...How are the characters in George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’, different and diverse? Difference and diversity refers to the concept that embraces the variety of characteristics in all living things. It is portrayed through species, preferences, religion, culture, race, political beliefs, ideologies and more. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, difference and diversity can be seen in the character’s species, level of intelligence and their needs. In Animal Farm, the characters are different and diverse as they are of different animal species. In chapter one when all the animals gather to hear Old Major’s dream in the barn, we learn that “First come the three dogs..., and then the pigs..., the hens..., the pigeons..., the sheep and cows..., the two cart-horses..., the white goat..., the donkey..., the brood of ducklings..., the white mare... and last of all comes the cat.” This indicates that there was a wide range of animal species living on Manor Farm (name of the farm given by the human owner) since it is stated early in the book in the opening scene. The variety of animal species on Manor Farm is just one aspect of difference and diversity shown throughout George Orwell’s historical satire. Moreover, difference and diversity is noticeably shown through the different levels of intelligence of the characters in Animal Farm. Two great examples of this are Boxer and Clover. “Those two had great difficulty in thinking anything out for themselves, but having once accepted the pigs as their...
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...A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSIC EDITION OF GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM By HAZEL K. DAVIS, Federal Hocking High School, Stewart, OH S E R I E S W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., E D I T O R S : UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm 2 INTRODUCTION Animal Farm is an excellent selection for junior and senior high students to study. Although on one level the novel is an allegory of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the story is just as applicable to the latest rebellion against dictators around the world. Young people should be able to recognize similarities between the animal leaders and politicians today. The novel also demonstrates how language can be used to control minds. Since teenagers are the target not only of the educational system itself but also of advertising, the music industry, etc., they should be interested in exploring how language can control thought and behavior. Animal Farm is short and contains few words that will hamper the reader’s understanding. The incidents in the novel allow for much interactive learning, providing opportunities for students to dramatize certain portions, to expand on speeches, and to work out alternative endings. The novel can be taught collaboratively with the history department as an allegory of the Russian Revolution, allowing students to draw parallels...
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...Animal Farm George Orwell’s Animal Farm can be said to be one of the most popular parodies, dealing with politics, which has ever been written. It is shown to be against communism and shows how the author observed the disloyalty of the ethics and beliefs of revolutionary Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It describes the meaning of tyranny in general and sarcasm at the mannerisms of any ruling class, to think what they know is right and it is the best course of action for those they rule. Animal Farm was written for almost sixty years now and it still impacts the way people think mentally. Animal Farm warns of blind faith, the abuse of power, and propaganda. The story mostly tells readers how a revolution of farm animals emerged against a cruel master. They were all revolting against the unethical, greediness and a power hungry master. There is something we refer to toxic leadership. Being in the military, there are times where myself rarely make decisions. There is always somebody that out ranks me, giving a demand, and I go about following out those orders. That is where all the decisions come from, those higher ranking. Those high-ranking individuals sometime misuse their power to do unjustifiable things in my eyes. It is not something that happens all the time, but it does happen. In Animal Farm, the pigs abuse their power by changing the law to their own advantage. In the Novel, Boxer has a motto. This motto is “Napoleon is always right!” Before you know it...
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...How does a society go from being a utopia, to a dystopia, what is a utopia??. In George Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, the farm animals are restricted and mistreated. They have an overseer named Mr. Jones who is not only a drunk, but is slowly losing his ability to take care of Manor Farm. Gradually the animals are moving toward the idea of revolution against their dictator. Lois Lowry once said, “The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. Is a life without colour, pain or past.” This quote can be interpreted as a life without problems, surprises or consequences, is a life with no originality or vitality. George Orwell uses a large variety of literary elements such as, symbols, dramatic irony and conflict...
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...AP Literature The classic novel Animal Farm written by George Orwell unravels the story of a group of farm animals who craved freedom from humans. Many of the characters in Animal Farm relate to ideas and people involved in the Russian Revolution such as, Joseph Stalin, Karl Marx and the idea of communism. George Orwell tends to give animals on the farm characteristics of those who lead the Russian Revolution. The novel is simply a reflection of this time period with the twist of the people involved being portrayed as animals instead. George Orwell's novel Animal Farm is directly related to the Russian Revolution in several ways. In the novel Animal Farm, Mr. Jones treats his animals extremely poorly and fails to give them enough food to be healthy (Orwell 18). He is sometimes cruel in which he beats his animals with whips and on the other hand he is sometimes kind by mixing milk into the animals' mash. This relates to Czar Nicholas II of the Russian Revolution. He was a poor leader compared to his western kings and he was sometimes cruel and brutal with opponents, and other times he was kind and hired spies to make money (CITE). Old Major is also a character that can be compared, he taught animalism as Karl Marx had taught and invented communism. Major also spoke of how the animals did all the work while the humans kept all the money and for that reason the animals should revolt against mankind. Marx believed that the workers of the...
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...In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” it is seen that he uses analogies and personification throughout the book. Napoleon represents the evil Russian leader, Joseph Stalin. Some animals are superior in character over others as we will see with Boxer. The character of Napoleon is not one that should be followed. He is a bully, power hungry, a thief and murderer, and he twists rules to his advantage. Napoleon is afraid of boxer because of the following reasons: Boxer is the strongest and biggest animal on the farm, he is the hardest working, most persistent and respectful of others. Napoleon has guard dogs because he feels threatened by boxer. This will show that Napoleon is afraid of boxer. First, Napoleon has bodyguard dogs, to intimidate the other animals. He chases snowball off the farm to become the leader by force. The other animals see that the dogs chase Snowball from the farm, they are afraid of Napoleon and agreed to everything he said. This is where the author shows Napoleon is a bully and power hungry. The dogs are very loyal to Napoleon. Napoleon takes the dogs away from their parents after they are born and trains them to be loyal to him. Boxer states his opinion about snowball not being an evil animal, the dogs attack...
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...The story takes place on a farm somewhere in England. The story is told by an all-knowing narrator in the third person. The action of this novel starts when the oldest pig on the farm, Old Major, calls all animals to a secret meeting. He tells them about his dream of a revolution against the cruel Mr Jones. Three days later Major dies, but the speech gives the more intelligent animals a new outlook on life. The pigs, who are considered the most intelligent animals, instruct the other ones. During the period of preparation two pigs distinguish themselves, Napoleon and Snowball. Napoleon is big, and although he isn't a good speaker, he can assert himself. Snowball is a better speaker, he has a lot of ideas and he is very vivid. Together with another pig called Squealer, who is a very good speaker, they work out the theory of "Animalism". The rebellion starts some months later, when Mr Jones comes home drunk one night and forgets to feed the animals. They break out of the barns and run to the house, where the food is stored. When Mr Jones sees this he takes out his shotgun, but it is too late for him; all the animals fall over him and drive him off the farm. The animals destroy all whips, nose rings, reins, and all other instruments that have been used to suppress them. The same day the animals celebrate their victory with an extra ration of food. The pigs make up the seven commandments, and they write them above the door of the big barn. They run thus: 1. Whatever goes upon...
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...thirst for power runs through their veins taking hold of their mind ultimately causing them to stop at nothing to gain power. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the pigs new surge of power leaves them unsatisfied causing them to exploit and manipulate the other animals. The pigs defy their code to gain authority eventually leading to the corruption of the farm by their own greedy desires. George Orwell reveals the destruction that greed causes through the main antagonist, Napoleon, the affects of communism and his own life experiences. This ultimately leads the animals and Orwell into a world they do not recognize. Greed can be seen as a silent force that has the ability to conquer one’s life, where their selfish attitude allows his or her’s infatuation of power to consume them. Napoleon’s desire to become the only leader devours him as he becomes deceitful to animals except to the pigs. The animals on the farm are captivated by this new forming idea that they can become their own individuals by overthrowing the owner, Mr. Jones. This results in the animal to rejoice as they believe that they are able to control themselves and not be controlled, “And so, almost before they knew what was happening, the rebellion had been successfully carried through; Jones was expelled and the Manor Farm was theirs. For the first few minutes, the animals could hardly believe their good fortune” (Orwell 12). Napoleon secretly gains power from this rebellion as he and Snowball are the...
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...powerless into subservience. The allegories by George Orwell and Arthur Miller denounce the harmful effects of tyranny, as it generates deception and fear, enabling despotic individuals to gain power and control. Miller’s play, The Crucible, advocates for the necessity of transgression to gain autonomy, as Salem’s theocracy is eventually broken; however, it is Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, that exposes the unjust reality in which rebellion does not always guarantee freedom,...
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...Animal Farm, first published in 1945, is a classic satirical novella by George Orwell. It portrays a revolution by the farm animals to bring about the downfall of the cruel owner, however ends up paving the way for the pigs to establish themselves as the ruling echelons in the new society. In this animal fable, the events clearly evoke particular unpalatable truths in reality, specifically, the emergence of the totalitarian regime by Joseph Stalin since the 1920s. Although the vast majority of Animal Farm’s readers are familiar with the context in which Animal Farm was created and Orwell’s motive, some may not. This raises a question whether the exposure of social injustice during Russia in the 19th century reflected within this story can be seen by readers without prior comprehension in regards to such humanitarian crisis. Background knowledge is a requisite but not indispensable skill for enabling...
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...unaware of what is right and wrong. George Orwell’s book Animal Farm talks about how the political obtuseness contributes to political persecution. People’s ignorance contributes to their political and social oppression because the leader will not support the people, abuse their authorities, and brainwash the working class. First, the governor will not treat the uneducated commoners properly nor treat them fairly. In the book Animal Farm, most of the farm animals were illiterate. The pigs, who could read and write, became the leader of the revolution and the farm. Napoleon, Squealer, and even Snowball mistreated the animals as “one...
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...ideology of George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm by the means of why government is necessary. The concept of the necessity of government is brought up in the beginning of the novel when Mr. Jones is ran out of his farm due to nationalist uprising brought upon by Old Majors speech and song. When the animals rebelled against Mr. Jones there was no standing army to put them down. There wasn’t any laws or rules for the animals to follow so this led to anarchy due to no government or authority to enforce them. The novel Animal Farm demonstrates a lot of ideologies and themes that are similar to our politics today. In Animal Farm we see a repetitive theme of the consequences...
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...controls the profits and equally distributes them throughout the nation. It would seem that under a communist society, every member of society is taken care to the extent that there is no poverty of any sort. Canadian American John Kenneth Galbraith said, “Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it’s just the opposite.” This corruption of communist ideals is shown in George Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm. When communist ideals are corrupted for the benefit of one person or party, people are left to fend for themselves. Communist ideals give the assumption that all people are equal. This system makes sure that not one person or party becomes more powerful and important than the other. After a day’s work, people receive rewards for their work. In an ideal communist society, the government takes care of the masses. These ideas incite the starving masses of Russia because it ensures the well being of the Russian people, just as the animals believe all the unrealistic promises the pigs make. In Animal Farm, Old Major, the old show pig, envisions a perfect world in which all the animals are free from the oppression of Mr. Jones and his men. It seems as though there is no flaw to a communist society. Unlike a communist society, a capitalist society places people in situations where they work extremely hard to supply for their livelihood, and some make more than others, which in turns creates a class system. With this system, some people soon become more influential...
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...Napoleon is the antagonist of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. He hungers for power and he proves that he will do anything to get what he wants. He is as selfish as man, so every step he takes is for his personal gain. His oppressive behavior towards the animals becomes worse throughout the book. Napoleon evolves to be worse than Mr. Jones because of his comportment, his cruelty towards animals and his selfish deeds. One of the most important changes that is observed is the alteration in Napoleon’s demeanor. He starts living in the farmhouse, away from the other animal, begins to drink alcohol with the other pigs, wears Mr. Jones clothes and crosses the limits when he commences walking on two legs (60-119). Napoleon wants power and he believes...
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...Animal Farm Essay: Topic 9 The novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is an allegory that highlights the weaknesses of the human nature through the telling of a story about the rebellion of animals on Manor Farm. These weaknesses are the sources of all malignity throughout the novel, causing most of its major conflicts and poisoning the minds of its characters. Specifically, Orwell’s writing focuses on the greed of the pigs and the ignorance of the rest of the farm animals. Together, these traits establish the totalitarian society that the farm becomes. Orwell considers the traits of greed and gullibility to be the most detrimental human attributes to hopes of an equitable society. Orwell considers greed to be one of the most dangerous faults...
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