russian history. Trotsky tried to establish communism as an international movement. Snowball’s plans o We start to see the difference in leadership styles between Napoleon and Snowball. The Battle and the prize o Don’t distinguished prizes go against principles of communism? And what about the fact that it was self- appointed?

Chapter 5 Mollie is in communication with the men on neighboring farms. o Mollie represents the bourgeois and those who weren’t interested in the ‘greater good’ of the revolution. They just cared about themselves and fled the country - like Mollie!  We start to see the real differences between Snowball and Napoleon and their leadership styles. o Snowball is clearly the better public speaker, but Napoleon is cunning and doesn’t play fair (he literally pees on Snowball’s plans).  We finally find out what happened to the puppies…. o … and it’s not good. They represent the secret police (later the KGB) who Stalin used to carry out his dirty work.  Napoleon runs Snowball off the farm and is now in control. o Things change drastically. The democratic meetings are abolished and there is a clear shifting of power on the farm.  Squealer is used to placate the other animals. o Squealer represents ‘The Pravda’, and is the propaganda machine of the pigs.

Start filling in these tables. You must do this in their groups of four – each person chooses 2 characters and researches them. You must have your novels open, finding at least two quotes for each character. When each person has made comprehensive notes on their 2 characters, give feedback to each other in their groups and all fill in all of the boxes.

Animal Farm vs History Old Major = Karl Marx Mr. Jones= Czar Nicholas II Napoleon= Joseph Stalin Snowball= Leon Trotsky Squealer= Propaganda Department Boxer= Working Class Moses= Religion Mollie= Czar Supporter