1. Animal Farm
by George Orwell

2. FABLE Type of fairy tale Simple story Main characters are animals
Story is used to illustrate a moral lesson.

3. FABLE A Fable (a type of fairy tale) is: A beast story Brief Humorous
Animals speak and behave like humans
Purpose:
To expose a human failing. Using animals allows the writer to more easily control the reader’s feelings.

4. ALLEGORY Allegory is: A story that can be read on two or more levels.
Each character or event stands for something else.
Example: The animal’s rebellion on Manor Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Example: Napoleon, the pig, represents the Soviet Dictator, Joseph Stalin.
Most of the events and characters can be translated to people and events from that time in Russian history.

5. ALLEGORY Characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities
There is an underlying meaning (i.e. greed, power, etc.)

6. SATIRE Humor and wit used to make fun of something.
Most often used to criticize a political regime or character.

7. SATIRE
The use of ridicule to make people and events look foolish or stupid.
Satire has a bite – it seeks a weakness and wrong doings and forces the reader or viewer to see the behavior with new eyes.
Satire uses irony.

8. TOTALITARIANISM
A government controlled by one political group which suppresses, with force, ANY opposition to its own views or mandates.

9. IRONY
Dramatic Irony: When we perceive a contrast between what is stated on the page and what is really meant. (close to sarcasm)
Situational Irony:
When we know there is a difference between what we expect to happen and what actually does happen.

10. Propaganda
Biased, one-sided information meant to influence thoughts and actions.
Squealer represents Pravda, the Russian, government controlled newspaper that spews untruths and biased information to control the thinking of the people. (Similar to Al Jazeera TV in Iraq, currently reporting they are doing well, and that they won the Gulf War in 1991.)

11. Themes of Animal Farm
The idea that freedom and individual dignity must be guarded very carefully.
The idea that language is a powerful tool; used improperly it can enslave and confuse.
The idea that weakness can be dominated by strength, fear, and trickery.
The idea that hope and vision must be kept alive, or we might live like the animals of Manor Farm.

12. Characters from Russian History Represented in AF
Czar (Tzar) Nicolas II = Jones
Czarina Alexandra – Mrs. Jones
Animal Farm = Russia
Animalism = Communism
Battle of the Windmill = World War II
Boxer = Working Class
Dogs = KGB (Elite police)

13. Characters in AF (cont.)
Foxwood Farm = Great Britain & France
Mollie = Upper Class/Bourgeoisie
Moses = Organized Religion
Mr. Frederick = Adolph Hitler
Napoleon = Josef Stalin
Old Major = Karl Marx
Pilkington = Winston Churchill
Pinchfield Farm = Germany
Snowball = Leon Trotsky

14. The Seven Commandments
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.