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Juan Felipe Clavijo Porto

English 12

Ms. Cheryl

December 7, 2010

George Orwell
“ANIMAL FARM”
 Introduction:
o The book I read was “Animal Farm”, by George Orwell.
o It was written from 1943 to 1944 in London.
o It is an animal fable that uses a lot of personification and symbolism.
o It is based on the Russian Revolution (1917 – 1945).

 Point 1:
o The novel begins with a very drunk man called Mr. Jones (owner of The
Manor Farm) that is so drunk that he forgets to feed the animals.
o A prize-winning pig called Old Major immediately says that he had a dream
last night, which cried for rebellion from humans.
o Some weeks later, the animals rebel and pigs take the leadership.
o 7 Commandments (squealer) established which make up Animalism. (4 legs
good, 2 legs bad).
o Rivalry between two pigs (Napoleon and Snowball).
o Napoleon uses nine ferocious dogs to assure power, and kicks Snowball
away (blames everything on him).
o Pigs exploit all animals, and make them work, breaking the 7
commandments.
o Things get very bad, and animals forget Old Major´s Dream
o Pigs start dealing with neighbor farms (trading), and start becoming like
humans.
o At the end, pigs become like the drunk owner of the farm (Mr. Jones).
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 Point 2:
o Purpose is to criticize the corruption of Socialist ideals in the Soviet Union,
and the Russian revolution.
o Rise to power of Joseph Stalin (Napoleon).
o Struggle for power between Leon, Trotsky and Stalin (Snowball and
Napoleon).
o One of Orwell’s central concerns is the way in which language can be
manipulated as an instrument of control. (Squealer)
o SYMBOLISM
 Animal Farm: Russia and the Soviet Union under the communist
party rule. Also structure of a nation. (Govt=Pigs, Police=Dogs,
Working Class=Rest of animals)
 The Barn: Represents the collective memory of a modern nation.
Erased with modifications, like the 7 commandments distortion.
 The Windmill: Pig manipulation of other animals for their own gain.

 Point 3:
o Real name was Eric Arthur Blair (1903 – 1950)
o Born in Bengal, India (which was still part of the British Empire at the time),
but he was sent to England when he was a year old.
o Orwell served in the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, which gave him a
chance to see imperial and racial politics first hand.
o While fighting on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, Orwell was
shot through the neck and nearly died.
o Died in London of Tuberculosis, at the age of 46, the 21st of January of
1950.

 Conclusion:
o George Orwell was a very important writer, who wrote the most important
critics of socialism and communism that influenced the Russian Revolution.
o “Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant Man shall be o'er thrown,
And the fruitful fields of England
Shall be trod by beasts alone.” (Excerpt from Beasts of England).
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