Information and Instructions Due the first official day of the 2016-2017 School Year An allegory is a form of metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a story are equated with the meanings that exist outside the story itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance. Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning typically containing a moral or a lesson. George Orwell's Animal Farm is the perfect example of an allegorical tale in which farm animals represent Communist Russia which is the result of Russia s working class citizens overthrowing Czar Nicholas II thus leading to the Russian Revolution and Stalin s rule over Communist Russia. Within this allegorical novel, George Orwell creates characters and events that mirror in meaning factual persons and occurrences within the Russian Revolution, such as: the pigs symbolizing the government; the dogs being the secret police force; the remaining animals symbolizing the working class, etc. 1.) Using the attached chart, fill in the Russian History column with the person, event or concept that corresponds with the Animal Farm character, event, or concept. Explain each answer. A few of the answers have already been filled in for you. Please use these answers as an expectation guide for this assignment. Please include properly formatted MLA intext citations and a works cited page with this assignment. 2.) Since this book is considered to be allegorical, what moral or lesson do you think George Orwell is trying to convey through the use of Animal Farm?
Old Major Beasts of England The Internationale Just as the Beasts of England became the farm animals patriotic song, The Internationale was the patriotic song of Russia. Animalism Farmer Jones Czar Nicholas II The animals (the pigs in particular) were tired of the treatment they received from their owner Jones. Just as the Russian people were tired of how they were being treated under the rule of the Russian czar Czar Nicholas II. driving out Jones Napoleon Snowball Boxer
Napoleon & Snowball s power struggle Squealer dogs Battle of Cowshed Mollie Pleasure loving bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie wanted to worry about their own comforts and wealth. Molly left the farm to continue to get ribbons in her mane from a different owner. pigs control of food, labor Snowball s proposal of building a windmill
Snowball is run off by Napoleon s dogs Napoleon s proposal to build windmill Napoleon s two-year plan to build windmill (animals to work like slaves to keep farm going & build windmill) pigs becoming like humans Mr. Whymper/pigs trading with humans Changing story of Battle of the Cowshed executions
Minimus Frederick of Pinchfield Pilkington of Foxwood ALLEGORICL KEY Between Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution Propagandist, Pravda was the Russian newspaper Adolf Hitler of Germany (Hitler and Stalin become allies more like frenemies ) Stalin used propaganda to send the news he wanted out to the public. This news included lies, just as Minimus was helping spread lies to the animals on the farm. Just as Hitler and Stalin used each other to gain something from each other, Frederick of Pinchfield and the pigs were using each other Frederick takes advantage of this situation just as Hitler took advantage of his situation with Stalin. Frederick s invasion of Animal Farm Battle of Windmill Moses & Sugarcandy Mountain Official religion, the opiate of the people Moses always talked about Sugarcandy Mtn. where all animals will eventually go and have peace and final rest. The people of Russia held fast to religion in hopes of final rest without worry. drunken dinner party Final meeting between humans/pigs