Animal Farm

Background Political novel British farm Animal society Allegory

Allegory Characters & events represent something else Convey a moral or philosophical message See the handout given to compare characters to Russian Revolutionist

Themes Power corrupts those who possess it In society individuals are not treated equally People’s ignorance contributes to their political & social oppression Revolutions may result in a change of political power, but often the lives of a majority of people stay about the same

Corruptive nature of Power Leaders & followers in society can act in ways that destroy freedom and equality Napoleon will become more oppressive than Mr. Jones

Ignorant are Oppressed Orwell illustrates the limiting of individual freedom through ignorance and misplaced loyalty of the animals Boxer blindly follows and says, “If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right.”

Satire Satire uses ridicule to make certain people, events, or institutions appear foolish The story ridicules: The vanity of humans (Mollie) Blind followers (sheep) Powerful people separating themselves (pigs) Formation of committees creating an illusion of progress or change (pigs) Accepting simplistic slogans

Irony Orwell uses dramatic, verbal & situational irony. Dramatic-character believes, reader knows is not Verbal- someone says one thing , but means something else Situational-difference between what is expected/appropriate and what happens

Conflict Internal External Animal vs. cruel master (Mr. Jones) Napoleon vs. Snowball Animals vs. men on adjoining farms External Lack of internal conflict among animals whose doubts & disillusions are so easily smoothed over by Squealer