Animal FarmAnimal Farm

George OrwellPresenter: Cindy

Main Points of Main Points of Chapter 8-10Chapter 8-10 Major Themes of Major Themes of Animal FarmAnimal Farm SatireSatireCharacters and Characters and ttheir heir hhistorical istorical ccorrelationorrelation

Questions for reading comprehensionQuestions for reading comprehensionQuestion for discussionQuestion for discussion

Outlines Outlines 

Chapter 8Chapter 8 Summary SummaryThe animals worked harder than they ever had before to rebuild the windmill. Animals begin to speak of Napoleon with a great deal of reverence, giving him the formal title of "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon."

Chapter 9Chapter 9 Summary SummaryAlthough the animals faced another harsh winter, Squealer eases their minds. Food rations for all of the animals are reduced (except for the pigs and dogs), but Squealer indicates that they have produced more food and were living more comfortably than ever before. The animals believe every word.

Chapter 10Chapter 10 Summary SummaryIt is the most shocking thing the animals have ever seen. It goes against everything that they have been taught up to then. Just as it seems that someone might object, the sheep break into a deafening chorus of “Four legs bad, two legs better.” All the commandments are gone, and all that is written there now is “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

SatireSatireIn a satire, the writer attacks a serious issue by presenting it in a ridiculous light or otherwise poking fun at it. Orwell uses satire in Animal Farm to expose what he saw as the myth of Soviet socialism. Thus, the novel tells a story that people of all ages can understand, but it also tells us a second story—that of the real-life Revolution.

The author used lots of animals to dig at some people.Many critics have matched in great detail the story’s characters to historical persons, e.g., linking the power struggle between Napoleon and Snowball to the historical feuding between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trostky for control of the Soviet Union.

Main CharacterMain CharacterNapoleon: Throughout the novel, Napoleon’s method of “getting his own way” involves a combination of propaganda and terror that none of the animals can resist. Napoleon’s greatest crime; however, is his complete transformation into Jones.

Characters and Their Historical CorrelationCharacters and Their Historical Correlation

Critics also believe that Old Major represents Karl Marx, who dies before realizing his dream. Boxer and Clover as workers, the sheep as the general public, Squealer as Stalin’s government news agency, the dogs as Stalin’s military-police,Farmer Jones as Czar Nicholas II. The farm’s neighbors, Pilkington and Frederick, are said to represent Great Britain and Germany while Mollie suggests the old Russian aristocracy which resists change.

SatireSatire

As Clover and the other animals watch the arguments through the dining-room window, they are unable to discriminate between the humans and the pigs.

Russian Revolution PowerRussian Revolution Power

Joseph Stalin: Built his power behind the lines

Leon Trotsky: Was popular/charismatic, and famous for his speeches

Stalin Wins!Stalin Wins!

Stalin out-maneuvers Trotsky and gains control.Stalin starts to isolate Trotsky within the party because he is a threat.

Questions for reading comprehension

Orwell completed Animal Farm during what international conflict?

World War II The Cold War The Russo-Japanese War The Great War

In what year did the Russian Revolution occur?

1905 1917 1924 1939

What character in Animal Farm represents Stalin?

Frederick the Horse-Slaughterer Napoleon Squealer

Squealer's job is to distribute what among the animals?

weekly assignments propaganda rations reading materials

Which of the following is not a slogan in Animal Farm?

"Four legs good, two legs better" "All animals are equal / But some animals are more equal than others" "War is peace / Freedom is Slavery / Ignorance is Strength" "Long live Comrade Napoleon"

Question for DiscussionQuestion for DiscussionWith what propaganda are students bombarded

with each day through the means of media? Students can become much more aware of the

daily doses of political propaganda that surround them. Have students report each day during the Animal Farm unit on the rhetoric used today. If the unit is given during an election year, encourage students to follow the various campaigns and candidates. What are the issues? How are they addressed? Duck for President

Thank you!