george orwell’s animal farm you’re taking notes today! don’t worry, be happy!
TRANSCRIPT
George Orwell’s
Animal Farm
You’re taking notes today!
Don’t worry, be happy!
Government SystemsDemocracy• government by the people • the rule of the majority (vote)
Socialism• a society in which there is no
private property • a society in which the means
of production are owned and controlled by the state
Government SystemsCommunism• government in which a single authoritarian party
controls state-owned means of production• a system in which goods are owned in common
and are available to all as needed
Fascism• a political philosophy that exalts nation and race
above the individual • usually headed by a dictatorial leader• often includes forcible suppression of opposition
The Economics : An OverviewCapitalism (+ Democracy)
• Market driven, encourages competition, unequal distribution of wealth
Socialism• State driven, private and state
owned facilities
Communism (+ Totalitarianism)• State driven, state owns/controls
everything, financial equality except for government officials
Equality of Opportunity
Equality of Condition
Karl Marx
• German philosopher and Father of Communism
• Wrote the Communist Manifesto
• His mission was to spread communist ideals and encourage the overthrow of capitalist societies
• He died beloved and was mourned by millions of revolutionary workers who believed in his manifesto
Russia: 1914-1917• Russia lingered in past and Czar (similar to a
king; also spelled Tsar) still ruled absolutely
• Well-organized Communists began to dominate Russian leadership & focus on poor
• Hungry workers (proletariat) soon joined Communist groups to overthrow the rich, controlling class (bourgeoisie)
• Bolshevik Revolution (1917) was a Communist takeover led by Vladimir Lenin
• New political approach introduced: “Everyone would benefit equally!”
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics• Communist era begins led by Lenin and his two allies,
Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin• Nation also came to be known as the Soviet Union
• Dilemma: how do you bring peace and equality with opposition? Answer: campaign of terror • Formed Red Army• Identified and executed
suspected anti-Communists, including the Czar and his family
• Lenin died 1924
• Power struggle erupted between Trotsky and Stalin• Trotsky – Dreamer, appetite for books and ideas, intellectual
giant, visionary thinker, hoped to transform Russia into an industrial powerhouse
• Stalin – Quick study, spoke well, focused on creating loyal bonds between himself and powerful men within the soviets
• Stalin wins, maintained grip on power through political and social terror, silenced all opposition• “Purges” – High-ranking officials systemically arrested, forced to
admit to crimes they did not commit, executed• An estimated 2-7 million people killed• The Cheka, Stalin’s secret police, was used as an instrument of
revolutionary terror and killed nearly 250,000 people
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Molotov & Pravda
Molotov• Became foreign minister of the USSR and one of the most
influential lieutenants to Stalin. • Helped Stalin achieve and maintain absolute power.• In 1912 he founded the Bolshevik daily newspaper Pravda (The
Truth) and became its editor.
Pravda• Propaganda newspaper used to sway public opinion to support
Soviet leaders.
Propaganda
• Biased, one-sided communication meant to influence the thoughts and actions of an audience
• Lie, distort facts, manipulative, work to gain audience's trust
• Directly aimed at influencing the opinions of people rather than impartially providing information
• Does not have to be untrue to qualify as propaganda, but may omit so many pertinent truths that it becomes highly misleading
Format and Structure• A “Fairy Story”: Orwell’s term to describe his story. It
has elements of a fairy tale (ex. Talking animals) but also has a darker message…
• (Political) Satire: Style of writing that uses humor and exaggeration to attack flaws of society• Irony: The contrast between what is said and meant / done• Purpose of this social critique is to get the audience to rethink
and reform
• Allegory: A narrative that conveys a secondary meaning, meaning outside the events of the story• The Chronicles of Narnia is a Christian allegory of Jesus’s
resurrection
CHARACTER PERSONALITY/ BEHAVIOR ANIMAL
Mr. Jones
Old Major
Boxer
Mollie
Snowball
Napoleon
Squealer
Moses
Animal Farm Pre-ReadingMake predictions about the following characters based upon their names.
Animal Farm Pre-ReadingWrite FIVE characteristics specific to each animal (i.e., are they slow or fast? Bright or dull? Kind or mean?)
1. goat
4. horse
2. pig3. sheep
5. human