AnAnIntroductionIntroduction

totoAnimal Animal FarmFarm

SatireType of writing that

ridicules something—a person, a group of people, humanity at large, an attitude or failing, a social institution—in order to reveal a weakness.

Most satires…Convince us of a point of

view.Persuade us to follow a

course of action.Involve exaggeration.

AllegoryA story in which the

characters, settings, and events stand for certain other people, events, or concepts.

How is Animal Farm an allegory?It parallels revolutionary and

postrevolutionary Russia (late 1920s to 1953).

Many characters are based on Russian historical figures and ideas.

Czar Nicholas II

Poor leader at bestCruel, sometimes brutal with

opponentsSometimes kind, hired students

as spies to make money

Russian Revolutionaries

Karl MarxJoseph StalinLeon Trotsky

Karl Marx

German social philosopherChief theorist of modern

socialism and communism“Revolution is inevitable”

SocialismPolitical and economic theory

that advocates a system of government ownership and management of the means of production and distribution of goods.

CommunismA totalitarian system of

government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production.

TotalitarianismSeeks to control not only all

economic and political matters but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.

Generally led by a dictator.

Joseph Stalin

Studied Marxism, but did not follow it

“Man of steel”; killed all who opposed him

Not a good speaker, not very well-educated

Leon Trotsky

Followed MarxismVery well-educatedWanted to improve life for all

in RussiaEventually chased away by the

KGB

Other Similarities…

KGB“Secret police”Not really police, but forced

support for StalinOften killed entire families

for disobedience

ReligionWas tolerated because it

encouraged the people to work

Would stop violent revolutions

Vain, Selfish People

Didn’t care about revolutionOnly thought about

themselvesWent to other countries that

offered more for them

Skeptical PeopleWeren’t sure revolution

would change anythingKnew communism wouldn’t

work with power-hungry leaders

Dedicated Communists

Believed Stalin because he was a “communist”

Stayed loyal after it was obvious he was a tyrant

Were betrayed by Stalin