Animal Farm by George Orwell

1. Animal Farm by George Orwell George Orwell (real name Eric Blair) was a strong supporter of socialism. He disliked the power and elitism of the rich and devoted much of his life to the socialist cause. Essential Question: Why did Orwell write Animal Farm?

2. To “get” Animal Farm you need to “get” … Socialism A stage in Marxist theory to move governments towards communism. Property is not commonly owned, but wealth and social services are distributed evenly to ALL citizens. 1776 1848 Marxism Capitalism Communism investment in and ownership of the meansofproduction, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made andmaintainedchieflyby private individuals orcorporations. This means there are rich people who control and employ the poor. thebelief that governments throughout history have helped the upper class exploit workers, and that if the workers unite and revolt, a more equal, classless society can be developed. This means that the workers should take control from the rich and make everyone equal.

3. Famous Fascist Leaders of Orwell’s Time The problem Fascism: Benito Mussolini (Italy) Adolf Hitler (Germany) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, controlling all industry, commerce, business etc., and emphasizing aggressive nationalism and often racism. Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) Orwell fought against fascism through writing. Fransisco Franco (Spain)

4. Where it all began for Orwell: The Spanish Civil War, 1937 • Orwell’s Role: • Orwell went to Spain to fight for political decency—against fascism (Franco), and almost died for it. • During this time, many of Orwell’s friends were killed, put in prison, or “disappeared.” • Orwell’s experience in the war left him alarmed at how decent, but gullible people ignored the abuse of power.

5. Pacifism: refusal to engage in war or violence of any kind What does Orwell believe?

6. In the Russian Revolution (1917), the workers, organized by Lenin and the Bolsheviks (Communists), overthrew Tsar Nicholas the II and the aristocracy (rich people in power). The peasants took over, redistributed land, and began a Marxist government. Eventually they would elect Joseph Stalin to lead them (big mistake). Context for Animal Farm

7. What Makes Orwell Different? The Soviet Union became insanely popular in the U.S. and Britain after forcing the Nazi’s to retreat during World War II. BUT: Orwell did not blindly support the Soviet Union, even though it was attempting to follow Marxist ideals! He saw how the political leaders of the USSR had strayed from the ideals of socialism and instead took the power that should have belonged to the people and kept it for themselves. So, he wrote viciously against the USSR in the novel Animal Farm. Unfortunately, Orwell couldn’t get Animal Farm published until after the war. No one wanted to hear criticism of the Soviet Union and the warning of what was really going on until it was too late!

8. Why has it stood the test of time? • Animal Farm is: • A political tract • A satire on human folly • A loud heehaw at all who yearn for utopia • An allegorical lesson • A fable • A passionate sermon against the dangers of political innocence

9. Animal Farm Slides Use with Socratic Seminar (slide 10-11) Use with Ch.3&4 FLAG (slide 12)

10. Orwell on propaganda and the rewriting of history: SOCRATIC SEMINAR after chapter 6 But what impressed me then, and has impressed me ever since, is that atrocities are believed in or disbelieved in solely on grounds of political predilection. Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence. . .And stranger yet, at any moment the situation can suddenly reverse itself and yesterday's proved-to-the-hilt atrocity story can become a ridiculous lie.” Early in life I have noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper, but in Spain, for the first time, I saw newspaper reports which did not bear any relation to the facts. . .I saw great battles reported where there had been no fighting, and complete silence where hundreds of men had been killed. I saw troops who had fought bravely denounced as cowards and traitors, and others who had never seen a shot fired hailed as the heroes of imaginary victories;

11. This kind of thing is frightening to me, because it often gives me the feeling that the very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. After all, the chances are that those lies, or at any rate similar lies, will pass into history. How will the history of the Spanish war be written? If Franco remains in power his nominees will write the history books, and. . .will become historical fact, and schoolchildren will learn about it generations hence. But suppose Fascism is finally defeated and some kind of democratic government restored in Spain in the fairly near future; even then, how is the history of the war to be written. . .Yet, after all, some kind of history will be written, and after those who actually remember the war are dead, it will be universally accepted. So for all practical purposes the lie will have become truth. I know it is the fashion to say that most of recorded history is lies anyway. I am willing to believe that history is for the most part inaccurate and biased, but what is peculiar to our own age is the abandonment of the idea that history COULD be truthfully written.

12. Animal Farm The Soviet Union The flags The leaders Napoleon Stalin