Ro-ràdh do Animal Farm

Introduction to Animal Farm

•  Animal Farm is a satire by George Orwell.
•  It's an allegory, using concrete characters and situations to represent other things.
•  The story is about barnyard animals rebelling against human tyranny.
•  It represents the Russian Revolution and early years of the Soviet Union.
•  Characters represent historical figures (e.g., Napoleon as Stalin; Snowball as Trotsky).
•  The farm represents Russia, and Mr. Jones represents the Tsar.
•  Animalism represents communism.
•  The story depicts the rise of a totalitarian regime.

Outline of the Story

•  Animals revolt after a speech by Old Major.
•  The farm is renamed Animal Farm, and the Seven Commandments are established.
•  Pigs take control, with Napoleon, emerging as the leader.
•  There's a rivalry between Napoleon and Snowball.
•  Snowball is driven off the farm.
•  Napoleon gains full control and establishes a totalitarian regime.
•  The animals work hard to build a windmill.
•  Jones and his men try to reclaim the farm (the Battle of the Cowshed).
•  The animals are exploited, and the Commandments are changed.
•  The pigs adopt human habits and behaviors.
•  The novel ends with the pigs indistinguishable from humans.

Major Characters

•  Mr. Jones: A farmer who represents the Tsar of Russia.
•  Old Major: A pig who inspires the rebellion. Represents Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin.
•  Napoleon: A pig who becomes a dictator. Represents Stalin.
•  Snowball: A pig, Napoleon's rival, represents Leon Trotsky.
•  Boxer: A strong horse, representing the proletariat.
•  Mollie: A vain horse, representing the privileged elite.
•  Squealer: A pig who manipulates the other animals, representing propaganda.
•  Benjamin: A donkey, representing thoughtful skepticism.
•  Mr. Frederick: A farmer who represents Adolf Hitler.

Themes of Animal Farm

•  Corruption of socialist ideals.
•  The tendency towards class stratification.
•  The abuse of language as an instrument of control.
•  The danger of a naive working class.
•  The tyranny of dictators in power.

Symbolism in Animal Farm

•  The Farm: Represents Russia (or any totalitarian state).
•  The Animals: Represent historical figures and social groups.
•  The Barn: Represents collective memory and the history of the farm.
•  The Windmill: Represents grand plans and projects, that end in failure, or are abused by those in charge.

Important Quotations

•  "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
•  "Four legs good, two legs bad."
•  "If you have your lower animals to contend with, we have our lower classes!"