ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell

Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

ANIMAL FARM – By George Orwell Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work Biography George Orwell

George Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903, in Motihari, India. The Blair's were relatively prosperous civil servants, working in India on behalf of the British Empire. Blair would later describe his family's socioeconomic status as "lower-upper middle class," on comment on the extraordinary degree to which British citizens in India depended on the Empire for their livelihood; though the Blair were able to live quite comfortably in India, they had none of the physical assets or independent investments that would have been enjoyed by their class in England proper. Despite this factor, Ida Blair moved back to England in 1904 with Eric and his older sister Marjorie so that they could be brought up in a more traditional Christian environment.

In England, Blair entered the public school system, and was admitted to Eton College in 1917. For most students of this era, Eton led directly to higher education at a university, often Oxford or Cambridge. Blair shunned further formal schooling, and after leaving Eton in 1921, returned to India in 1922 to join the Indian Imperial Police. This work gave Blair his first real experiences with the poor and downtrodden whom he would later champion, and unhappy with his position as the "hand of the oppressor," Blair resigned from the police force in 1927, returning to England that same year.

Upon return to England, Blair lived in the East End district of London, which was filled with paupers and the destitute, whom he saw as the spiritual kin of the Burmese peasants he had encountered as a policeman. In 1928, Blair moved to Paris to become a writer, where he again lived among the poor, and was eventually forced to abandon his writing temporarily and Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work become a dishwasher. He returned to England the next year (1929), and lived as a tramp before finding work as a teacher at a private school. This position gave Blair time to write, and his first book, Down and Out in Paris and London which was published in 1933, under the pseudonym George Orwell. The publication of this first work, which was an account of his years living among the poor of Paris and London, marks the beginning of a more stable period for Orwell, in which he taught, opened a bookshop, and continued to write. His first fictional work, Burmese Days, appeared in 1934. The next few years saw a steady stream of activity for Orwell, who produced A Clergyman Daughter in 1935 and Keep the Aspidistra Flying in 1936. During this period he also met Eileen Maud O\'b4Shaughnessy, whom he married on June 9, 1936. That same year Orwell received a grant from the Left Book Club to produce a work dealing with the conditions of the poor, which resulted in the publication of The Road to Wigan Pier.

In December of 1936, Orwell decided to enlist in the POAM, the Socialist military party in Spain, during the Spanish Civil War. Attracted by the vision of a society without class distinction, Orwell fought for socialism in Spain, but was wounded in the neck and forced to return to England in 1938. His account of his experiences in Spain was published as Homage to Catalonia that same year. Upon his return to England, however, Orwell fell ill with tuberculosis, which he neglected. In 1941, Orwell went to work for the BBC as a broadcaster for India, a post which he resigned to become the literary editor for The Tribune. This position was equally short-lived, however, as Orwell resigned in 1945 to begin work on Animal Farm.

Orwell's family life experienced significant upheaval during this period, marked by the adoption of a son, Richard, in 1944, and by the death of his wife Eileen during an operation in 1945. Soon after Eileen's death, Animal Farm was published, and Orwell becomes "famous overnight". In reaction to the sudden glare of fame, Orwell moved to the island of Jura, off the coast of Scotland, with aggravated his tuberculosis considerably. While at Jura, Orwell wrote his last novel and perhaps most famous novel, 1984, and married Sonia Bromwell. In 1949 Orwell returned to England, but his tuberculosis was by that time painfully advanced. He eventually succumbed to the disease, dying on January 21, 1950. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work POLITICAL BACKGROUND

Animal Farm was first published in 1945 as a political allegory of the Russian Revolution, particularly directed at Stalin's Russia. As a result of the pro-Russian atmosphere, Orwell had a hard time finding a publisher for Animal Farm. Although Orwell aims his satire at totalitarianism in all of its guises, those being communist, fascist and capitalist, “Animal Farm" owes its structure largely to the events of the Russian Revolution as they unfolded between 1917 and 1944, when Orwell was writing the novel. Much of what happens symbolically parallels specific developments in the history of Russian communism, and several of the animal characters are based on real participants in the Russian Revolution. Due to the universal relevance of the novel's themes, the reader does not need to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of Marxist Leninism or Russian history in order to appreciate Orwell's satire of them.

An acquaintance with certain facts from Russia's past, however, serves as useful in a deeper, more profound understanding of his criticism. Animal Farm most definitely resembles the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalin; it is more meaningfully an anatomy of all political revolutions, where the revolutionary ideals of justice, equality, and fraternity shatter in the event. Orwell paints a grim picture of the political 20th century, a time he believed marked the end of the very concept of human freedom. Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism as I understand it." -- George Orwell, "Why I Write" To the preface of the Ukrainian edition he wrote:

"Nothing has contributed so much to the corruption of the original idea of Socialism as the belief that Russia is a Socialist country and that every act of its rulers must be excused, if not imitated. And so for the past ten years I have been convinced that the destruction of the socialist myth was essential if we wanted a revival of the socialist movement."

He made it clear that this was the purpose of his writing of Animal Farm in his Preface to the Ukrainian edition. He also condemns Stalin for his ‘barbaric and undemocratic methods’’ and in a country in which everyone was meant to be equal ‘’ was struck by clear sign of its transformation into Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work hierarchal society.’’ It was to draw attention to these two main points that he wrote Animal Farm.

Communism, which appears in the novel as Animalism was based on the ideas of Karl Marx, a German philosopher. He believed that workers or the proletariat did not enjoy the rewards of their labor and predicted that they would one day turn against their employers and create equality. These ideas became part of the Communist Manifesto and they provided the basis for Major’s speech.

The Tsar’s rule was seen as corrupt and oppressive and the revolution of 1017 bought the communists, under Lenin to power.

The Communists won the Civil war aided by Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army- a clear parallel is made with Orwell’s reference to Jones’s invasion and the ‘Battle of the Cowshed.’ The animals win the battle as a result of Snowball’s brilliant planning.

Lenin’s death resulted in the struggle for power between Trotsky and Stalin, reflected in the book in the disagreements between Snowball and Napoleon. Stalin eventually seized power and Trotsky was exiled in 1924, just like Snowball was chased off the farm.

Daily life in the Soviet Union was harsh but this deteriorated further when Stalin began to hurt down anyone who could possibly challenge his authority. Here, we clearly see the link with Napoleon who suppressed those who disagreed with him. His executions are directly associated with Stalin’s ‘’purges.’’

The seven commandments are gradually destroyed or corrupted as the novel progresses. This represents the gradual perversion of Marx’s original socialist ideas by Stalin.

Napoleon – Stalin

Snowball – Trotsky

Mr. Jones – Tsar (opposing communism)

Squealer – Propagandist. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

Character List Napoleon - . The pig that emerges as the leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Joseph Stalin, Napoleon uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power. In his supreme craftiness, Napoleon proves more treacherous than his counterpart, Snowball.

Snowball - . The pig who challenges Napoleon for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Leon Trotsky, Snowball is intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than his counterpart, Napoleon. Snowball seems to win the loyalty of the other animals and cement his power.

Boxer - . The cart-horse whose incredible strength, dedication, and loyalty play a key role in the early prosperity of Animal Farm and the later completion of the windmill. Quick to help but rather slow-witted, Boxer shows much devotion to Animal Farm’s ideals but little ability to think about them independently. He naively trusts the pigs to make all his decisions for him. His two mottoes are “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.”

Squealer - . The pig that spreads Napoleon’s propaganda among the other animals. Squealer justifies the pigs’ monopolization of resources and spreads false statistics pointing to the farm’s success. Orwell uses Squealer to explore the ways in which those in power often use rhetoric and language to twist the truth and gain and maintain social and political control.

Old Major - . The prize-winning boar whose vision of a socialist utopia serves as the inspiration for the Rebellion. Three days after describing the vision Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

and teaching the animals the song “Beasts of England,” Major dies, leaving Snowball and Napoleon to struggle for control of his legacy. Orwell based Major on both the German political economist Karl Marx and the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilych Lenin.

Clover - . A good-hearted female cart-horse and Boxer’s close friend. Clover often suspects the pigs of violating one or another of the Seven Commandments, but she repeatedly blames herself for misremembering the commandments.

Moses - . The tame raven that spreads stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, the paradise to which animals supposedly go when they die. Moses plays only a small role in Animal Farm, but Orwell uses him to explore how communism exploits religion as something with which to pacify the oppressed.

Mollie - . The vain, flighty mare that pulls Mr. Jones’s carriage. Mollie craves the attention of human beings and loves being groomed and pampered. She has a difficult time with her new life on Animal Farm, as she misses wearing ribbons in her mane and eating sugar cubes. She represents the petit bourgeoisie that fled from Russia a few years after the Russian Revolution.

Benjamin - . The long-lived donkey that refuses to feel inspired by the Rebellion. Benjamin firmly believes that life will remain unpleasant no matter who is in charge. Of all of the animals on the farm, he alone comprehends the changes that take place, but he seems either unwilling or unable to oppose the pigs.

Muriel - . The white goat who reads the Seven Commandments to Clover whenever Clover suspects the pigs of violating their prohibitions. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

Mr. Jones - . The often drunk farmer who runs the Manor Farm before the animals stage their Rebellion and establish Animal Farm. Mr. Jones is an unkind master who indulges himself while his animals lack food; he thus represents Tsar Nicholas II, whom the Russian Revolution ousted.

Mr. Frederick - . The tough, shrewd operator of Pinchfield, a neighboring farm. Based on Adolf Hitler, the ruler of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, Mr. Frederick proves an untrustworthy neighbor.

Mr. Pilkington - . The easygoing gentleman farmer who runs Foxwood, a neighboring farm. Mr. Frederick’s bitter enemy, Mr. Pilkington represents the capitalist governments of England and the United States.

Mr. Whymper - . The human solicitor whom Napoleon hires to represent Animal Farm in human society. Mr. Whymper’s entry into the Animal Farm community initiates contact between Animal Farm and human society, alarming the common animals.

Jessie and Bluebell - . Two dogs, each of whom gives birth early in the novel. Napoleon takes the puppies in order to “educate” them.

Minimus - . The poet pig that writes verse about Napoleon and pens the banal patriotic song “Animal Farm, Animal Farm” to replace the earlier idealistic hymn “Beasts of England,” which Old Major passes on to the others. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

The Seven Commandments

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.

2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.

3. No animal shall wear clothes.

4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.

5. No animal shall drink alcohol.

6. No animal shall kill any other animal.

7. All animals are equal. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

Animal Farm: The Complete Project

Animal Farm… The Complete Project STUDENTS MUST CHOOSE A MINIMUM OF FIVE CHAPTER PROJECTS FROM CHAPTERS 1 – 10 AND ONE ESSAY QUESTION. (You may do more if you wish)

A: Chapter Projects

Chapter 1 ~

Find a speech by a famous political leader (from any country) and in a page summarize the theme of his/her speech. Include in your analysis: · What was the political leader's message? · Under what circumstances did this leader give the speech (was it wartime, was it during a depression, was it in relation to human rights?). · Please attach the copy of the speech you found.

Chapter 2 ~

Imagine that you were given a piece of land the size of Texas. You have plenty of farming land, plenty of water resources, plenty of oil reserves, and enough forest land to cover over half of your country. You also inherited a population of about one million people. · View a world atlas. Notice how countries are drawn and labeled. · Create a map of your country and include the capital, rivers, lakes, forestland, and any mountain ranges you would like to have. This should be colored and drawn onto a poster board and large enough that we could read the names of any towns, cities, or parks that you · Name this country that you inherited. Place the name at the top of the drawing. Why did you choose this name? What does it stand for? Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

Chapter 3 ~

All world leaders have been through a journey to their political office.

· Research a world leader (past or present, but not fictional) and write a two page summary of this person's journey through political life. When did they become interested in politics? What are their policies? · Include a picture of this world leader in your paper.

Chapter 4 ~

Almost all countries dedicate monuments to their heroes or leaders. All countries all have a national anthem (a song that unites the people of that country). · Find 3 monuments and 3 national anthems from 3 different countries that exist in our world today. · Place these pictures and a copy of the anthem on decorated poster board.

Chapter 5 ~

Windmills are used to generate power for a farm or community. · Find a picture of a windmill that currently exists. · Research how a windmill operates and explain its operation in a one-page paper. · Attach the paper to the picture of the windmill you found.

Chapter 6 ~

Managing employees is a difficult job. You have to organize work hours and scheduling. · Create a fictional company of your choice and decide what you are going to manufacture or do. · Imagine that you have 5 employees working for you. Design a work schedule (for one week's time) and a pay scale for your employees. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

Chapter 7 ~

Over the centuries, many people have gone on strike against companies and industries. These strikes (especially during the early 1900's in America) were often brutal and long. · Find pictures from a strike in the early 1900's in America. · Research why this strike started and how it was resolved. Did anyone die? Was anyone hurt?

Chapter 8 ~

Liquor production is a large and profitable industry in the world, especially in Russia, America, and Germany. · Find a picture of a still (used to manufacture whiskey). · Explain how a still works and label the picture you found (its parts, its construction). · Write a one page summary that explains the history of the still and its illegal uses in the 1920's in America.

Chapters 9 and 10 ~

Create a timeline of events for the novel, taking the most important events of the novel and putting them in chronological order. Your timeline should be decorated and coloured as well as accurate. (Hint: As you read create a list of the most important events on a piece of scrap paper, then once you have finished the novel the hard part is finished. Unit III – Animal Farm 10-2 Project work

B: Suggested Essay Topics Write a 600 word essay on one of the following topics. Essay writing may be found in ResourceLines.

1. How does Orwell explore the problem of rhetoric in Animal Farm? Paying particular attention to the character of Squealer, how is language used as an instrument of social control? How do the pigs rewrite history?

2. Discuss Boxer. What role does he play on the farm? Why does Napoleon seem to feel threatened by him? In what ways might one view the betrayal of Boxer as an alternative climax of the novel (if we consider Napoleon’s banishment of Snowball and the pigs’ initial consolidation of power as the true climax)?

3. Do you think Animal Farm’s message would come across effectively to someone who knows nothing about Soviet history or the conflict between Stalin and Trotsky? What might such a reader make of the story?

4. Of all of the characters in Animal Farm, are there any who seem to represent the point of view of the author? Which of the animals or people do you think come(s) closest to achieving Orwell’s perspective on Animal Farm?

5. Compare and contrast Animal Farm to the Russian Revolution. You will have to do some research in order to compare them. Discuss the similarities and differences between them and discuss why you think Orwell would portray the Russian Revolution in this way.