Animal Farm
George Orwell
Vocabulary for Animal Farm
Due Jan. 7
Test Jan. 8
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Ensconced
Preeminent
Obstinate
Cryptic
Indefatigable
Irrepressible
Ignominious
Sordid
Malignity
Machinations
Benevolent
Vivacious
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Tractable
Conciliatory
Superannuated
Maxim
Cynical
Posthumously
Pretext
Intermediary
Retribution
Categorically
Incumbent
Capitulated
Censured
Plot and Setting
 Animal Farm is a political novel set on a
British farm where barnyard animals
successfully revolt against a human
master who has exploited them.
Novel Structure
 To convey his political message, Orwell
employs the literary forms of allegory, satire,
and fable.
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An allegory is a story that can be read on two
distinct levels. Many of the characters in the novel
represent the leaders of the Russian Revolution.
A satire uses ridicule to make certain people,
events, or institutions appear foolish.
A fable is a brief, often humorous, tale that
presents a moral or message.
Conflict
 External Conflict – The narrative is driven by
the conflict dealing with the animals, such as
the disagreements between Napoleon and
Snowball, between the animals and the
humans, and between the animals and the
elements.
 Internal Conflict – One of Orwell’s points is the
lack of internal conflict because the animals are
so easily swayed by Squealer.
Characters
 Old Major
 Mollie
 Napoleon
 Muriel
 Snowball
 Moses
 Squealer
 Mr. Jones
 Boxer
 Mr. Whymper
 Clover
 Mr. Fredrick
 Benjamin
 Mr. Pilkington
Themes
 The corruptive nature of power – Orwell shows
how both the leaders and the followers in a
society can act in ways that destroy freedom
and equality.
 The oppressed tightening the noose of
oppression – Orwell illustrates the limiting of
individual freedom through the ignorance,
inertia, or misplaced loyalty of the animals.
 Tyranny distorting history and language –
Orwell shows how propaganda techniques like
those practiced by Squealer and accepted by
the animals are used to justify a tyrant's
decisions and actions.
Historical Context – Karl Marx
 Karl Marx was born in Prussia in 1818.
He was a journalist whose unpopular
views forced him to leave his country.
Eventually, he and Friedrich Engels
published the Communist Manifesto, a
pamphlet outlining Marx’s ideas about
government and economics, including
his belief that pure communism would be
the inevitable outcome of human history.
Historical Context
 In Russia, by the early 1900s, the writings of Karl Marx,
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increasing economic hardship, and the injustices of the
czars inspired widespread revolt and led to the Russian
Revolution.
Czar Nicholas II was overthrown and later executed with
his wife and children.
A provisional government of revolutionaries assumed
leadership.
Seven months later, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir
Lenin, overthrew the provisional government. (the
October Revolution)
The Bolsheviks renamed themselves the Russian
Communist Party and became known as the Reds.
Historical Context
 After Lenin died in 1924, a power
struggle began for control of the
Communist Party between two major
contenders.
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Leon Trotsky was a talented party
organizer who had played an important
role in the Russian Revolution.
Joseph Stalin was the secretary general of
the Communist Party and favored a
modified form of Marxism.
Historical Context
 Following a struggle marked by assassination
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and betrayal, Trotsky was exiled in 1928.
Stalin became dictator of the Soviet Union.
Later his agents assassinated Trotsky in
Mexico.
Stalin instituted a series of Five – Year Plans to
increase economic growth, but goods
decreased.
Totalitarianism – a form of government with a
strong central rule that attempts to control
individuals by means of coercion and
repression.
Who is Who and What is What
 Mankind
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Mr. Jones – Czar Nicholas II
Mrs. Jones – Alexandra (Nicholas’s wife)
Mr. Pilkington – Leader of England
Mr. Frederick – Leader of Germany (many
references to Hitler)
Mr. Whymper – Capitalist who did business
with the Soviet Union.
Who is Who and What is What
 Animals
 Napoleon – Joseph Stalin
 Squealer – Russian Media
 Snowball – Leon Trotsky
 Old Major – Karl Marx/Vladimir Lenin
 Boxer – Working Class
 Mollie – Upper Class
 Dogs – Military/Police
 Moses – Russian Orthodox Church
 Hens – Peasant Farmers
 Sheep – Masses following Stalin
Who is Who and What is What
 Places
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Animal Farm – The Soviet Union
Manor Farm – Russia
Foxwood – England
Pinchfield – Germany
Willingdon – Europe
England – Represents the entire world
Farmhouse – The Kremlin
Sugar Candy Mountain - Heaven
Who is Who and What is What
 Things and Events
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Animalism – Communism
Animal Committees – Soviet Committees
Beast of England – Ideology of Communism
Windmill – Stalin’s Five – Year Plans
The Animal Revolt – Russian Revolution
Battle of Cowshed – Red October
The Hens’ revolt – Ukrainian peasants’ bitter resistance
to collective farming.
Destruction of the Windmill – Failure of Stalin’s plans
Selling of the wood to Frederick – Nazi-Soviet pact
Battle of the Windmill – Battle of Stalingrad (German
invasion of Russia during World War II)