Animal Farm byAnimal Farm by George Orwell George Orwell

The NovelThe Novel

Many people enjoy the book as a simple Many people enjoy the book as a simple animal story.animal story.

While it is possible to read without While it is possible to read without knowing the historical background,knowing the historical background,

Knowing the world’s situation during the Knowing the world’s situation during the 1940s adds interest to the novel. 1940s adds interest to the novel.

Many political and societal references are Many political and societal references are found in the text. found in the text.

Keep Reading!Keep Reading!

Even though historical events of the 40s Even though historical events of the 40s influenced the novel, the themes are still influenced the novel, the themes are still relevant today.relevant today.

Orwell stressed the universality of his Orwell stressed the universality of his book by using animals for characters and book by using animals for characters and by not setting the story in a specific era.by not setting the story in a specific era.

The messages are still important today. The messages are still important today.

The Satire The Satire

Animal Farm is a satire –a literary Animal Farm is a satire –a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule. scorn, derision, or ridicule.

The target was the USSR, or the Soviet The target was the USSR, or the Soviet Union, who was a military ally of Great Union, who was a military ally of Great Britain during WWII.Britain during WWII.

World War IIWorld War II

In 1939 England declared war on Germany.In 1939 England declared war on Germany. At this time no one thought that the Soviet At this time no one thought that the Soviet

Union and England would be allies. Union and England would be allies. But many were stunned by the news that a But many were stunned by the news that a

Soviet-German nonaggression pact was made. Soviet-German nonaggression pact was made. Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin secretly worked Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin secretly worked

out the agreement, while the Soviet leader out the agreement, while the Soviet leader (Stalin) publicly pursued an alliance with Great (Stalin) publicly pursued an alliance with Great Britain and France against Germany (Hitler). Britain and France against Germany (Hitler).

A Shocking Union A Shocking Union

The world, which had for several years watched The world, which had for several years watched Germany's expansionist moves, was suddenly Germany's expansionist moves, was suddenly confronted with the Soviet Union doing the same thing. confronted with the Soviet Union doing the same thing.

Orwell on the situation: "Suddenly the scum of the Orwell on the situation: "Suddenly the scum of the earth and the bloodstained butcher of the workers were earth and the bloodstained butcher of the workers were marching arm in arm, their friendship 'cemented in marching arm in arm, their friendship 'cemented in blood,' as Stalin cheerily expressed it." blood,' as Stalin cheerily expressed it."

Orwell portrays the Hitler-Stalin pact in his novel Orwell portrays the Hitler-Stalin pact in his novel Animal Farm as the agreement between Mr. Frederick Animal Farm as the agreement between Mr. Frederick and Napoleon.and Napoleon.

More War More War

When it looked like Germany was preparing to When it looked like Germany was preparing to invade England, Orwell and his wife moved invade England, Orwell and his wife moved from their home where they raised animals to from their home where they raised animals to London. London.

The war changed when the Soviet Union was The war changed when the Soviet Union was unexpectedly invaded by the Germans in June unexpectedly invaded by the Germans in June 1941. Still stung by Stalin's betrayal just two 1941. Still stung by Stalin's betrayal just two years earlier, the Allies (France, England, andyears earlier, the Allies (France, England, and—after Pearl Harbor—the United States) were —after Pearl Harbor—the United States) were nevertheless forced to join him in order to nevertheless forced to join him in order to defeat Hitler. defeat Hitler.

Orwell vs. Stalin Orwell vs. Stalin

Orwell was angry with Stalin and what he did. Orwell was angry with Stalin and what he did. Orwell wrote: "I thought of exposing the Soviet Orwell wrote: "I thought of exposing the Soviet

(Stalin’s) myth in a story that could be easily (Stalin’s) myth in a story that could be easily understood by almost anyone and which could be understood by almost anyone and which could be easily translated into other languages." easily translated into other languages."

Orwell knew he would have trouble publishing it Orwell knew he would have trouble publishing it because Stalin had become quite popular in England because Stalin had become quite popular in England as the one who saved England from an invasion.as the one who saved England from an invasion.

Orwell couldn't forgive the Soviet leader's complicity Orwell couldn't forgive the Soviet leader's complicity with Hitler, or his bloody reshaping of the Soviet with Hitler, or his bloody reshaping of the Soviet Communist Party during the 1930s which resulted in Communist Party during the 1930s which resulted in the death or deportation of hundreds of thousands of the death or deportation of hundreds of thousands of Russians. Russians.

The Aftermath The Aftermath

Although finished in February 1944, Although finished in February 1944, Animal FarmAnimal Farm wasn't published until 1945, a pivotal year in world wasn't published until 1945, a pivotal year in world history- the war had ended, but it was also the year the history- the war had ended, but it was also the year the first nuclear bomb was used. first nuclear bomb was used.

The cost of the war was staggering: estimates set the The cost of the war was staggering: estimates set the monetary cost at one trillion dollars, while an estimated monetary cost at one trillion dollars, while an estimated 60 million people lost their lives. 60 million people lost their lives.

The war had allowed only the United States and the The war had allowed only the United States and the Soviet Union to survive as world powers. So the end of Soviet Union to survive as world powers. So the end of the war brought the beginning of a Cold War, an the war brought the beginning of a Cold War, an ideological conflict pitting the Soviet Union and its allies ideological conflict pitting the Soviet Union and its allies against the United States and its allies, that persisted against the United States and its allies, that persisted with varying degrees of intensity until the collapse of with varying degrees of intensity until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. the Soviet Union in 1991.

The CharactersThe Characters

Mr. JonesMr. Jones – owner of farm. Had been a decent master – owner of farm. Had been a decent master of the animals until farm hit harder times (symbolizing of the animals until farm hit harder times (symbolizing the Great Depression). He symbolizes the evils of the Great Depression). He symbolizes the evils of capitalism and also Czar Nicholas II, the leader before capitalism and also Czar Nicholas II, the leader before Stalin.Stalin.

Old MajorOld Major - This "purebred" of pigs is the kind, grand - This "purebred" of pigs is the kind, grand fatherly philosopher of change— an obvious metaphor fatherly philosopher of change— an obvious metaphor for Karl Marx.   Old Major proposes a solution to the for Karl Marx.   Old Major proposes a solution to the animals' desperate plight under the Jones animals' desperate plight under the Jones "administration" when he inspires a rebellion of sorts "administration" when he inspires a rebellion of sorts among the animals. among the animals.

characterscharacters

Mr. FredrickMr. Fredrick - The tough, shrewd - The tough, shrewd operator of Pinchfield, a neighboring operator of Pinchfield, a neighboring farm. Based on Adolf Hitler.farm. Based on Adolf Hitler.

Mr. PilkingtonMr. Pilkington - The easygoing - The easygoing gentleman farmer who runs Foxwood, a gentleman farmer who runs Foxwood, a neighboring farm. Mr. Frederick's bitter neighboring farm. Mr. Frederick's bitter enemy, Mr. Pilkington represents the enemy, Mr. Pilkington represents the capitalist governments of England and capitalist governments of England and the United States. the United States.

characterscharacters

NapoleonNapoleon - The pig who emerges as the - The pig who emerges as the leader of Animal Farm after the leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Joseph Stalin, Rebellion. Based on Joseph Stalin, Napoleon uses military force (his nine Napoleon uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power animals and consolidate his power

characterscharacters

Snowball Snowball - The pig who challenges Napoleon - The pig who challenges Napoleon for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Leon Trotsky.Based on Leon Trotsky.

Boxer Boxer - The cart-horse whose incredible - The cart-horse whose incredible strength, dedication, and loyalty play a key role strength, dedication, and loyalty play a key role in the early prosperity of Animal Farm in the early prosperity of Animal Farm

Squealer Squealer - The pig who spreads Napoleon's - The pig who spreads Napoleon's propaganda among the other animals propaganda among the other animals

characterscharacters

Clover Clover - A good-hearted female cart-horse and Boxer's - A good-hearted female cart-horse and Boxer's close friend. Clover often suspects the pigs of violating close friend. Clover often suspects the pigs of violating one or another of the Seven Commandments one or another of the Seven Commandments

Moses Moses - The tame raven who spreads stories of - The tame raven who spreads stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, the paradise to which animals Sugarcandy Mountain, the paradise to which animals supposedly go when they die. supposedly go when they die.

MollieMollie - vain, flighty mare who pulls Mr. Jones's - vain, flighty mare who pulls Mr. Jones's carriage. Mollie craves the attention of human beings carriage. Mollie craves the attention of human beings and loves being groomed and pampered and loves being groomed and pampered

BenjaminBenjamin - The long-lived donkey who refuses to feel - The long-lived donkey who refuses to feel inspired by the Rebellion inspired by the Rebellion