ANIMAL FARM: A FAIRY STORY

GEORGE ORWELL

Genre?

Fairy Tale--Fairy tales are simple stories of humans and their dealings with magical beings such as fairies, dragons, and wizards. Originally intended for children, the fairy tale has in certain instances involved into longer and more sophisticated narratives of supernatural events.

Allegory--The term loosely describes any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning. This narrative acts as an extended metaphor in which persons, abstract ideas, or events represent not only themselves on the literal level, but they also stand for something else on the symbolic level. An allegorical reading usually involves moral or spiritual concepts that may be more significant than the actual, literal events described in a narrative. Typically, an allegory involves the interaction of multiple symbols, which together create a moral, spiritual, or even political meaning.

Fable--A brief story illustrating human tendencies through animal characters. Unlike the parables, fables often include talking animals or animated objects as the principal characters. The interaction of these animals or objects reveals general truths about human nature, i.e., a person can learn practical lessons from the fictional antics in a fable. However, unlike a parable, the lesson learned is not necessarily allegorical.

Satire--An attack on or criticism of any stupidity or vice in the form of scathing humor, or a critique of what the author sees as dangerous religious, political, moral, or social standards.

Discussion…

What qualities and/or responsibilities does a “good” leader need to possess?

What qualities and/or responsibilities does a “good” citizen need to possess?

Why might (or should) a government be overthrown?

Literary Devices

POV Tone Symbols Foils Irony (Dramatic)

“Beasts of England”(Orwell 22-23)

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings Of the golden future time.

Soon or late the day is coming, Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown, And the fruitful fields of England Shall be trod by beasts alone.

Rings shall vanish from our noses, And the harness from our back, Bit and spur shall rust forever, Cruel whips no more shall crack.

Riches more than mind can picture, Wheat and barley, oats and hay, Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels Shall be ours upon that day.

Bright will shine the fields of England, Purer shall its waters be, Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes On the day that sets us free.

For that day we all must labour, Though we die before it break; Cows and horses, geese and turkeys, All must toil for freedom's sake.

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken well and spread my tidings Of the golden future time.

“Comrade Napoleon”(Orwell 90-91)

Friend of fatherless! Fountain of happiness! Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh, how my soul is on Fire when I gaze at thy Calm and commanding eye, Like the sun in the sky, Comrade Napoleon!

Thou are the giver of All that thy creatures love, Full belly twice a day, clean straw to roll upon; Every beast great or small Sleeps at peace in his stall, Thou watchest over all, Comrade Napoleon!

Had I a sucking-pig, Ere he had grown as big Even as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin, He should have learned to be Faithful and true to thee, Yes, his first squeak should be "Comrade Napoleon!"

Compare and contrast this poem with “Beasts of England” Word choice Tone Imagery Purpose/

Effect

Character Parallels

Character Russian Counterpart

Mr. Jones Tsar Nicholas II

Old Major Karl Marx

Snowball Leon Trotsky

Napoleon Joseph Stalin

Squealer Russian Propaganda Department

Dogs KGB

Moses Religion

Mollie Russian Bourgeoisie

Boxer Proletariats

Benjamin Skeptics (in and out of Russia)

Animalism Communism

Historical Parallels

Russian History Animal Farm

Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto Old Major’s Dream

Russian Revolution 1917 Ousting of Mr. Jones

Russian Civil War (1918-1922) Battle of the Cowshed

Trotsky-Stalin Conflict Windmill-Leadership Conflict

Stalin’s 5 Year Plans Napoleon’s Initiatives

Stalin’s Great Purge Hen Rebellion and Napoleon’s Pile of Corpses

Non-aggression pact with Germany

Timber Sale and Napoleon’s Tactics

WWII Battle of the Windmill

Betrayal of Proletariat Boxer’s Betrayal

Tehran Conference Napoleon’s Last Laugh

Position of Characters:

Old Major Snowball Napoleon Boxer Benjamin Squealer

Lord Acton, in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532)

The end justifies the means.It is better to be feared than loved.

German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin NiemöllerColumbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, in 1959 (or 1960)

In Germany they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak up.

What one person can do…

Chinese Demonstrations 1989 Tiananmen Square Protest, June 5, 1989

Quran burning News Article of Canceling Obama’s reaction-video

Analysis…

What are “effective” strategies of leadership? Who is to blame for the failed revolution? What

are the responsibilities of citizens? Who suffers the most? Ignorant or

knowledgeable? Is there relevance for AF today? How do the pigs fit “good” leaders? Where do

they fail? What is the role of education in a society? What is the role/purpose of religion in society? For

governments?

Analysis…

How does Orwell’s style affect the plot and message?

What do we gain by comparing the following characters: Napoleon and Snowball Boxer and Benjamin Squealer and Benjamin Dogs and Sheep Napoleon and Mr. Jones Napoleon and Frederick/Pilkington

Genre?

If this is a fairy tale, who are the “good” guys? Who are the “bad” guys? How do we reconcile the ending?

If this is a beast fable, what is the moral? If this is an allegory, what

meaning/message do we take away for today?