Animal Farm vs. Russian Revolution

Animal Farm vs. Russian Revolution English I Honors

First, some important terms… • Totalitarianism: A kind of dictatorship where one political party has total control and all opposition is ruthlessly suppressed. • Fable: A humorous story in which animals speak and act like humans in order to expose some human weakness. • Satire: A form of literature that uses ridicule to make fun of people or events in order to bring about change. • Refer to Meet George Orwell/Introduction to novel handout for more information on how these terms apply to AF.

Allegory: a story that can be read on two levels 1. Animal Farm can be read as a funny fable about animals who rebel against their owner and take over a farm in England, only to allow corruption to ruin it. 2. Animal Farm can be read as an allegory that satirizes the events of the Russian Revolution of 1917 with animals representing characters from Russian history.

Animal Farm • Farmer Jones • Irresponsible with his animals • Sometimes cruel: beats them; letting them starve • Sometimes kind; mixing milk in the animals’ food

Russian revolution • Czar Nicholas II • Poor leader in comparison to other monarchs • Cruel: sometimes brutal with political opponents • Sometimes kind: hired starving students to work as spies

Animal Farm • Old Major • Taught Animalism • Workers do the work, rich keep the money, animals revolt • Dies before the revolution takes place

Russian REvolution • Karl Marx • Invented Communism • “Workers of the World Unite”- take over the economy (factories and farms) and thus the government • Dies before the Russian Revolution

Animal Farm • Animalism • No social classes – no rich, but no poor • Workers get a better life; all animals are equal • Animals own the farm

Russian REvolution • Communism • No social classes – no rich, but no poor • All people are equal • Government owns everything and the people own the government

Animal FArm • Snowball • Young, smart, good speaker, idealistic • Really wants to make life better for all • One of the leaders of the revolution • Chased away into exile by Napoleon’s dogs

Russian rEvolution • Leon Trotsky • One of the leaders of the revolution • Pure Communist, followed Marx • Wanted to improve life for all in Russia • Chased away by Lenin’s KGB (secret police)

Animal FArm • Napoleon • Not a good speaker, not as smart as Snowball • Cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt • Ambition for power, killed opponents • Used the dogs, Moses the Raven, and Squealer to control the animals

Russian REvolution • Joseph Stalin • Not a good speaker, not as educated as Trotsky • Didn’t follow Marx’s ideas • Cared for power only; killed his opponents • Used KGB, allowed the Church, used propaganda – all for control

Animal Farm • Squealer • Convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon • Changes and manipulates the commandments

Russian REvolution • Propaganda / The Ministry of Information • Worked for Stalin to support his image • Used any lie that would support Stalin • Benefited from government control of education

Animal fArm • The Dogs • A private army that used fear to force the animals to work • Killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon • Essential part of Napoleon’s strategy to control the animals

Russian REvolution • KGB, The Secret Police • Not really police, but enforcers used to support Stalin • Used force; often killed entire families for disobedience • Totally loyal to Stalin, even more so than the military

Animal FArm • Moses the Raven • Tells Animals about Sugar Candy Mountain (heaven) • Animals can go there if they work hard • Snowball and Old Major were against him • They thought Sugar Candy Mountain was a lie to make the animals work. • Napoleon let him stay because he taught the animals to work and not complain.

Russian REvolution • Organized Religion • Designed to teach people to not complain about their circumstances (why complain when you’ll be in heaven soon?) • Stalin allowed religion to calm down the discontent of the people.

Animal FArm • Mollie • Vain; loved her beauty and herself • Didn’t think about Animal Farm • Went with anyone that gave her what she wanted

Russian REvolution • Vain people of Russia & the world / Bourgeoisie • Some people didn’t care about the revolution • Only thought of their own self interest • Escaped to other countries that offered more for them

Animal Farm • Boxer • Strong, loyal, hard working horse; believed in Animal Farm • “I Will Work Harder” • “Napoleon Is Always Right” • Gives his all, but is betrayed by Napoleon who sells him to the glue factory.

Russian REvolution • Dedicated, but tricked supporters of the Revolution • People believed Stalin because he was “Communist” • Many stayed loyal even after he was revealed as a tyrant • Betrayed by Stalin who ignored or killed them

Animal fArm • Benjamin • Old, wise donkey who is suspicious of Napoleon • Thinks “nothing ever changes” – he was right • Cynical, stubborn mindset • His suspicious about Boxer being sent to the glue factory and the commandments being changed were proved true. • “Donkey’s live a long time”

Russian REvolution • Skeptical people of Russia and the outside world • Weren’t sure Revolution would change anything • Realized that a tyrant could call himself a Communist, but knew Communism wouldn’t work with tyrants

Animal Farm • Overall details of the revolution: • Was designed to make life better for the animals • Life ended up being far worse under the animals as compared to the humans they rebelled against

Russian rEvolution • Overall details of the revolution: • Supposed to fix the problems that existed under the Czar’s rule • Life was worse (under Stalin’s control) after the revolution than before

Animal Farm vs. Russian Revolution