The Novel as Allegory: Historical Parallels in Animal Farm€¦ · · 2011-11-29The Novel as...
Transcript of The Novel as Allegory: Historical Parallels in Animal Farm€¦ · · 2011-11-29The Novel as...
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