The Novel as Allegory:The Novel as Allegory:Historical Parallels inHistorical Parallels in

Animal FarmAnimal Farm

C. C. Passantino-MitchellPassantino-MitchellLincoln High School, San JoseLincoln High School, San Jose

EnglishEnglish 3/4 Accelerated3/4 Accelerated

Allegory vs. FableAllegory vs. Fable What is an allegory?What is an allegory?

–– An allegory is a story in which there is a one-An allegory is a story in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between charactersto-one correspondence between charactersand events on a deeper level of meaning.and events on a deeper level of meaning.

What is a fable?What is a fable?–– A fable is a humorous story removed fromA fable is a humorous story removed from

reality which gives human qualities andreality which gives human qualities andspeech to animals. Itspeech to animals. It’’s purpose is to teach as purpose is to teach alesson.lesson.

Animal Farm is:Animal Farm is:

an allegory in which characters and eventsan allegory in which characters and eventscorrespond directly to people and eventscorrespond directly to people and eventsof the Russian Revolution.of the Russian Revolution.

an allegory which the author, Georgean allegory which the author, GeorgeOrwell, uses as a vehicle to speak outOrwell, uses as a vehicle to speak outagainst global fascism and dictatorship.against global fascism and dictatorship.

The Characters of AnimalThe Characters of AnimalFarm and their HistoricalFarm and their Historical

ParallelsParallels

Old MajorOld Major

Representative ofRepresentative ofMarxismMarxism

Parallel with VladimirParallel with VladimirLenin, leader of theLenin, leader of theNovember 1917November 1917RevolutionRevolution

Farmer JonesFarmer Jones

Representative of theRepresentative of the““old orderold order””

Parallel with CzarParallel with CzarNicholas IINicholas II

Moses, the RavenMoses, the Raven

Representative ofRepresentative oforganized religionorganized religion(i.e. (i.e. ““Sugar CandySugar CandyMountainMountain””))

Parallel with theParallel with thePatriarch (leader) ofPatriarch (leader) ofthe Russian Orthodoxthe Russian OrthodoxChurchChurch

NapoleonNapoleon

Represents the newRepresents the newrevolutionary orderrevolutionary order

Parallel with JosephParallel with JosephStalinStalin

SnowballSnowball

Represents defendingRepresents defendingand spreading theand spreading therevolutionrevolution

Parallels LeonParallels LeonTrotsky, leader of theTrotsky, leader of theRed ArmyRed Army

SquealerSquealer

Spreads all ofSpreads all ofNapoleonNapoleon’’sspropaganda, includingpropaganda, includingusing demonstrationsusing demonstrations(sheep)(sheep)

Parallel with Parallel with PravdaPravda,,the official newspaperthe official newspaperof the Sovietof the Sovietgovernmentgovernment

NapoleonNapoleon’’s dogss dogs

Protect Napoleon,Protect Napoleon,carry out executions,carry out executions,enforce his decreesenforce his decrees

Parallel with theParallel with theChekaCheka and KGB and KGB(Soviet secret police)(Soviet secret police)

Pilkington and Pilkington and FoxwoodFoxwood Farm Farm

Becomes friend andBecomes friend andally of Napoleon andally of Napoleon andAnimal FarmAnimal Farm

Parallel with ChurchillParallel with Churchill(prime minister) and(prime minister) andEnglandEngland

Frederick and Frederick and PinchfieldPinchfield Farm Farm

RepresentsRepresentscompetition withcompetition withAnimal FarmAnimal Farm

Parallel with HitlerParallel with Hitler(Fuhrer) and Nazi(Fuhrer) and NaziGermanyGermany

Animals (other than pigs and dogs)Animals (other than pigs and dogs)

Represented by BoxerRepresented by Boxer Workforce on theWorkforce on the

farmfarm Parallel the RussianParallel the Russian

proletariat (workingproletariat (workingclass)class)

Mollie, the cart horseMollie, the cart horse

Represents the luxuryRepresents the luxuryof the of the ““old orderold order””

Parallels the RussianParallels the Russianbourgeosiebourgeosie (middle (middleclass)class)

Mr. Mr. WhymperWhymper, the broker, the broker

Represents Represents ““outsidersoutsiders””who support the rebellionwho support the rebellionat Animal Farmat Animal Farm

Parallels foreign agents ofParallels foreign agents ofthe the CominternComintern, an, anacronym for theacronym for theCommunistCommunistInternationaleInternationale, created to, created tospread the revolutionspread the revolution

PigeonsPigeons

Were sent to otherWere sent to otherfarms to spread thefarms to spread therebellion from Animalrebellion from AnimalFarmFarm

Parallel with theParallel with theCommunistCommunistInternationaleInternationale, also, alsocalled the called the CominternComintern

4 young pigs4 young pigs

Reject NapoleonReject Napoleon’’ssideas and areideas and areexecutedexecuted

Parallel with theParallel with theWhite Russian ArmyWhite Russian Army

The Events of Animal FarmThe Events of Animal Farmand their Historical Parallelsand their Historical Parallels

Battle of the CowshedBattle of the Cowshed

Attempt by humans toAttempt by humans toreclaim Animal Farmreclaim Animal Farmand crush theand crush theanimalsanimals’’ rebellion rebellion

Parallels the BritishParallels the Britishinvasion of Russia atinvasion of Russia atArcangelArcangel aimed at aimed atremoving Lenin andremoving Lenin andthe revolutionarythe revolutionarygovernmentgovernment

Chasing away Farmer JonesChasing away Farmer Jones

Ridding the farm of allRidding the farm of allhuman controlhuman control

Represents the end ofRepresents the end ofthe the ““old orderold order””

Parallels the removalParallels the removaland execution ofand execution ofNicholas II and hisNicholas II and hisfamilyfamily

Napoleon takes over the farmNapoleon takes over the farm

Napoleon succeedsNapoleon succeedsOld Major, the pigOld Major, the pigwho had inspired thewho had inspired theanimals to revoltanimals to revolt

Parallels StalinParallels Stalinbecoming Sovietbecoming Sovietdictator in 1926dictator in 1926

Building the windmillBuilding the windmill

Creating economicCreating economicself-sufficiency for theself-sufficiency for thefarmfarm

Parallels with StalinParallels with Stalin’’ss5-Year Plan (NEP)5-Year Plan (NEP)

Selling the woodSelling the wood

Wood from AnimalWood from AnimalFarm was sold toFarm was sold toFrederick who paid inFrederick who paid incounterfeit moneycounterfeit money

Parallels Nazi-SovietParallels Nazi-Sovietpactpact

Battle of the WindmillBattle of the Windmill

Attack led by humansAttack led by humansto destroy theto destroy thewindmill built by thewindmill built by theanimalsanimals

Parallel with theParallel with theBattle of StalingradBattle of Stalingrad(German invasion of(German invasion ofRussia during WWII)Russia during WWII)

Old MajorOld Major’’s Skulls Skull

Was dug up andWas dug up andplaced in a prominentplaced in a prominentplace in the farmyardplace in the farmyard

Parallels LeninParallels Lenin’’ssembalmed bodyembalmed bodyplaced on display inplaced on display inRed Square (LeninRed Square (Lenin’’ssTomb)Tomb)

Hoof and horn on the flagHoof and horn on the flag

Animal Farm flies aAnimal Farm flies agreen flag with a hoofgreen flag with a hoofand hornand horn

Parallels the SovietParallels the Sovietflag with the hammerflag with the hammerand sickleand sickle

Confessions/ExecutionsConfessions/Executions

Confessions ofConfessions ofanimals (chickens,animals (chickens,pigs) to crimespigs) to crimesagainst Animal Farmagainst Animal Farm

Executions of thoseExecutions of thoseanimals carried out byanimals carried out byNapoleonNapoleon’’s dogss dogs

Parallels StalinParallels Stalin’’sspurges of 1936-38purges of 1936-38

Final Scene of Final Scene of Animal FarmAnimal Farm Meeting of pigs and menMeeting of pigs and men Animals watching canAnimals watching can’’t tell thet tell the

difference between themdifference between them Parallels the TehranParallels the Tehran

Conference of 1943 betweenConference of 1943 betweenFranklin Roosevelt, WinstonFranklin Roosevelt, WinstonChurchill, and Joseph StalinChurchill, and Joseph Stalin

This conference madeThis conference madeconcessions to the Sovietconcessions to the SovietUnion, as well as supportingUnion, as well as supportingthe the indepedenceindepedence of Iran of Iran

Animal Farm = Russia/Soviet UnionAnimal Farm = Russia/Soviet Union