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An Intro to Animal Farm. Tidbits of wisdom that will help you better understand and appreciate George Orwell’s satirical fable. George Orwell. Born Eric Blair on June 25, 1903 In 1928, he went to Paris to be a writer Published his first book in 1933, under the pseudonym George Orwell.
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An Intro to Animal Farm Tidbits of wisdom that will help you better understand and appreciate George Orwell’s satirical fable.
George Orwell • Born Eric Blair on June 25, 1903 • In 1928, he went to Paris to be a writer • Published his first book in 1933, under the pseudonym George Orwell. • December 1935, he fought in the Spanish Civil War • Animal Farm published in August 1945 • His other best known work, 1984, was published in June, 1949. • Died January 21, 1950.
The Basics • Although it seems innocent enough, Animal Farm is not the “fairy tale” story that it seems. • Written in 1945, the novella hits on some of the major historical points of the Russian Revolution of 1917. • Orwell uses fable, satire and allegory to tell this cautionary tale.
Satire • A satire is a literary work holding up human vices to ridicule or scorn. • Often uses wit, sarcasm or irony to expose or draw attention to vice or folly. • The main intent of satire is political, social, or moral and not comic. • Satire that leans more toward humor is called parody.
Pop Culture Satirists • Pop culture tends to lean more toward parody than actual satire. • Saturday Night Live is famous for parody. • They poke fun at celebrities, current events and politics • Weird Al Yankovich satirizes other artists music. • Shows like The Simpsons have also been labeled as satirical. • Some editorial cartoonists, like Jim Borgman, have also used satire.
Editorial Cartoons Why is this an example of satire?
Fable • A fictitious narrative or statement • A story that usually has a moral or lesson to be learned at the end. • Many fables feature animals that talk and act like human beings • Fables often use anthropomorphism which gives human characteristics, like emotions (feelings like being happy or sad) and the ability to talk, to a living thing that is not a human.
Examples of Fables • Some of the most famous are Aesop’s Fables • “The Ant and the Grasshopper” • “The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” • “The Tortoise and the Hare”
Allegory • The expression by means of symbolic, fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence. • Similar to metaphors: both use one subject to represent another unrelated subject. • Unlike metaphors (which are usually one or two lines), allegories often extend through an entire story. • Allegories are usually meant to persuade the reader in some way.
Allegory Examples • Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” is one of the best known. • Uses a cave and shadows to caution mankind about believing all they see. • Stories about superheroes are often allegorical • The superhero represents the good in “Everyman,” and his struggles are symbolic of the villains that everyone fights. • Even The Wizard of Oz can been viewed as an allegory for the financial troubles of America in the 1890’s.
Terms • Proletariat • The class of industrial wage earners who, possessing neither capital nor production means, must earn their living by selling their labor; the poorest class of working people. • Autocracy • government in which one person possesses unlimited power • Provisional Government • Formed after the Czar’s abdication; was in place from March 1917 to November 1917
Capitalism • An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned. • The business owners (or capitalists) get richer while the workers do all the hard work. • The capitalists get more power to serve their own interests. • Capitalism creates a huge working-class of people who soon get angry at the way they are treated. They organise in unions and demand changes. This leads to a revolution and Socialism…
Capitalism…think of it this way • You have two cows, you sell one and buy a bull
Socialism • In the Socialist revolution all the rulers – kings, churches, capitalists are eliminated • The workers take control of the country to produce things for everyone. • Because nothing is made for profit, all people benefit from education and health. • These ideas spread across the world to create Communism….
Socialism…think of it this way • You have two cows, you give one to a neighbor
Communism • A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people. • All human activity goes towards benefiting each other – allowing all to live their lives to the fullest.
Communism…think of it this way • You have two cows. You give them to the government. The government gives you some milk.
Key Players • Karl Marx • Invented the idea of Communism • “Workers of the world unite” and take over government • Died on March 14, 1883, well before the Russian Revolution took place • Czar Nicholas II (Ruler of Russia) • Cruel, sometimes brutal with opponents • Sometimes kind; hired students to work as spies to make money. • Clumsy and ineffective leader. • Nicholas II abdicated on March 2, 1917, as a result of the February Revolution. • In July 1918, the Bolsheviks executed Nicholas
Key Players • Vladimir Lenin • Founder of Bolshevik Party; Devout follower of Marxism • Orchestrated the “October Revolution” • After Lenin died, on January 27, 1924 his embalmed body was placed in a mausoleum for all to view. • Leon Trotsky • Co-Leader of the “October Revolution” • Pure communist; follower of Marx • Wanted to improve life for all of Russia • Chased away by Lenin’s KGB (secret police) • Joseph Stalin • Cared for power; Did not follow Marx’s ideas; killed all those who opposed him. • Used KGB, propagandized. • Was not a good public speaker
Key Players • Pravda • Russian newspaper of the 1930’s; used propaganda • Seized by Stalin and his Bolshevik regime • Worked for Stalin to improve his image • KGB (Secret Police) • Forced support for Stalin; they were like bodyguards • Used force to combat disobedience • Russian People • Some citizens did not care about revolution; went to other countries that could offer them more. • Other dedicated supporters believed Stalin just because he was “Communist;” many stayed loyal even when things got bad. • Skeptical people weren’t sure revolution would change anything; knew communism wouldn’t work with power.
The Russian Revolution • The Russian Revolution of 1917 centers around two primary events • February Revolution removed Tsar Nicholas II from power, February revolution happened as a result of bread shortages which led to worker protests which led to a mutiny. Spontaneous Revolution! • October Revolution (also called the Bolshevik Revolution) overturned the interim provisional government and established the Soviet Union. The October Revolution was a much more deliberate event, orchestrated by a small group of people.
Timeline of Events • 1864: Karl Marx organizes the First Communist Internationale in London, England. • 1881: Revolutionary sentiment continues to build in Russia • 1883: Karl Marx dies (long before the actual revolution!) • 1917(February): The February Revolution finally topples Czar Nicholas II
Timeline (Continued) • 1917 (October): Bolshevik troops (at Lenin’s request) advance on the Provisional Government; a bloodless coup brings the soviets to power and marks the start of the communist era • 1918: Civil War breaks out in Russia; white forces (intent on removing the soviets from power) battle the “Red” forces of communist Russia, under the leadership of Leon Trotsky (the Red forces are victorious)
Timeline (continued) • 1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is established. • 1924-1927: Stalin out maneuvers Trotsky and assumes full command of the USSR; he immediately begins isolating Trotsky within the party • 1927: Trotsky is run out of the Soviet Union
Timeline (continued) • 1928: Stalin announces his first Five Year Plan (an attempt to make Russian a modern industrial state); convinces “comrades” throughout the Soviet Union to work harder than they ever have so that the Soviet Union can be beacon of hope for workers everywhere. • 1933: Stalin proposes the second five year plan, which again emphasizes the rapid growth of the Soviet Industry; by the end, they are a formidible world power
Timeline (Continued) • 1934: Beginning of the “Great Purges” and “show trials” under Stalin; these public accusations and forced confessions were followed by quick trials and executions (or imprisonment); between 2 and 7 million people are executed • 1939: The German-Soviet Non Aggression Pact (a secret agreement between Stalin and Hitler) is signed; guaranteed that neither country would oppose or attack the other ever.
Timeline (Conclusion!) • 1941: Hitler begins “Operation Barbarossa,” the full frontal assault on the Soviet Union, in defiance of the Non-Aggression Treaty of 1939. Hitler moves quickly into Russia; eventually Hitler’s troops retreat under a Russian counter-assault • 1943: Stalin, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt meet to discuss the ways to forge a lasting peace after the war
Connections to Animal Farm • It is said that the characters and events of Animal Farm mirror those of the Russian Revolution. • As you read, pay attention: can you tell who or what each character or event represents? • As with poetry…things aren’t always as they seem! Look carefully.