Post on 04-Jan-2016
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Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution
George Orwell (1903-1950)
Eric Blair
Educated at private schools
Resulted in hating the class system
disapproved of Communism
a socialist
Communism was not pure socialism because:
gulf in society
control of the peasants
Hypocritical
used his writings to communicate a political message
Orwell and Satire
Orwell was a socialist as well as a satirist
Orwell became a critic of capitalism and communism
Animal Farm is a Fable, a Satire, and an Allegory
Fable
- A short story that has a moral and has animals as characters
Satire
-The use of ridicule to attack ideas/failures/evil action
Modern Examples
Allegory
emblem: a visible symbol representing an abstract idea
uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances; an extended metaphor
Wall-E as an Allegory
“Allegorically, two metallic robots and a tiny green plant growing out of a discarded shoe appear prophetic, perhaps hyperbolically representing the concept of love for another, the necessity for community and the fragility of the balance of nature.”
Why an Allegory?
Provides for a greater audience
Easy way to spread a complex idea to the masses
Less “in your face” type of persuasion
To understand how Animal Farm is an allegory, you must have knowledge of the Russian
Revolution.
Russian Revolution – How is Started
Czar Nicolas Romanov II
absolute power
huge social gulf between the peasants and the land owner and the elite
peasants and workers begin rebelling against the Czar in 1905
The Russian Revolution 1917-1945
Czar Nicholas II (Monarch of Russia) -surrendered power after a complicated civil war
His family was in rule for three centuries
Very small portion of people owned everything
Alexander Kerensky became Premier and was soon ousted
Bolshevik Power
Vladimir Lenin was leader
gained control in 1917
had the Romanov family murdered in 1918
wanted Communism
Russian Revolution Leaders
Vladimir Lenin based his theories on Karl Marx German philosopher and the
writer of “The Communist Manifesto”
Lenin became sick
Four People bode for power Joseph Stalin Gregory Zinoviev Leon Trotsky Lev Kamenev
Communism
Comes from the root word of “community”
Equal distribution of wealth and possessions among Russia’s citizens
Karl Marx is “The father of communism”
About Lenin: Led Bolsheviks
Used the Red Guard to stop others from taking over Russia, then used it to take over Russia himself
Lenin…
New Economic Policy- allowed for limited private ownership of land and business
Renamed his party the Communist party in 1917
Named Russia to Soviet Union in 1922
More about Lenin…
Named Joseph Stalin Secretary General
1922- Lenin suffers paralyzing strokes
1924- Lenin dies
Stalin and Trotsky struggle for power
Russian Revolution Power
Joseph Stalin built his power behind the lines
Leon Trotsky: Was popular/charismatic, and famous for his speeches
Stalin leads an alliance against Trotsky and becomes Dictator of Russia
Stalin Wins!
Stalin out-maneuvers Trotsky and gains control
Stalin starts to isolate Trotsky within the party because he is a threat
Leon Trotsky
Gifted speaker and writer
Political genius
Tried to end Russian involvement in WWI
Great thoughts and plans but had trouble actually installing them
Not liked by Lenin
Life under Stalin
Terrorized country with widespread arrests and executions
Anyone thought to be opposed to Stalin and Communism was executed on the spot
“Reign of Terror” 1934 “great purges”
and “show trials” Sent millions to Soviet
labor camps 2-7 million innocent
citizens are murdered Employed KGB to
repress any opposition Used publications to
report statistics inaccurately in his favor
Secret Police
Created secret police force KGB and later known as the NKVD.
Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria
Stalin’s Plan First “Five Year Plan”
attempt to make Russia a modern industrial state
“comrades” need to work harder so Soviet Russia can be a beacon of hope to workers everywhere
Poster: encourages Soviet people to work together and promote industrialization.
Stalin in Power
1933 Second “Five Year Plan”- emphasized rapid growth of Soviet Industry
this worked fairly well, by the end Soviet Russia was a formidable world power
Cult Of Personality
A cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country's leader uses mass media to create a larger-than-life public image through unquestioning flattery and praise.
Secret Agreement
“German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact”: secret agreement between Stalin and Hitler
Neither country would attack each other
Liar!
Hitler lied!
1941- Germany fully attacks Russia!
Stalin’s Rule Against Trotsky After Stalin came to power,
he wanted Trotsky out
Trotsky was banished three times from three places 1st : Expelled from Moscow 2nd: Expelled from the
Communist Party 3rd: Expelled from Russia in
1936 Trotsky fled to Mexico in
1936
He was assassinated by Stalin’s orders in 1940
Blame Trotsky During Stalin’s rule:
Russia’s economic system failed
Violence, fear, and starvation occurred throughout the country
Trotsky was blamed for it all
Those who were associated with Trotsky were executed
In all, over 20 million citizens were purged (killed, imprisoned, or severely made to change)
Stalin Dies Stalin ruled as absolute
dictator throughout WWII and until his death on March 5th, 1953.
Theory on how he died:
1.Poisoned with warfarin (rat poison)
2. Stroke or brain hemorrhage