Animal+Farm


 * Animal Farm by George Orwell **

toc = = = = =The entire text of AF [|here] =

=AF as a fable= Look at [|these famous fables] to understand how animals are used in traditional tales and how fables connect to morals. Fables usually include:
 * animals as characters
 * uses animal to represent human character types
 * ADD YOUR IDEAS HERE

=AF vocabulary= Check out [|this link] to vocabulary quizzes, flashcards and learning tools. Here is [|one other list] - and yet [|another list] with parts of speech.

=AF and the Russian Revolution= Look [|here] for a list of characters/situations from AF and their corresponding character/situation in the Russian Revolutoin

=AF as an allegory= Allegory comes from the Greek word allegorein which means "to speak as if to imply something other: Layers in AF
 * 1) **Literal meaning** - animals take over a farm and try to run it
 * 2) **Satirical commentary** - making fun of the Russian revolution, Soviet Union
 * 3) **Political treatise** - a systematic discussion of politics in general (e.g. this could relate to the Chinese Communisim and the Cultural Revolution)
 * 4) **Beast fable** - similar to Aesop's fables - it teaches about human nature, universal challenges and tragic flaws


 * Therefore, a simple story becomes... **
 * a moral warning against the abuse of power
 * an appeal to expose Stalin's evils
 * description of idealism/utopia = from Greek "no place" - an imagined place where everything is perfect

=George Orwell quotes= One of my favorites: //If you can't write well, you can't think well// //and if you can't think well then others will do your thinking for you.//

Also, [|here] is a great list

=Persuasive Techniques (rhetorical devices)= = = = = =Plot=
 * sound patterns (alliteration, assonance, etc.)
 * parallel structure
 * anecdote (mini story)
 * hyperbole
 * rule of three (magic triple)
 * emotive language
 * contrast
 * rhetorical questions (don't you just love rhetorical questions?)
 * repetition
 * imagery/symbolism
 * sound bytes
 * slogans
 * DOHYUN, ANNABELLE, MICHAEL Chapter 1: The Old Major told the animal about his dream and about the rebellion. "Beasts of England" Chapter 2: The animals took over, the human were driven out of the farm. The seven commandments to follow chapter 3: The pigs took the apples and milk All animals work according his/her capacity Created their own flag: green, hoof and horn Napoleon and Snowball were in control Chapter 4: Battle of the Cowshed- caused by human（Animals' first victory） **

= **AF Themes** =

1. Power corrupts idealism. 2. Human nature dictates that revolutions are bound to fail 3. Dreams are destroyed by corruption and greed. 4. History repeats itself so learn from the past. 5. Propaganda and persuasion by authority figures can be exploited for personal gain against a naïve working class. 6. The masses are easily manipulated by those with more education and cunning. 7. Hypocrisy is part of human nature. 8. Power in the wrong hands is a dangerous weapon. 9. Leaders have a social responsibility towards their subjects. 10. Totalitarianism is a dangerous political system. 11. Broken dreams bring disappointment and disillusionment. 12. Social hierarchies are an inevitable part of human nature. 13. The abuse of language leads to the abuse of power.

(remember: propaganda is the "soap used for brainwashing") Squealer, the plump, tail-whisking, sideways-hopping pig, embodies the power of propaganda on Animal Farm. He uses persuasive body and verbal language to confuse the slightly less intelligent animals and influence their judgement of the pigs and the government they are controlled by. Squealer is told to be able to “turn black into white”; this brainwashing element of persuasive language is prominent in all forms of propaganda, as it is supposed to persuade one to support or join a certain political party. Commonly, human rights are associated with equality among people; this usually means that people should all have the right to live equally and be able to make decisions for themselves. No one in the society can force anyone to do anything they are not willing to do. Nevertheless, it is almost impossible to have absolute, fair equality in a society, since someone has to take the role of the leader. In “Animal Farm,” the leaders, which are the pigs, force the hens to lay four hundred eggs in a week, so that the pigs can sell them for money. However, when the hens do not comply, the pigs punish them and execute many of the “rebels”. As shown in the novel, it is not possible to have total equality in a society, because a person or a group of people (or pigs) has to take charge in organizing the society. Anyone with enough power can make strong changes. Napoleon had the help of the dogs and his fellow pigs, and was able to make big changes on Animal Farm. The most significant and symbolic of these changes is the change of the original 7 commandments to “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” All of the animals had begun to learn and trust in the 7 commandments; because Napoleon had so much power, he was able to corrupt the minds of all the animals and change them to believe in what he said. No animal dared stand up against him because of his superiority; he changed the nature of the innocent animals’ minds and led them to believe in what was originally said to be wrong. The theme of a utopian society is portrayed throughout the novel by the animals living on Manor Farm. A utopian society is one where there are no rules, and society acts upon their own desires and wishes. This is an impossible society due to the selfish, power hungry and greedy characteristics that humans (and animals) naturally possess, and it is seen through the novel that the utopian society is never achieved. Before the revolution of the animals over Mr Jones, he has absolute power over all the farm animals, suggesting dictatorship. After Mr Jones is overthrown, the 7 commandments that are written include one that states “All animals are equal.” This was an attempt at a utopian society. For a short while, there was peace on the farm with the absence of a tyrannical dictator; when food began to run short, supplies were needed urgently in order to survive. To obtain these supplies, some of the 7 commandments were broken, and Napoleon, whose intentions were to gain power, made this impossible, later changing the commandments. The original first commandment was changed to “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others,” and the animals adapted to human ways.
 * LUKE, IRIS**
 * ==Power of Propaganda==
 * people are easily led (gullible)
 * power can corrupt one's mind
 * the importance of free speech
 * ==Human Rights==
 * ==The Corruption Nature of Power==
 * ==Utopian Society==
 * ==Blindly Led==

=AF Characters List= ** CHIARA, TINA, KATIE , DANIEL** Add notes below. You can include traits, quotes, and character types (protagonist/antagonist, flat/round, static/dynamic) Boxer Characteristics: Strong but not so smart horse, brave, loyal, hard-working Quote: I will work harder and Napoleon is always right Boxer represents the 'working class' in russia during the revolution.

Snowball Characteristics: Leader, organized, creative, strict Quote: All animals are equal Snowball is probably the protagonist in 'Animal Farm', by George Orwell. He had everything under control and as he lead the animals, 'equal' also meant equal.

Napoleon Characteristics: D ictator of the farm, one in charge, selfish, greedy, power hungry. feared by animals living on Animal Farm, two faced, liar  Quote: All animals are equal but some are more equal than others  Napoleon would be the antagonist in the story/allegory. After he gets rid of Snowball he uses his ideas and makes the animal farm to a horrid place, where equality does not have a meaning anymore.

Old Major  -An old pig  -Old but wise and smart.  -A leader of the animals of the farm  -Make other animals to realize that men are their enemies

 Mollie  -A female horse  -Stupid/ foolish  -Betrayal-she leaves the farm with her new owner

 Benjamin  - A donkey  - Knows what's going to happen in the future in this society  - He's reserved

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"> Boxer <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"> - A male horse <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"> - A hard worker <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"> - He thinks that Napoleon is always right <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Helvetica,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"> -"I'll work harder!"

Old Major

 * Respected
 * Give good speeches
 * Old
 * Wise
 * Incited other animals to

B oxer

 * "I'll work harder!"
 * Strong-spirited
 * Respected

N apoleon

 * Mean
 * Selfish
 * Horrible
 * "All animals are equal, but some are more equal."

Snowball

 * Leadership-ish

M oses

 * Candymountain
 * The raven
 * Od
 * Unrealistic

M r. Jones

 * Owns Manor Farm but got kicked out by the animals
 * He does not care for his animals

M ollie

 * Stupid
 * Follows person/animal who/which gives her what she wants

C lover

 * A females horse who takes care of other animals

Benjamin
 * A donkey
 * worst tempered
 * oldest animal on the farm
 * he seldom talked
 * when he did talk then it is usually to make some cynical remark
 * He never laughed because he thinks there is nothing to laugh at when others are laughing

=Important Quotes=


 * Think about why these quotes are important:**
 * What is the context?
 * Who is speaking or described?
 * What is the symbolic or metaphorical meaning?
 * What is Orwell's message?

Quote #1
The animals huddled about Clover, not speaking. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. Most of Animal Farm was within their view — the long pasture stretching down to the main road, the hayfield, the spinney, the drinking pool, the ploughed fields where the young wheat was thick and green, and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. It was a clear spring evening. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun. Never had the farm — and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm, every inch of it their own property — appeared to the animals so desirable a place. As Clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. If she could have spoken her thoughts, it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race. These scenes of terror and slaughter were not what they had looked forward to on that night when old Major first stirred them to rebellion. If she herself had had any picture of the future, it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip, all equal, each working according to his capacity, the strong protecting the weak, as she had protected the lost brood of ducklings with her foreleg on the night of Major's speech. Instead — she did not know why — they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind, when fierce, growling dogs roamed everywhere, and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. There was no thought of rebellion or disobedience in her mind. She knew that, even as things were, they were far better off than they had been in the days of Jones, and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. Whatever happened she would remain faithful, work hard, carry out the orders that were given to her, and accept the leadership of Napoleon. But still, it was not for this that she and all the other animals had hoped and toiled. It was not for this that they had built the windmill and faced the bullets of Jones's gun. Such were her thoughts, though she lacked the words to express them. (p.92)