THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONAllegory in Animal FarmEnglish I Honors

WHO COULD BE WHO? Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian

Revolution

Allegory: A symbolic story; meanings lie outside of the narrative.

As we read Animal Farm, brainstorm which characters represent the real people or ideas from History…

GENERAL OVERVIEW: 1917 WWI – Famine & economic collapse Czar Nicholas II brutally oppressed the

people February Revolution

Overthrew Czar Nicholas II (monarchy) Established a provisional government

October Revolution Bolsheviks (Communists) overthrew provisional

government Eventually, became a dictatorship.

KEY PEOPLE Karl Marx

Believed capitalism produced tension between classes

A “workers state” would reduce social tension Socialism/Communism Died in 1883 – Revolution occurred in 1917 Mistrusted religion – “Opiate of the people”

Czar Nicholas II Highly reactionary “Bloody Sunday” Supported WWI

Communism

One social class All people are equal

Government owns everything, people own the government

KEY PEOPLE CONTINUED Josef Stalin

Rose to power in 1924 Ruled as a dictator Directed the economy (“planned economy”) Lead “Great Purge” in 1930s – disposed of

opponents, traitors, etc. Used NVKD Secret Police known for brutality. Used propaganda

Leon Trotsky Lead October Revolution with Lenin Believed in Marx’s theory of socialism Vocally opposed Stalin Forced out of Russia by Stalin Was murdered by the NVKD (Stalin’s police force)

OVERALL DETAILS OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

It was suppose to make life better for all Life was worse at the end

Supposed to fix problems that existed under Czarist rule

Life was even worse long after the revolution Stalin made the Czar look like a nice guy