The Quick and Easy Historical Context for:

It’s a Genre: Type of Literature

Theme: the main idea of the novel, usually expressed in one sentence

Setting: the time and place of the action of the novel

Plot: the events in the novel

Point of View: Personal, Objective, Omniscient

Conflict: the struggles in a novel

Characters: the personalities in a novel

•Developing Character (Round): a character who changes in some way during the course of the story; usually a major character who has several sides or traits to his personality

•Static Character (Flat): a character (usually a minor character) who does not change during the story; this kind off character generally has only one or two personality traits.

•Protagonist: a character who is trying to achieve some goal (usually the main character)

•Antagonist: a character who is trying to stop the protagonist

(1903-1950)

Real Name: Eric Blair

British Political Novelist

Born: To English parents in India

After his father retired, Eric and his family moved back to England.

He was sent to boarding school at the age of eight to prepare for Eton, an exclusive prep school.

Because he had a scholarship, he was teased and humiliated frequently.

                                     

                                          At eighteen, he passed the Empire’s Civil Service Exam and became a police officer

in Burma.          

Returned in Europe

Socialist: someone who believes that the government should own businesses so that everyone will be equal

Most fables have two levels of meaning. On the surface, the fable is about animals. But on a second level, the animals stand for types of people or ideas. The way the animals interact and the way the plot unfolds says something about the nature of people or the value of ideas. Any type of fiction that has multiple levels of meaning in this way is called an allegory.

A composition making fun of something, usually political.

Animal Farm makes fun of political society after the Bolshevik Revolution.

Standard: ELA10RL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to it’s historical background.

Russian society in the early twentieth century had two social classes: a tiny minority (bourgeoisie) controlled the country’s wealth.

The working class was called the proletariat.

Vladimir Lenin: Led the Bolsheviks (a Russian Vladimir Lenin: Led the Bolsheviks (a Russian political group) in the Russian Revolution in 1917. political group) in the Russian Revolution in 1917.

What up, I’m Vladimir Lenin.

Real Talk.

Before Trotsky and StalinBefore Trotsky and Stalin By 1917, the bond between the Russian tsar (Nicholas II) By 1917, the bond between the Russian tsar (Nicholas II)

and most of the Russian people had been broken. and most of the Russian people had been broken. Government corruption was evident to everyone. Government corruption was evident to everyone.

Riots because of the scarcity of food broke out in the Riots because of the scarcity of food broke out in the capital, Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) on March 12, 1917. capital, Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) on March 12, 1917.

Russian tsar Nicholas II was forced out of power. A new Russian tsar Nicholas II was forced out of power. A new Provisional Government was formed. Nicholas II was killed Provisional Government was formed. Nicholas II was killed the next year. the next year.

A bigger, Soviet government proved it had greater authority A bigger, Soviet government proved it had greater authority than the Provisional Government and issued it’s famous than the Provisional Government and issued it’s famous “Order No. 1” which directed the soldiers to obey only the “Order No. 1” which directed the soldiers to obey only the orders of the Soviets, not those of the Provisional orders of the Soviets, not those of the Provisional Government. Government.

On November 7 1917 Vladimir Lenin led a group of On November 7 1917 Vladimir Lenin led a group of Bolshevik soldiers into Petrograd (now St. Petersburg). Bolshevik soldiers into Petrograd (now St. Petersburg). Lenin and the Bolsheviks took the city with little resistance. Lenin and the Bolsheviks took the city with little resistance.

The Bolshevik uprising led to the Russian Civil War (1918-The Bolshevik uprising led to the Russian Civil War (1918-1922).1922).

Eventually, Eventually, LeninLenin came to power in Russia. came to power in Russia.

Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Riots 1917Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Riots 1917

Our Russian leaders

are corrupt!

We’re hungry!

Let’s storm the capitol!

Hey big man, lemme hold a dollar

Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Riots 1917Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Riots 1917

We want food!

Hrmph, food, hungry. Yes, agreed,

food.

We're hungry and we have guns. Like a boss.

Nikki the II representing Russia to the

fullest.

Like a boss

Lenin had two allies who would likely Lenin had two allies who would likely take power after his time: Joseph take power after his time: Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Stalin and Leon Trotsky.

Before Lenin died in 1924, he called Before Lenin died in 1924, he called for the removal of Joseph Stalin. for the removal of Joseph Stalin.

Lenin’s body is still on display in Lenin’s body is still on display in Moscow, Russia and recent debate Moscow, Russia and recent debate has called for it’s burial in 2008.has called for it’s burial in 2008.

Trotsky and StalinTrotsky and Stalin After Lenin’s death in 1924, Trotsky and After Lenin’s death in 1924, Trotsky and

Stalin competed for power. Stalin competed for power. In an effort to show loyalty to Lenin, Stalin In an effort to show loyalty to Lenin, Stalin

organized his funeral and made a speech organized his funeral and made a speech professing undying loyalty to Lenin. professing undying loyalty to Lenin.

Trotsky lost political ground to Stalin because Trotsky lost political ground to Stalin because he was ill during the time of the funeral. he was ill during the time of the funeral.

Stalin made a big deal of Trotsky joining the Stalin made a big deal of Trotsky joining the Bolsheviks just before the October Bolsheviks just before the October Revolution. Revolution.

Trotsky was expelled from Russia in 1928, he Trotsky was expelled from Russia in 1928, he fled to Mexico in 1937 and was later killed fled to Mexico in 1937 and was later killed by one of Stalin’s spies in 1940. by one of Stalin’s spies in 1940.

Me want control!

Me want control too!

Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky Joseph Stalin Joseph StalinYo dude, I'm sick, I

won't make it to the funeral

this weekend.

He he he Don't worry Trotsky, it's

just a funeral he

he he muha muha hahaa

That guy Trotsky be flexin’

I wonder have those spies

found and killed Trotsky yet?

Boy, I'm dead.

Stalin’s SocialismStalin’s Socialism Stalin came to power in 1929 and pursued his Stalin came to power in 1929 and pursued his

policy of “socialism in one country.” policy of “socialism in one country.” The term “socialism” is often used to refer to an The term “socialism” is often used to refer to an

economic system characterized by economic system characterized by STATESTATE ownership of the means of production and ownership of the means of production and distribution. distribution.

The United States is a capitalistic economic The United States is a capitalistic economic system. system. Individuals and business ownersIndividuals and business owners control the means of production and control the means of production and distribution, not the government (as in distribution, not the government (as in socialism/communism).socialism/communism).

Stalin began to “purge” all those who opposed Stalin began to “purge” all those who opposed him, including Bolsheviks. To “purge” meant to him, including Bolsheviks. To “purge” meant to imprison, torture and even kill. imprison, torture and even kill.

Between 1933-1953 Stalin was responsible for Between 1933-1953 Stalin was responsible for over 10 million deaths. over 10 million deaths.

Joseph StalinJoseph StalinStalin’s first wife, Ekaterina Svanidze, died in 1907, only Stalin’s first wife, Ekaterina Svanidze, died in 1907, only four years after their marriage.four years after their marriage. Stalin’s first son shot himself because of Stalin’s Stalin’s first son shot himself because of Stalin’s harshness toward him, but survived. Afterward Stalin said, harshness toward him, but survived. Afterward Stalin said, “He can’t even shoot straight.” “He can’t even shoot straight.” His son was captured by the Germans in WWI. They His son was captured by the Germans in WWI. They offered to exchange him for one of their Generals. Stalin offered to exchange him for one of their Generals. Stalin replied, “A Captain is not worth a General.” replied, “A Captain is not worth a General.” Stalin’s second wife is said to have shot herself after a Stalin’s second wife is said to have shot herself after a fight with him. fight with him. Stalin did not attend his own mother’s funeral in 1937.Stalin did not attend his own mother’s funeral in 1937.While in power Stalin created a “cult of personality” While in power Stalin created a “cult of personality” around himself. Numerous towns, villages and cities were around himself. Numerous towns, villages and cities were renamed after Stalin. renamed after Stalin. Statues and monuments erected to glorify Stalin Statues and monuments erected to glorify Stalin distorted his true build. The monuments suggested Stalin distorted his true build. The monuments suggested Stalin was tall and imposing although in reality, he stood no taller was tall and imposing although in reality, he stood no taller than 5”6. than 5”6. Stalin died of a brain hemorrhage (although some Stalin died of a brain hemorrhage (although some suspect he was poisoned) in 1953 at the age of 74. suspect he was poisoned) in 1953 at the age of 74.

He he he ...I'm very mean.

Communism arose in Russia when the nation’s workers & peasants rebelled against and overwhelmed the wealthy and powerful class of capitalists & aristocrats.

Re-CapRe-Cap Lenin led the Bolsheviks to Lenin led the Bolsheviks to

overthrow the Russian overthrow the Russian Government and create one of Government and create one of their own. their own.

When Lenin died there were two When Lenin died there were two men who could possible take men who could possible take over: Trotsky and Stalin. over: Trotsky and Stalin.

Stalin took over and created a Stalin took over and created a socialist cult of personality socialist cult of personality around himself: anyone in around himself: anyone in Russia who opposed him would Russia who opposed him would be tortured or killed. be tortured or killed.

Animal Farm Animal Farm is an allegory about is an allegory about the Russian Revolution.the Russian Revolution.

Farmer JonesA drunk and a poor farmer,

his cruelty towards the farm animals inspires their rebellion.

SnowballA clever pig with a head for ideas,

he becomes one of the main leaders of Animal Farm and

the author of its central commandments.

                              

NapoleonA pig with a gift for techniques of control,

he establishes most of the farm’s rules and eventually

becomes its sole leader.

                      

Old Major An elderly show pig whose instruction to the animals

about "animalism" becomes the philosophical basis

for the creation of Animal Farm.

                      

SquealerA pig with the ability to make any

idea sound reasonable, he is Napoleon's side-kick

and is in charge of communicating to the animals.

                      

BoxerA strong and hard-working carthorse,

he shows tremendous faith in the rebellion and its leaders.