1. Animal Farm Written by George Orwell
Terms to Know
Animal Farm
Written by George Orwell

2. Allegory
A story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegories are composed of several symbols or metaphors.
In Animal Farm, Orwell establishes his allegory by: animals and historical counterparts in Soviet Union, sequence of events on farm and those in Soviet Union after 1914, and neighboring farms and countries they symbolize.

3. Fable
Animal characters represent human personality types and emphasize human traits in the extreme
The moral taught by the fable is clearly that all human beings are not equal

4. Utopia and Anti-utopian fiction
An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects (Utopia)
Humanity is flawed, no perfect place or even perfectible (Anti-utopia)

5. Satire
A literary composition in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.
Different from a parody which is light-hearted; satire is meant to ridicule stupidity

6. Propaganda
Official government communications to the public that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect.

7. Vice and Comrade A bad habit (vice)
The humans’ evil habits become the basis of five of the Seven Commandments
A person who shares one's interests or activities; a friend or companion (comrade)
Especially a fellow member of the Communist Party (word links animals’ society to communist jargon)

8. Tyranny
A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power
The evils of the animals’ lives spring from the humans’ cruel abuse of power