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Animal Farm
versus
The Russian Revolution
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep
repeating it, people will eventually
come to believe it.”
Joseph Goebbels—Hitler’s Propaganda
Minister
What is irony?
 IRONY is a literary device in which
there is a deliberate difference
between what is
 said versus what is meant
 an understanding or expectation of
reality and what actually happens
What is satire?
 SATIRE is a literary technique that
is similar to irony, but it is
extended throughout the entire
work
 The purpose of satire is to send a
powerful, critical message about a
social issue
Allegory
 Deliberate, symbolic,
representation of
abstract principles by
characters or figures.
Fable
 story in which animals speak and act
like humans

expresses a human failing or
weakness
George Orwell
1903-1950
Pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair
Famous British writer/social
critic
 Worked with the poor
 Felt that authority could be vicious
 In 1936, he fought against Fascism
and totalitarianism.
 Realized the danger of the control
of thought through language.
 He found that human liberty was
being threatened.
 His major concerns: totalitarianism,
the corruption of power, and the
demise of human nature.
Animal Farm
 On a farm somewhere in
England
 Farm animals used to
represent famous leaders
in World War II/post-World
War II history
 A dictatorship cannot manage
effectively and justly as a successful
nation
 Without opposition, justice will never
be served
 Animal Farm sheds light on the
confusion and hope during the
Russian Revolution
Russian Society
 The people lived in extreme
poverty
 The people in power lived in
luxury.
 The people were tremendously
upset.
 Property owning class=
bourgeoisie
Czar Nicholas II
A poor leader at best
Cruel/brutal to opponents
Hired students as spies
Nicholas II
Believed he was
appointed by God.
Murdered innocents
(i.e., 1905 food riot in
St. Petersburg)
Karl Marx
 Believed ownership of land should
be abolished
 Believed in a “communal” way of
life where everyone shares in
prosperity
Karl Marx
Marx (cont.)
Invented Communism
Believed society should
become “classless”
Dies before Russian
Revolution
Communism
All people equal
Government owns
everything
Vladimir Lenin
Adopted Marx’s ideas
Believed that the
bourgeoisie (middle class)
exploited the workers and
must therefore be
overthrown.
Vladimir Lenin
Lenin (cont.)
Understood the emotional
impact of simple, powerful
slogans
“Workers of the world unite”
When Lenin died, there was a
power struggle between Trotsky
and Stalin.
Lenin Dies
When Lenin died, there
was a power struggle
between Trotsky and
Stalin.
Leon Trotsky
Believed in “pure”
communism
Followed Marx
Wanted to improve life for all
in Russia
Leon Trotsky
Trotsky (cont.)
Brilliant speaker
Worked with Lenin
Succeeded in overthrowing the
government
Stalin’s KGB (secret police)
chased him away
Civil War Broke Out
Joseph Stalin
Craved power—willing
to kill for it
Used KGB, allowed
church, and
propagandized
Joseph Stalin
Stalin (cont.)
Average speaker, not
educated like Trotsky
Didn't exactly follow
Marx's ideas
Stalin continually
opposed Trotsky
Propaganda Department of
Stalin’s government
Worked for Stalin to support
his image
Lied to convince the people to
follow Stalin
Stalin (cont.)
Benefited from the
fact that education
was controlled
Stalin takes Control
Kicked Trotsky out in 1929
Stalin used the exiled Trotsky
for his scapegoat
Orwell’s Conclusion
 Theme democracy needs a good
memory and good education to resist
those who would forcefully rule
 Implies Snowball would have been
eventually corrupted as well
 Power corrupts
 Revolution often leads to ideas being
corrupted Old Major
 Used fable to disguise his book
Terminology
 Idealism = belief in noble principals (Old
Major)
 Totalitarian = complete government control
 Proletariat = Marx felt this group had
nothing to sell except labor
 Bourgeoisie = property owning class;
capitalistic in nature
 Taciturn = inclined to silence (Benjamin)
Relationships/Comparisons





Marx-Lenin--- Old Major
Czar Nicholas Famer Jones
Germany ---- Pinchfield Fredrick
Trotsky------ Snowball
Stalin-------- Napoleon
Relationships/Comparisons
(cont.)




Teheran Conference The card game
Propaganda Agent- Squealer
Russian Revolution The Rebellion
Mr. Whymper--- The broker
In Summary
 We learn this book to remind us of
the forms of government that don’t
work.
 Too much power corrupts
 Education is power
 The overall concept of capitalism
works and allows people to control
their own lives.