George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is an allegorical novella that critiques totalitarianism, particularly Stalinism, through a fable about oppressed animals that revolt against their human owner, Mr. Jones. The animals initially seek equality but ultimately succumb to the same oppressive behaviors they sought to escape, reflecting the corrupting influence of power. The themes of the novel remain relevant today, illustrating the cyclical nature of power and the failures of socialism.

1. ANIMAL FARM
A STUDY IN PARALLELS

2. George Orwell
• 1903-1950
• Born in India
• At that time India was a part of the British Empire, and Blair's father, Richard, held a
post as an agent in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service.
• Orwell was a person of who had a reputation for standing apart and even making a
virtue of his detachment.
• He viewed socialists, communists, and fascists as repressive and self-serving.
• Noted as a novelist and critic, as well as a political and cultural commentator
• One of the most widely admired English- language essayists of the 20th century
• Best known for two novels critical of totalitarianism in general, and Stalinism in
particular:
Animal Farm
Nineteen Eighty-Four
'If Liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell
people what they do not want to hear'

3. Animal farm is a :
• Fable - has 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. A fable is usually short, written in either verse or prose, and
conveys a clear moral or message. Orwell took the short animal fable and expanded it to the length of a short
novel in the form an allegory
• Allegory - Any type of fiction that has multiple levels of meaning. Allegory The narrative has a literal and a
symbolic meaning. Most fables have two levels of meaning. On the surface, the fables about animals, But on
a second level, the animals stand for types of people or ideas. The way the animals interactant 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. Animal Farm is strongly allegorical, but it presents
a very nice balance between levels of meaning. On the first level, the story about the animals is very moving.
You can be upset when Boxer is taken away by the horse slaughterer without being too aware of what he
stands for. But at the same time, each of the animals does serve as a symbol. The story's second level
involves the careful critique Orwell constructed to comment on Soviet Russia.
• Satire- A work making fun of something, usually political. Animal Farm makes fun of political society after the
Bolshevik Revolution (Russian Revolution). George Orwell attacks a serious issue by presenting it in a
ridiculous light or otherwise poking fun at it. Orwell uses satire to expose what he saw as the myth of Soviet
socialism.

4. Background Of Animal Farm
• A masterpiece of political satire, Animal Farm is a tale of
oppressed individuals who long for freedom but ultimately are
corrupted by assuming the very power that had originally
oppressed them.
• The story traces the deplorable conditions of mistreated animals
who can speak and who exhibit many human characteristics. After
extreme negligence by their owner, the animals revolt and expel
Mr. Jones from the farm.
• The tale of the society the animals form into a totalitarian regime
is generally viewed as Orwell's critique of the communist system
in the former Soviet Union.

5. The story takes place on a farm somewhere in England. It is told
by an all-knowing narrator in third person. The action begins
when the oldest pig on the farm, Old Major, calls all the animals
to a secret meeting. He tells them of his dream of revolution
against the cruel Mr. Jones. His speech gives the animals a new
outlook on life. The pigs, being considered the most intelligent,
begin to instruct the other animals. They work out the theory of
Animalism, run Mr. Jones off the farm, and post seven
commandments above the door of the barn. So begins the story.

6. Brief of the story
Animal Farm is an allegorical and dystopian novel by George
Orwell, published in England on 17 August 1945. According to
Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to the Russian
Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalin era in the
Soviet Union. Orwell, a democratic socialist, was a critic of
Joseph Stalin and hostile to Moscow-directed Stalinism, an
attitude that was critically shaped by his experiences during
the Spanish Civil War.

7. The Soviet Union, he believed, had become a brutal
dictatorship, built upon a cult of personality and enforced by a
reign of terror. In his essay "Why I Write" (1946), he wrote that
Animal Farm was the first book in which he had tried, with full
consciousness of what he was doing, "to fuse political
purpose and artistic purpose into one whole".
The original title was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, though the
subtitle was dropped by the U.S. publishers for its 1946
publication and subsequently all but one of the translations
during Orwell's lifetime omitted it.

8. Orwell wrote the book from November 1943 to February 1944,
when the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union was at its
height and Stalin was regarded highly by the British people
and intelligentsia, a circumstance that Orwell hated. It was
initially rejected by a number of British and American
publishers, including one of Orwell's own, Victor Gollancz. Its
publication was thus delayed, though it became a great
commercial success. When it finally appeared, partly
because the World War II was quickly followed by the Cold
War.

9. Old Major, the old boar on the Manor Farm, summons the animals on the farm
together for a meeting, during which he refers to humans as parasites and
teaches the animals a revolutionary song called Beasts of England. When Major
dies, two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, assume command and consider
it a duty to prepare for the Rebellion. The animals revolt and drive the drunken
and irresponsible farmer Mr. Jones from the farm, renaming it as "Animal Farm".
They adopt Seven Commandments of Animalism, the most important of which
is, "All animals are equal. "Snowball teaches the animals to read and write, while
Napoleon educates young puppies on the principles of Animalism. Food is
plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. The pigs elevate themselves to positions of
leadership and set aside special food items, ostensibly for their personal health.
Napoleon and Snowball struggle for pre-eminence. When Snowball announces
his plans to build a windmill, Napoleon has his dogs chase Snowball away and
subsequently declares himself leader of the Animal Farm.

10. Napoleon enacts changes to the governance structure of the farm,
replacing meetings with a committee of pigs who will run the farm.
Through a young pig named Squealer, Napoleon claims credit for the
windmill idea. The animals work harder with the promise of easier
lives with the windmill. When the animals find the windmill collapsed
after a violent storm, Napoleon and Squealer convince the animals
that Snowball is trying to sabotage their project. Once Snowball
becomes a scapegoat, Napoleon begins to purge the farm with his
dogs, killing animals he accuses of consorting with his old rival.
Beasts of England is replaced by an anthem glorifying Napoleon, who
appears to be adopting the lifestyle of a man. The animals remain
convinced that they are better off than they were under Mr. Jones.

11. Mr. Frederick, one of the neighboring farmers, attacks the
farm, using blasting powder to blow up the restored windmill.
Though the animals win the battle, they do so at great cost, as
many, including Boxer the workhorse, are wounded. Despite
his injuries, Boxer continues working harder and harder, until
he collapses while working on the windmill. Napoleon sends
for a van to take Boxer to the veterinary surgeon, explaining
that better care can be given there.Benjamin, the cynical
donkey who "could read as well as any pig", notices that the
van belongs to a knacker, and attempts a futile rescue.
Squealer reports that the van was purchased by the hospital
and the writing from the previous owner had not been
repainted. But in reality, Napoleon has sold his most loyal and
long-suffering worker for money to buy himself whisky.

12. Years pass, and the pigs start to resemble humans, as they
walk upright, carry whips, and wear clothes. The Seven
Commandments are abridged to a single phrase: "All animals
are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".
Napoleon holds a dinner party for the pigs and local farmers,
with whom he celebrates a new alliance. He abolishes the
practice of the revolutionary traditions and restores the name
"The Manor Farm". As the animals look from pigs to humans,
they realize they can no longer distinguish between the two.

13. Seven commandments
• Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
• Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings in friend.
• No animal shall sleep in a bed.
• No animal shall wear clothes.
• No animal shall drink alcohol.
• No animal shall kill another animal.
• All animals are equal.

14. FLAGS
Flag of U.S.S.R Flag of ANIMAL FARM

15. Russian historical figures and Orwell's
character
• Part of the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, while Trotsky worked on the New Economic Policy
(communism)
• Banished Trotsky from country and declared him Enemy of the
USSR
• Self-Appointed Dictator of USSR
• Emerged as strong, quiet leader among the pigs,
while Snowball worked on education policies
• Banished Snowball from the farm and declared him
Enemy of Animal Farm
• Took full control over all decisions on Animal Farm

16. TZAR NICHOLAS II MR JONES(HUMANS)
• 1894 - Tzar Nicholas inherited rule over Russia
• 1895 -Wished to expand Russian empire and waged war
on Japan - resulted in depleting Russian wealth and
population - eventually lost war
• March 15, 1917 - Tzar Nicholas was forced to abdicate his
position as ruler over Russia - known as the Russian
Revolution
• He and his family were incarcerated until after World War
I (1914-1917)
• July 16, 1918 - Tzar Nicholas and family were executed –
Historically known as the last Tzar of Russia
• Inherited Manor Farm from his father
• Ran his farm with no regard to the animal's (or farm's) well
being
• Spent farm money- and most of his time - on alcohol;
neglected animals for his own means
• Ran off Manor Farm - known as the Animal Rebellion
• Drifted off into obscurity

17. LEON TROTSKY SNOWBALL
• One of the original revolutionaries - became one of Stalin's biggest
political enemies
• Expelled from the country by Stalin's forces (a year later, Stalin took
control of the USSR) Denounced as a traitor - Public Enemy #1
• After banishment, he was systematically "erased" from Russian
history (face removed from photographs, historical role altered, etc.)
• Died: Aug. 21, 1940 - Assassinated by KGB in Mexico City via ice pick
through the brain
• One of the original revolutionaries - tried to educate farm
population
• Elections were held between Snowball & Napoleon due to
political opposition
• Snowball was chased off the farm and never seen again
• Denounced as Enemy to Animal Farm - Enemy to Animalism
• After banishment, he was called a traitor and his memory
(historical role) was distorted by Napoleon & Squealer

18. KGB/DOGS
• The Dictator's personal police
force - took orders and answered
only to Stalin
• Enforced governmental control
through fear and violence
• Worked, not for the good of the
government or the country, but
for the benefit of one man/pig.
• Had absolute power over all
citizens (no private property – no
private rights)
• Vladimir Putin Russia's current
Prime Minister & Former
President rose through the ranks
in the KGB

19. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• Name change from Manor Farm to
Animal Farm - showed England that the
farm was run by animals
• Mr. Pilkington - owner of Foxwood Farm
• Mr. Frederick- owner of Pinch field Farm.
• Pigeons - sent messages to the outside
world
• Russia to USSR (United Socialist Soviet
Republic) -showed world that Tzar rule
ended and Communism ruled the country
(all are equal)
• England - Russia led the country on as if
they might become allies
• Germany under Nazi Rule - Became allies
with Russia – Hitler & Stalin signed a
nonaggression pact stating that neither
country would attack the other
• Propaganda Machine - Russian
propaganda projected the country as
modernized and industry-rich - No one
outside Russia knew the truth due to the
"iron curtain" between Russia and the
rest of the world

20. RUSSIAN LABOERS
/ BOXER &
CLOVER
• Loyal Comrades believed in the equality
of Animalism/Communist teachings
• Volunteered for Stalin's modernization
plans or the rebuilding of Russia
• Were fed little food, inadequate housing,
and few tools. (Like on the farm, there
was little to no technology in Russia.)
• Loyalty manipulated by the lies of the
government.

21. ANIMALISM= COMMUNISM
ANIMALISM
• TAUGHT BY OLD MAJOR
• NO RICH,BUT NO POOR
• BETTER LIFE FOR WORKERS
• ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
• EVERYONE OWNS THE FARM
COMMUNISM
• INVENTED BY KARL MARX
• ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL
• GOVERNMENT OWN THE EVERYTHING
• PEOPLE OWN THE GOVERNMENT

22. Today’s significance
How relevant is Orwell's 'Animal Farm' today? What are some examples?
Animal farm is a timeless tale because it talks about a certain pattern of behavior. It also
becomes a tale of failure of socialism. That society can never be equal and those in power also
consider themselves above the rest even if they clamor for equality. Those powerless aspire for
power and once they're powerful, become exploitative like them. It comments on the very
nature of power itself. Power is poison. When one is used to privilege, equality feels like
oppression. I read Animal Farm during the Cold War era. It could be said that it was more
relevant at that time because it was not as widely known what a failure communism was to
become. In this way, it was ahead of its time, as it predicted some of the ways this political
system was to fail. Now, it is more generally recognized that, not only have communist
governments failed to prosper, they have had to employ oppression, outlawing of dissenting
voices and other suppressions of freedoms to even hold onto power. This has left Animal Farm
as more of an historical commentary than a political commentary, perhaps making it at least
less immediate, if not less relevant. Examples include: The collapse of the Soviet Union, which
imploded from its own economic shortcomings and its satellite nations' longing for more
freedom and prosperity and less controlling government. Representative governments with free
enterprise systems, even imperfect as democracies have been, have grown well beyond the
USSR or her core, Russia, which has yet to get the hang of Western-style democracy. China
has fared much better, but only in direct proportion to their opening of markets in a quasi-free
enterprise fashion.

23. The rise of Alibaba would have been unheard of in the strictly communist China of years past. North Korea
remains communist, but by all accounts she struggles under its weight. They keep a very tight grip on their media,
dissenting voices, and anything perceived as a threat to their system. For example, it is very dangerous to be a
Christian in North Korea, which rates as the #1 persecutor of Christians. One statistic states that more Christians
were killed for their faith in the 20th century alone than in all of history up to then combined (Persecution (Modern
Ages). North Korea was the worst offender. Cuba soldiers on under communist rule, but continues to struggle
under the weight of its own political system as well. She might have failed under that weight long ago, had the
Soviet Union not supported her for decades for the prospect of having a communist nation so near to its rival
power, the USA. All these examples attest to Orwell's accuracy in his novel, so it may be disingenuous to claim it
is now less relevant. After all, most of the world has come around to his way of thinking. Therefore, I will stay with
my contention that it is perhaps less immediate, but at least as relevant.
Today's Significance But why now that Soviet Communism has fallen and the Cold War is over -does Animal Farm
deserve our attention? The answer lies in the power of allegory. Allegorical fables because they require us to
make Comparisons and connections, can be meaningful to any reader in any historical period. The story of
Animal Farm will always have lessons to teach us about the ways that people abuse power and manipulate
power.

24. THE END
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