Symbolism and Allegory in Animal Farm and Gulliver’s Travels

Directions: 1. Partner A and Partner B read their assigned passage and answer the analysis question. 2. Share your response with your partner; make sure that both partners take notes and make annotations. 3. Take notes during the class during the whole class discussion, and be prepared to use your notes to answer your exit ticket prompt.

Passage A: Their most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses, 1. How are Boxer and Clover described? Boxer and Clover. These two had great difficulty in “...most faithful disciples…” “...had great difficulty in thinking anything out for themselves, but having once accepted the pigs as their teachers, they absorbed thinking anything out for themselves…” “...absorbed everything that they were told, and passed it onto the everything that they were told, and passed it onto other animals by simple arguments. the other animals by simple arguments.”

2. What characteristics do Boxer and Clover exhibit? Loyal, not very bright, simple, took in everything they heard and repeated to others will little thought, consideration, or interpretation.

3. Are these characteristics more similar to Russian society or the leaders of that society? Why? Russian society; they are listening to the leaders of the revolution instead of coming up with ideas based on their own understandings and experiences.

4. What phrases indicate that these two are followers, not leaders?

“...most faithful disciples…”

Who could Boxer and Clover symbolize in this allegory? The Russian people at the time of the Russian Revolution.

Grade 12: Gulliver

Passage B:

In past years Mr. Jones, although a hard master, had been 1. Who is to blame for the state of the farm? How a capable farmer, but of late he had fallen on evil days. does this justify the need for a revolution? He had become much disheartened after losing money in Mr. Jones; if the animals were neglected, then a lawsuit, and had taken to drinking...His men were idle and dishonest, the fields were full of weeds, the buildings something needed to be done,. Perhaps the answer wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and the is that the need for a revolution is justified because animals were underfed. if the animals do not take a stance against this

perceived mistreatment, it will only continue to occur.

2. What characteristics does Mr. Jones exhibit?

incompetence, neglect, depression

3. Who do the idle and dishonest men represent? those who served under Tsar Nicholas/Russian leaders

4. What does the field full of weeds represent? the state of Russia

5. What/who does the neglected buildings and animals represent?

the Russian people

Who could Mr. Jones symbolize in this allegory? Tsar Nicholas, the Russian leader before the revolution.

Grade 12: Gulliver

Class Discussion Prompt:

In what ways are Gulliver’s Travels and Animal Farm both examples of allegory?

● What hidden moral or political meaning is revealed through story Gulliver’s Travels? Animal Farm? ● What symbols does Swift use to reveal that meaning? Orwell?

Discussion Notes: ● Gulliver’s Travels: The British government makes selfish decisions, abuses power, and does not care for its citizens; Animal Farm: The rationale of the Russian Revolution, which was led by the Russian people because they felt as though the Tsar was abusing his power.

● Gulliver = The naively loyal British citizens, The Lilliputians = The loyal middle class, The Lilliputian emperor = The British government, The Brobdingnags =Those who do not believe that the British government is operating ethically, the British lower class; Animals = The Russian people, Mr. Jones = The Russian leader.

● Gulliver’s Travels is an allegory of the perceived atrocities and misuse of power enacted by the British government during the 1830s.

● Mr. Jones = Tsar Nicholas, and his friends the Russian aristocracy, the raven = the church promoting hope for those who suffer on earth. The pigs = the revolutionary leaders (specifically: Major=Lenin/Trotsky and Squealor=Stalin), the horse

● The animals Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, which occurred based on the mistreatment of the Russian people by Tsar Nicholas. The farm (like the empire) had fallen into

Grade 12: Gulliver

disarray and hunger and poverty were widespread. The animals rebel against the farmer and begin running the farm - breaking into the grain stores and referring to each other as “comrade”.

Grade 12: Gulliver