A NIMAL FARM Background information/ characters

A NIMAL F ARM : B ACKGROUND Animal Farm is an allegory—a story that can be read on two levels. One level is literal: The other level is figurative—something represents something else. A pig is a pig. A pig is a political leader.

A NIMAL F ARM : B ACKGROUND Events and characters in an allegory are used by a writer to convey a moral message. Orwell’s story seems to be about barnyard animals. But what is the story really about? The Russian Revolution Key People involved in the Russian Revolution

A NIMAL F ARM : B ACKGROUND George Orwell uses Animal Farm as an allegory to comment on key people and events leading up to the Russian Revolution and life after the Russian Revolution. Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin as animals Farm vs. Russian Revolution

A NIMAL F ARM : B ACKGROUND The Russian Revolution occurred in It was brought on by economic hardship and the injustices of Russian czars, and was encouraged by the Communist Manifesto of Karl Marx The czar of Russia was overthrown and revolutionaries assumed leadership of the country. They tried to transform the country through communist principles.

A NIMAL F ARM C HARACTERS

A NIMAL F ARM R USSIAN R EVOLUTION Czar Nicholas II a poor leader at best, compared to western kings cruel - sometimes brutal with opponents Sometimes kind - hired students as spies to make $ Mr. Jones irresponsible to his animals (lets them starve) sometimes cruel - beats them with whip sometimes kind - mixes milk in animal mash

A NIMAL F ARM R USSIAN R EVOLUTION Old Major taught Animalism workers do the work, rich keep the $, animals revolt dies before revolution Karl Marx invented Communism "workers of the world unite", take over gov't dies before Russian Revolution

A NIMAL F ARM R USSIAN R EVOLUTION Snowball young, smart, good speaker, idealistic really wants to make life better for all one of leaders of revolution chased away into exile by Napoleon's dogs Leon Trotsky other leader of "October Revolution" pure communist, followed Marx wanted to improve life for all in Russia chased away by Lenin's KGB (Lenin's secret police)

A NIMAL F ARM R USSIAN R EVOLUTION Napoleon not a good speaker, not as clever like Snowball cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt his ambition is for power, killed opponents Used Moses and dogs to control other animals Joseph Stalin not a good speaker, not educated like Trotsky same as Napoleon, didn't follow Marx's ideas cared for power, killed all that opposed him used KGB, allowed church, and propagandized

A NIMAL F ARM R USSIAN R EVOLUTION Animalism no owners, no rich, but no poor workers get a better life, all animals equal everyone owns the farm Communism same all people equal government owns everything, people own government

A NIMAL F ARM R USSIAN R EVOLUTION Squealer big mouth, talks a lot convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon Changes and manipulates the commandments Propaganda department of Lenin's government worked for Stalin to support his image used any lie to convince the people to follow Stalin benefited from the fact that education was controlled

The Dogs A private army that used fear to force animals to work Killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon Another part of Napoleon’s strategy to control animals KGB – The Secret Police Not really police, but forced support for Stalin Used force, often killed entire families for disobedience Totally loyal, part of Lenin’s power, even over army Animal FarmRussian Revolution

Moses the Raven Tells animals about SugarCandy mountain (Heaven) Animals can go there if they work hard Snowball and Major were against him, they thought Heaven was a lie to make animals work hard Napoleon let him stay because he taught animals to work and not complain Religion Marx said, “Opiate of the people” a lie used to make people not complain and do their work Religion was tolerated because people would work hard Stalin knew religion would stop violent revolutions Animal FarmRussian Revolution

Mollie Vain- loved her beauty and self Didn’t think about Animal Farm Went with anyone who gave her what she wanted Vain, selfish people in Russia and world Some people didn’t care about revolution, only thought about themselves Went to other countries that offered more for them Animal FarmRussian Revolution

Boxer Strong, hard working horse, believes in Animal Farm “Napoleon is always right” and “ I must work harder” Gives his all, is betrayed by Napoleon, who sells Boxer Dedicated, but tricked communist supporters People believed Stalin because he was “Communist” Many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin was a tyrant Betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed them Animal FarmRussian Revolution

Benjamin Old, wise donkey who is suspicious of the revolution Thinks “nothing ever changes,” is right his suspicions are true about Boxer and the sign changes Skeptical people in Russia and outside or Russia Weren’t sure revolution would change anything Realized a crazy leader can call himself communist Knew communism would work with power hungry leaders Animal FarmRussian Revolution

Overall detail about revolution It was supposed to make life better for all Life was worse at the end The leaders became the same as, or worse, than the other farmers (humans) the animals rebelled against Overall details of Russian Revolution Supposed to fix problems from Czar Life was even worse long after the revolution Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy Animal FarmRussian Revolution

R USSIAN R EVOLUTION T IMELINE

YearEvents in Russian RevolutionEvents in Animal Farm 1917-Russian Revolution, ending with the abdication of Nicholas II (March 15) -Start of Labor Camps -Battle of the animals against Jones -Battle of the Cowshed -Pigs encouraged the animals to work hard on the farm 1923-Beginning of the struggle between Stalin and Trotsky -Different opinions between Napoleon and Snowball are apparent 1924-Death of Lenin -Napoleon is openly antagonistic to Snowball’s ideas 1925-Trotsky removed as war commander 1927-Trotsky expelled from Communist party 1929-Trotsky deported -Start of industrialization -Snowball chased away by the dogs -Building of the windmill

YearEvents in Russian RevolutionEvents in Animal Farm 1932-Starvation of millions of people who did not want to work for Stalin -Hens starved to death, when they did not want to sell eggs 1933-USA recognizes Communist Russia -Other farms recognized animal farm “Secret Police” became official -Dogs helped Napoleon to search through the private belongings of the animals 1936-Show trials of Stalin’s opponents -Death of four pigs, three hens, goose and sheep 1939-Non-Aggression Pact between Germany and Russia -Deal between Animal Farm and Frederick 1941-German invasion of Russia -Start of deportation of non- Russians -Banknotes for woodpile were not worth anything 1945-Treaty to divide Germany -Treaty with Pilkington