George Orwell 1903-1950

Wrote Animal Farm in 1945

Born in India, but grew up in England.

He was a man of strong opinions who addressed some of the major political movements of his times, including imperialism, fascism and communism.

He also wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four

Animal Farm is an allegory.

Allegory:A form of extended metaphor.

The figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. Translation: a hidden story or message under a seemingly innocent story.

What is it an allegory for?

Russian Revolution

A taste (you will fill in the rest): In 1917, as WWI was occupying the world and draining Russia of its limited resources, discontent reached a breaking point in Russia. Under new political ideas of how a country should be run, the Czar was overthrown, and the country was pushed into struggles for power and eventually a violent totalitarian state.

Vocabulary

Revolution: a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a new system

Propaganda: information that is biased and often misleading used to promote a particular cause or point of view

Totalitarian: A state in which a government holds complete authority and control over all aspects of life.

Tyranny: cruel and oppressive government or rule Utopia: a highly desirable community or society, near

perfection. Dystopia: Undesirable or frightening community, often

used to describe the pursuit of utopia gone terribly wrong!