...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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...much power can become dictators and power hungry. George Orwell’s Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England that is run by a man named Mr. Jones who was later on overthrown by the animals. After the animals kick Mr. Jones off the farm, the two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball battle for power. After Napoleon chases Snowball off the farm, Napoleon starts to create a totalitarian government. One of the first ways Napoleon starts to gain power is Napoleon starts to control the food supply in order to control the animals on the farm. In addition Napoleon uses Squealer to spread fear propaganda by stating that if the animal don't listen than Mr. Jones will come back. Which the animals don't want because of the way they were treated. Lastly Napoleon creates a scapegoat Snowball because this is going to help him gain full power. Napoleon controls the animals through different methods because he was to gain full power. Napoleon gains power by reducing food rations...
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...Animal Farm Questions Chapter 5 18. Make a list of 6 things Napoleon does in this chapter to secure his position as leader of the Farm. Which do you think was the most effective? Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership much like his Russian Revolution counterpart Joseph Stalin does in multiple ways. 1. Napoleon manipulates the animals by talking to them one at a time. He does this early in the book when Snowball is trying to persuade animals to join him on his ideas. Napoleon is a dissenter in the midst who talks individually to get them to see things his way, for example in the case of the windmill. 2. Napoleon also enlists the help of a gifted and crafty speaker on his behalf. This is Squealer. Stalin had Pravda as his mouthpiece in Russia. Napoleon uses Squealer to make great speeches that demonstrate production is better than it was in Jones time by shouting out tons of numbers. 3. Napoleon has Squealer use propaganda. Fear is an emotional appeal used to get the animals to remain faithful to the cause of animalism. The slogan "Four legs good, Two legs bad" unifies the animals against a different enemy. Napoleon uses Snowball almost a scapegoat and they blame everything they do not want to take credit for on him. So if they are stuck in a bad circumstance, Snowball gets the blame. 4.His use of force to maintain order. He used his fierce dogs to scare the animals into submission (compared to Stalin's secret police), and also to protect himself from harm. These dogs...
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...Difference of Powers Throughout history, society has been witnesses to individuals that have evolved into selfish and narcissistic beings who rise and take power. They initially bring a temporary sign of hope to their people in the form of freedom and happiness but is short lived and overturned as these individuals solely base their lives around greed. Their 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...
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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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...Comparative essay- Animal Farm Animal farm- Paragraph 1- manipulation by the pigs State they are educated elite, use intellectual superiority to manipulate the other animals. Quote shows them as apathetic and meddlers. State how Orwell is criticising Stalin and his Government. Paragraph 2- Propaganda by the pigs State Napoleon uses propaganda through squealer to push his ideas and implement his plans. Quote shows that Napoleon uses propaganda to get what he wants. State that Orwell is criticising Stalin’s manipulation of the Russian society a big ally of the propaganda is the animal’s ignorance and false memory Paragraph 3- Power of Napoleon State that Napoleon, whom represents Stalin, only gained and keeps his power through cruelty, treachery and making the other animals scared of him. Show that after the rebellion, Napoleon has taken the place of Mr Jones (seen through quote) State that the quote shows that Napoleon has dominance over the farm like Mr Jones. State that Orwell is criticising that after a rebellion, inevitably someone will rise to power over all and everything will be the same, maybe worse. Quotes- For manipulation- ‘Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed? ... It says, ‘no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.’ (cynicism) For propaganda- When squealer assures the animals about trading with humans- ...
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...One may think that little comparison could be made between Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince and George Orwell’s Animal Farm. However many of the theories of leadership put forward in 1513 in The Prince can be found in Animal Farm. Those same ideas and theories can be applied to educational leaders and educational leadership to examine the morality of Machiavelli’s practices in education. This paper will compare and contrast leadership elements in both The Prince and Animal Farm. Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513. The purpose of The Prince was to record the knowledge that Machiavelli held in regards to leadership and power. Machiavelli lays out in details the ways in which a prince can come to power and how to maintain that power. The principles that Machiavelli put forth are straight forward with no sugar coating and often considered immoral. Orwell’s Animal Farm is in stark contrast to The Prince’s fiction. The novel is set on an English farm where the animals have taken over the farm from humans to rule it for themselves. The animals start out believing that the product of their labor will benefit only them and that all animals are to be treated equally. Over time one of the animals comes to power and emanates the human habits that lead to the overthrow of the humans in the first place. The work is satirical of the Communist Revolution and Stalinism. Orwell and Machiavelli present a united front in the portrayal of the non-ruling class. Machiavelli makes no apologies...
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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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...Absolute Power and Corruption in Animal Farm Idealistic leaders can become corrupt because of the influence that absolute power can have on one’s morals. This pattern constantly repeats itself throughout history because of mankind’s ignorance to the past. Animal Farm represents the Russian revolution and the events and actions that took place. As Napoleon, Snowball, and Old Major evolve and show the effects of having power, is it obvious to see how absolute power corrupts potentially great leaders. Napoleon, an overall strong leader, lets power take over his views and morals for ultimate corruption. After Old Major dies, Napoleon is fortunate to be one of the next renowned leaders for the farm and soon to be a leader for the rebellion. As time passes, Napoleon experiences the luxuries and the benefits that come with having power— the power is now beginning to go to his head. He begins eating much food, sleeping on a bed, and wearing clothes (all of which the animals swore never to do in animalism). Napoleon is beginning to think of himself above all others rather than as still an equal. At one point in the book, Napoleon sell the loyal and hardworking boxer to a factory for alcohol. This goes to prove that he only cared about what he wanted, not his hard working citizen. By many events and actions done by Napoleon, it is easy to see how Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin. “Stalin was the undisputed dictator of USSR.” As Stalin did, Napoleon disposes of anything...
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...then be a prisoner all the days of your life.” Throughout the novel Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, the idea of freedom is revealed through the act of fighting and working. The farm animals of the Manor Farm want their freedom and equal rights. However, the farm is under control of narcissistic humans who only care for the produce the animals supply. So they secretly assemble in the barn and create ideas that induce the animals to fight for their independence. Because the humans, Mr. Jones and his people, have an advantage with weapons for self-defense, the animals agree to simultaneously ambush them; this way the humans have less power over the encounter. After...
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...court or they must be counted against it." How do both texts show us that there is little room for justice in an oppressive society? Injustice is often a result of oppression as absolutist societies establish a dichotomy of good and evil to manipulate the 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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...A Marxist Examination of Animal Farm Literature has been around since the beginning of time; it is the means of expressing our pain and class struggles. Criticism in literature is concerned with the way in which literature examines the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of individuals. In the novella Animal Farm written by George Orwell in 1945 Orwell examines the power and greed of the few individuals and the struggles and oppression of the many who work. Animal Farm is an allegory of the 1917 Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union under Stalin. The story takes place on a farm were, the men running the farm are exploiting the animals and steeling all the animals labour. The animals decide to rebel against the men and run the farm themselves. The farm is run by two pigs Napoleon and Snowball. Snowball is based on Leon Trotsky, a communist who believed that all workers deserved a share in profits and equal rights. Napoleon is based on Stalin, a though man who betrayed his people and got overwhelm with power and money, Stalin killed Trotsky and became the leader of the Soviet. In the novella Napoleon chasses Snowball away and he takes complete control of the Farm. Napoleon betrays the animals and the rules set at the beginning, he exploited the other animals. Orwell’s book Animal Farm is a Marxist examination of the Russian revelation. Marxism was started by Karl Marx, born in 1818, he was a man who saw the struggles between class and between the oppressed...
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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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...“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”(Lord Acton,1887) Power is something only the right person should have, it could turn into an absolute mess if it's not handled correctly. Having power means others look up to you, and you could change the way they see things. This effect a person has on someone could cause dangerous events. It can also cause something really good. Meaning the outcome of having power could be either positive or negative. A person could easily abuse power and think that people won’t retaliate. The book “Animal Farm” by George Orwell is a great example of how power can be abused. Mr.Jones, the owner of Manor Farm is an alcoholic who doesn’t treat his animals right. He sees it as he can do whatever he wants and nothing will happen.The animals decide take the power into their own hands. They are sick and tired of Mr.Jones treating them unfairly so they decide to start a revolution. In the book Mr.Jones comes back to the farm to try and take it back. The animals don't let...
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...ANIMAL FARM George Orwell Important Quotations Explained 1. “Four legs good, two legs bad.” This phrase, which occurs in Chapter III, constitutes Snowball’s condensation of the Seven Commandments of Animalism, which themselves serve as abridgments (abbreviations) of Old Major’s stirring speech on the need for animal unity in the face of human oppression. The phrase instances one of the novel’s many moments of propagandizing, which Orwell portrays as one example of how the elite class abuses language to control the lower classes. Although the slogan seems to help the animals achieve their goal at first, enabling them to clarify in their minds the principles that they support, it soon becomes a meaningless sound bleated by the sheep (“two legs baa-d”), serving no purpose other than to drown out dissenting opinion. By the end of the novel, as the propaganda needs of the leadership change, the pigs alter the chant to the similar-sounding but completely antithetical “Four legs good, two legs better.” 2. Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tiding Of the golden future time. These lines from Chapter I constitute the first verse of the song that Old Major hears in his dream and which he teaches to the rest of the animals during the fateful meeting in the barn. Like the communist anthem “Internationale,” on which it is based, “Beasts of England” stirs the emotions of the animals and fires their revolutionary idealism. As...
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