Animal Farm

By George Orwell

About the Author

George Orwell was born Eric Blair in 1903 in Bengal, India, but was raised in England

1917 was awarded a scholarship to Eton College (outside of London)

Worked as a war correspondent Died Jan. 23, 1950

Works by Orwell Down and Out in Paris and London*** lived as

a bum Burmese Days*** based on early adult years A Clergyman’s Daughter The Road to Wigan Pier Homage to Catalonia *** Spanish Civil War Coming up for Air Inside the Whale The Lion and the Unicorn Animal Farm *** published in 1945 Dickens, Dali, and Others 1984 *** published in 1949

Historical Background

A journalist with profound sense of social awareness

Hated totalitarianism

Believed in democratic socialism

Communist Manifesto

“From each according to his abilities, to each according to his need.”

Events that led to Animal Farm

March 15, 1917, Czar Nicholas II is overthrownin Russia

Provisional government in place Oct. 1917, provisional government overthrown

by the Bolsheviks led by Vladmir Lenin Russian Communist Party (Reds) take control

of the government Lenin died in 1924

A power struggle

ensued. . .

Leon Trotsky vs. Joseph Stalin

Trotsky was a strict Marxist

Stalin was a moderate Marxist and had served as the secretary general for the Communist party

Totalitarianism

Form of government with a strong central rule that attempts to control individuals by means of coercion and repression.

Examples of Totalitarian governments and their

leaders

Nazi Germany - Adolf Hitler Soviet Union - Joseph Stalin Italy - (Fascist) Benito Mussolini Spain - Gen. Francisco Franco

Animal Farm was an attack on Stalin

Literary Context

Contemporary

Derives its inspiration from the political, historical, economic, and social nature of the world

Allegory

Story that can be read on two levels

Satire

Ridicule to make certain people, events, or institutions appear foolish

Fable

Brief, often humorous, tale that presents a moral or message

Conflict

External conflicts drive the action

Internal conflicts are minimal