Allegory

Animal Farm and Russian Revolution

Character in the Novella Animal Farm

Counterpart during the Russian Revolution

Instructions: 1 - Using the adjectives, choose three words to describe

the character. 2 Describe the characters role on the farm. What is he
or she doing as part of the community?

Instructions: 1 Research the time in history. 2 Name the person (or

group) from the Russian Revolution who most closely relates to the
novellas character. 3 Describe the connection btw history and the
novella.

Old Major is knowledgeable, above average, and smart.

Old Major is a wise and persuasive pig who sparks the
thought of rebellion. All animals gather just to listen to
Majors speech when he blames all men for the ills of all
animals.
Snowball is a strong and determined leader. Snowball is

Orwell based Major on both the German political

economist Karl Marx and the Russian revolutionary
leader Vladimir Ilych Lenin.

the animal most clearly attuned to old Major's

thinking, and he devotes himself to bettering the
animals in intellectual, moral, and physical ways.
Napoleon is a selfish, tempered snob. Throughout the
novel, Napoleon's method of "getting his own way"
involves a combination of propaganda and terror that
none of the animals can resist. Note that as soon as
the revolution is won, Napoleon's first action is to
steal the cows' milk for the pigs.
Squealer is an outspoken, respected and powerful pig.

Throughout the novel, he serves as Napoleon's

mouthpiece and Minister of Propaganda. Every time
an act of Napoleon's is questioned by the other
animals regardless of how selfish or severe it may
seem Squealer is able to convince the animals that
Napoleon is only acting in their best interests and that
Napoleon himself has made great sacrifices for
Animal Farm.
Boxer and Clover is well known as a hypercritical, clever
yet loyal horse. Boxer is a devoted citizen of the farm

whose incredible strength is a great asset to the

rebellion and the farm. As soon as he learns about
Animalism, Boxer throws himself into the rebellion's
cause.
The dogs are buff, impulsive, and stern. The nine
puppies born between Jessie and Bluebell are taken
by Napoleon and raised to be his guard dogs.
The sheep is dependent, stupid, and moronic. The sheep

are part of the massive propaganda machine that

Stalin set up as he came to power in Russia, and
they're also the people who were swayed by that
same propaganda. Instead of thinking for themselves,
they just repeat slogans over and over.

Based on Leon Trotsky, Snowball is intelligent,

passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than
his counterpart, Napoleon.
Based on Joseph Stalin, Napoleon uses military force
(his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other
animals and consolidate his power. In his supreme
craftiness, Napoleon proves more treacherous than
his counterpart, Snowball.
Orwell uses Squealer to explore the ways in which
those in power often use rhetoric and language to
twist the truth and gain and maintain social and
political control.

Clover often suspects the pigs of violating one or

another of the Seven Commandments, but she
repeatedly blames herself for misremembering the
commandments.
The dogs represent the army because they allow the pigs
to take charge and they follow.

The sheep represent the population. Everyone involved

with the Soviet Union.