The Official LitNet AF homework help thread - get your answers here!

[Heyyy!]

.....

[The Atheist]

Animal Farm seems to be the hot topic of homework at the moment, so I thought I'd start a thread for people to have a look at and to add to, so that we can maybe hook up all the points in one place. Then, with a bit of luck, students can pick and choose which bits to expand on.

Let's start off with this:

Animal Farm, along with Orwell's 1984, are classic dystopian novels. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia) They portray a harsh and totalitarian lifestyle where only a few are privileged and the many are simply machines of use to the few.

Animal Farm was written primarily to expose the horrors of Soviet totalitarian rule, typified by Josef Stalin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin)

Animal Farm makes heavy use of symbolism - making an animal or object signify something else. Classic examples are the dogs standing in for the KGB (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kgb), the Soviet secret police, Napoleon for Stalin himself, and Frederick & Pilkington for Hitler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_hitler) and Churchill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill).

(Apologies for making such heavy use of Wiki, but they're pretty accurate and simple for easy historical points like these.)

The following is a list of the main characters from Animal Farm and who they equate to in the USSR:

Napoleon - Stalin
Snowball - Leon Trotsky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trotsky)
Pilkington - Winston Churchill
Frederick - Adolf Hitler
Dogs - KGB
Boxer - Russian peasantry/manual workers
Old Major - a combination of Karl Marx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_marx) and V I Lenin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_I_Lenin)

Nearly all of the characters are symbolic of some part of USSR or its partners, allies or enemies and many of the events have historic relationships as well. For instance, the takeover of the farm symbolises the Russian Revolution, while the flag, with hoof and horn is a direct copy of the USSR flag, in negative with green/red juxtaposition.

Many of the minor characters have important parts to play in the allegory, so try to be creative when dealing with symbolism, which seems to be a favourite question at the moment!

Another interesting tack has been brought up recently, so I'll repeat that here as well as it also gives clues to other options for essays - assume you're working for the United Nations or similar body and asked to provide a report on Animal Farm:

Report on the Investigation into Living Conditions at Animal Farm.


1 - state object of report. Maybe you could start with reports received from passing birds, or neighbouring animals, giving a reason for the investigation.

2 - list problems, e.g.

Animal feeds - note examples of rations
Retirement - note details and lack of retirees
Working conditions - note details of increases in workload, use of whips
Repression - note killings of hens and sheep and the attack on Boxer
Money over welfare - note Boxer's removal to knacker's instead of being retired

3 - State possible counters - trade embargoes, etc.

What was George Orwell trying to tell us?

He was mainly keen to expose the terrible truth of the USSR to English apologists and admirers of the perverted "communism" it practised. Many people outside USSR saw the original intent of the Revolution - "to each, according to his needs, from each according to his means" as an ideal and believed that the Russian version was working. The truth was vastly different and Orwell realised that a simple, plain-language expose of USSR wouldn't reach a wide target, but an allegorical novel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory#Examples), playing on the English people's love of animals might.

In Animal Farm, just as in USSR, the men behind the revolution managed to sieze power with the help of the wider population, who were promised Utopia - a free and fair society where all share equally. In both cases, the Utopia never materialised, the dream turning to a nightmare. A classic case of "boiled frog (http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=466246)" syndrome - the people never knew what was happening until it was far too late, exactly as shown at Manor Farm.

That's enough from me, no doubt Bazarov and a couple of others will come and add to it.

If this works well, I'll see if we can get it stickied!

[Moira]

This is great:) and helpful.

You ..... LitNet's Wikipedia......you:)

What you are doing is great.

[bazarov]

That's enough from me, no doubt Bazarov and a couple of others will come and add to it.

If this works well, I'll see if we can get it stickied!
:lol: :lol:

Nice job! Here are some facts that weren't mentioned:

Squealer - Vyacheslav Molotov, minister of propaganda, like Goebels in Third Reich
Minimus - poet Maxim Gorky
Mr. Jones - last Russian emperor, tsar Nicholas II Romanov

Be careful about Old Major. He obviously represents Marx, but he represent only Lenin's teaching, because Old Major died before revolution and Lenin made the revolution.

[ulvmane]

correct me if im wrong about this but from what I gathered was

moses-the church

the donkey(cant remember his name)- the elderly who have sense enough to know where the situation will go

the sheep- the blindly loyal followers of stalin

[The Atheist]

Thanks, Baz, knew you wouldn't let me down!

Ulv - dead right.

[bazarov]

You're welcome! Tired of answering same things for several times? I know that feeling...

[The Atheist]

Yes, well these teachers are nothing if not repetitive, so it seems easier for all if we stick as much as possible in one thread. It's a short and concise book, so we should be able to get it all laid out easily.

We're better than Wiki, any day!





.

[Scheherazade]

Thank you very much for posting this thread, guys! :)

I have made it Sticky so it will be the first one to see for anyone who come to this section of the Forum.

[The Atheist]

Thank you very much for posting this thread, guys! :)

I have made it Sticky so it will be the first one to see for anyone who come to this section of the Forum.


Cheers, thanks.

I hadn't realised quite how popular the topic still was in English nowadays! We'll put 'em all straight here.



All contributions welcome!

[ulvmane]

i cant remember quite what the representation was but it was when napolean changed his hate from one neighboring farm to another (similar to the switch of hate in contries during the two minuites hate in 1984)

[bazarov]

i cant remember quite what the representation was but it was when napolean changed his hate from one neighboring farm to another (similar to the switch of hate in contries during the two minuites hate in 1984)

Orwell was probably pointing on relation between USSR and Third Reich.

On August 23th 1939 they made non-aggression treaty, which was later very helpful for Hitler; 8 days later he attacked Poland. Peace between USSR and Germany ended in dawn of June 22th 1941 when Germans attacked USSR in operation known as Operation Barbarossa.
After that, Stalin become friend with western states.

Someone also asked about cards at the end of story; probably pointing on Teheran's conference, where Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt acted like friends and were only trying to get what's best for them.

[ennison]

It's the hens that represent the peasantry. Boxer is a symbol of the loyal (and dim) proletariat

Moses represents the unreformed Orthodox Church which was a major landowner and very much in the pocket of the Czarist state. Orwell was particularly scathing in that representation. The donkey represents the alienated cynical intellectual who sees the truth but is not able to do much about it. He's not exactly effete but is helpless as well as cynical. He isn't terribly old at the start but his pride doesn't allow him to be honest about his age.

[The Atheist]

i cant remember quite what the representation was but it was when napolean changed his hate from one neighboring farm to another (similar to the switch of hate in contries during the two minuites hate in 1984)

Baz has it exactly right, but I'll briefly cover the difference between the two uses of identical situations:

In Animal Farm, it's done to reprise Hitler's treacherous deeds. Accordingly, the object of the enmity is important.

In 1984, it's to show that even though people believe there is a war, they are able to doublethink so successfully that they don't even choose to notice the change of enemy. The object of the enmity is irrelevant to the story. Another way to note the difference is that in 1984, the former USSR becomes an ally of Oceania.

Thanks, ennison.

I always liked Benjamin, the donkey as a representation of the Russian intelligentsia. Classic fatalism - what will happen, will happen. I think Orwell may have let his distaste for the church creep into Moses, because the RO church was no more able to deny the Czar than it did in England when Henry VIII wanted to change the rules.

[The Atheist]

Here's another question type which has just come up, and while that poster has missed out, hopefully this will help the next one:

The questions asked in ways that Animal Farm could be used as a children's story and compare that to the adult messages. I think we're covering the adult messages quite well, but I'll add this in as a kids' perspective:

While kids will miss all the vital points, the story contains enough fun and animals to keep smaller children interested, although I would personally edit the story when reading it to kids, leaving out the massacre in the barnyard for starters! The story itself will appeal to kids simply because of the talking animals and the thought of a group of animals running their own farm.

Certainly, the first part of the book reads very like a fairytale and should be easily understood. Kids can be inspired by the revolution itself - if you want something badly enough and work at it hard enough, it can happen. It shows that risks are sometimes worth taking and it shows the comradeship possible when all are working to a common goal. As a child, I remember being utterly inspired by Boxer, and devastated when he dies - another lesson for kids: no matter how big and strong we are, we are all finite in capacity.

Kids can delight in the achievements of the farm, be dismayed by the betrayal of Frederick and wonder at the silliness of Mollie and Moses.

Children will see the story vastly differently from an adult audience as they will concentrate on the by-play of interaction between the animals without understanding or knowing where it's going. Even without knowledge of the Russian revolution and the USSR, the book can be an excellent read for anyone.

Orwell's prose is not easy for little kids to read, so I've always read it to children so I can edit as we go.

[ulvmane]

thanks baz, my memory fades me and history isn't my strong subject. alot of what i'll add from now on might be more of the literature aspects. Such as the ace played in the end the end of the book. Either man cheated or animal cheated implying one of two things. 1. The animals have become so corupt that they are cheating now, or 2 man has to resort to cheating because animals have become supierior to them (just my personal thought)

[bazarov]

thanks baz, my memory fades me and history isn't my strong subject. alot of what i'll add from now on might be more of the literature aspects. Such as the ace played in the end the end of the book. Either man cheated or animal cheated implying one of two things. 1. The animals have become so corupt that they are cheating now, or 2 man has to resort to cheating because animals have become supierior to them (just my personal thought)

In my country we usually say: The revolution ate her self.

[The Atheist]

thanks baz, my memory fades me and history isn't my strong subject. alot of what i'll add from now on might be more of the literature aspects. Such as the ace played in the end the end of the book. Either man cheated or animal cheated implying one of two things. 1. The animals have become so corupt that they are cheating now, or 2 man has to resort to cheating because animals have become supierior to them (just my personal thought)

Definitely #1. Given the difficulty telling the difference between men and pigs, it's just further reiteration of that point - the differences were only superficial, underneath they were all cheats. The pigs had become men, right down to their worst faults.

[Logos]

Actually The Atheist, I think this topic should be called

The Official LitNet AF homework help thread - get your answers here!

:D

A great idea with lots of great contributions, thank you all so much!

[The Atheist]

Actually The Atheist, I think this topic should be called

The Official LitNet AF homework help thread - get your answers here!

:D

A great idea with lots of great contributions, thank you all so much!

Cheers, go ahead and change it!

[Logos]

Done! :)

[osamabanana]

hey guys first time posting here so be nice lol. Anyway i have an assignment on animal farm and a movie and one question asks what interpretations does animal farm make about our world? just asking here for some pointers. im thinking along the lines of how power corrupts people. anything else i should be looking at?

thanks in advance

[bazarov]

There should be everything you need. If it's not, please specify your question little more.

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25291


People sometimes don't realize that they became something they fought against before, also known as honores mutant mores , ends just the means...

[aldana]

Cheers, go ahead and change it!

HELLO dear Atheist,
i'm from argentina and this is my first year teaching literature. this year we are reading animal farm. i really love it but my students not so much. when we started reading animal farm pretty much all of them thought the book was silly, now little by little they are starting to change their minds...but still...they are not completely captured by it...

since you seem to know so much about Animal Farm...and you're so willing to help with the analysis of it...i was wondering if you could think of some nice and interesting essay topics to use in my class...
i have used all the typical ones referring to theme and characterization as well as historical events...but my students seem to be completely demotivated...how can i make them write passionately about the book and its meanings?
any ideas?

another question i have for you and for anyone who would like to help out is:

why did the pigs accept moses back into the farm? the first time moses was kicked out has to do with the abolishing of religion in russia, right? so if moses returns...can that be related to the re-establishment of religion?

please, i would really appreciate your help

thanks a lot

anyone there? no answers? :(

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:( NOBODY!! come on!!!!

[The Atheist]

Crikey!

We don't actually live in here, give us at least an hour! :lol:

[aldana]

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:( NOBODY!! come on!!!!

??????


:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:( NOBODY!! come on!!!!


Crikey!

We don't actually live in here, give us at least an hour! :lol:

jajajaja :lol: YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! my bad, sorry...

[The Atheist]

HELLO dear Atheist,
i'm from argentina and this is my first year teaching literature. this year we are reading animal farm. i really love it but my students not so much. when we started reading animal farm pretty much all of them thought the book was silly, now little by little they are starting to change their minds...but still...they are not completely captured by it...

It's a difficult book to teach to kids at times. I think the key is engaging their enthusiasm for the story before the book gets opened. Various ploys for this would include the obvious look at the Russian Revolution, but try to avoid just the historical data and make it personal - getting them to imagine something like it happening to their own country. (Whether Argentina's attempts at totalitarianism is appropriate, I will leave to your discretion!) Another way is to introduce them to the idea of imagery beforehand, so they expect the unexpected.


since you seem to know so much about Animal Farm...and you're so willing to help with the analysis of it...i was wondering if you could think of some nice and interesting essay topics to use in my class...

i have used all the typical ones referring to theme and characterization as well as historical events...but my students seem to be completely demotivated...how can i make them write passionately about the book and its meanings?
any ideas?

I have to say that one of the better ones I've seen in recent times is asking kids to prepare a report for the UN, but modified to report for an animal protection agency instead, as it might be be more attractive than the UN which inevitably involves politics. I truly think that the politics is what puts kids off this book, so lots of the old themes mightn't be so appropriate nowadays.

Kids mightn't understand politics, but most of them fully understand cruelty to animals and unfairness and by writing about the conditions and threats to the animals, they will be learning about the conditions of the people anyway.

Another option might be to ask how the animals which witness the ending in the farmhouse might raise a secret rebellion. This is the sort of thing which appeals to kids and while it might miss some of the more obvious political acts of the book, again if it gets them thinking about it, they'll pick it up anyway.

I think the key is to be creative. I've recently watched my own 15 year old be taught the standard curriculum form of the book and I thought the questions were boring.

No doubt Bazarov will put a few ideas up for you and I'll try to come up with more as well.


another question i have for you and for anyone who would like to help out is:

why did the pigs accept moses back into the farm? the first time moses was kicked out has to do with the abolishing of religion in russia, right? so if moses returns...can that be related to the re-establishment of religion?

please, i would really appreciate your help

thanks a lot

By the time Moses returns, he is seen as no threat whatsoever, so letting him return panders to the animals who want to hear his tales. The Russian equivalent is that the church was tolerated under Stalin, but it was so watered down by infiltration by KGB and forced to report on its own parishioners that it was never able to gain any foothold. In the end, it became one more form of ensuring that no resistance is possible - keep it open, but corrupted, rather than in secret, because people will always find a way to worship and it can be a powerful motivating tool.

And good luck! Hope this helps. If not, keep asking, that's what we're here for.

Actually, just a quick note for anyone esle wanting urgent help, because I don't come in here every day, the best way is to send me a PM, becausae that notifies me by e mail, and I check them about every 20 minutes.

I also sleep sometimes!

[aldana]

Thank you so much for such a thorough answer, I really liked the idea of the UN report...i will have a go with that

As regards the question of moses, I agree with you that the pigs didn't see him as a threat...but what about the part when they give him a measure of beer in spite of the fact that he didn't actually do any work around the farm!? It was as a kind of reward? Or maybe they thought that they could actually USE him for something. Could it be that his preachings of a great afterlife actually served a purpose as a sort of hopeful message for the animals to work even harder? If they work hard enough in this life...they would be rewarded on the afterlife...kind of the same message that the catholic church provides: blessed be the poor for they would be rewarded on heaven (something of the sort:sick: )

what do you think?

[The Atheist]

Thank you so much for such a thorough answer, I really liked the idea of the UN report...i will have a go with that

As regards the question of moses, I agree with you that the pigs didn't see him as a threat...but what about the part when they give him a measure of beer in spite of the fact that he didn't actually do any work around the farm!? It was as a kind of reward? Or maybe they thought that they could actually USE him for something. Could it be that his preachings of a great afterlife actually served a purpose as a sort of hopeful message for the animals to work even harder? If they work hard enough in this life...they would be rewarded on the afterlife...kind of the same message that the catholic church provides: blessed be the poor for they would be rewarded on heaven (something of the sort:sick: )

what do you think?


Yep, I think you've hit it right on the head - because the church is powerless to do any harm, there was no reason not to let the proletariat have their beliefs in god and afterlife. You're also quite right in that the thought of an afterlife can be motivating for people, especially the ones who have little in their life of value.

I think the beer was just affirmation that the church was so under control that even a small reward now and then was appropriate, plus many priests would break their vows to pass on information to the KGB and no doubt they earned rewards for doing so, so again, Orwell is mirroring history.

[bazarov]

Yep, I think you've hit it right on the head - because the church is powerless to do any harm, there was no reason not to let the proletariat have their beliefs in god and afterlife. You're also quite right in that the thought of an afterlife can be motivating for people, especially the ones who have little in their life of value.

I think the beer was just affirmation that the church was so under control that even a small reward now and then was appropriate, plus many priests would break their vows to pass on information to the KGB and no doubt they earned rewards for doing so, so again, Orwell is mirroring history.

Church is actually very strong and have a great influence on proles minds. That was helpful in WWII, people were ready to go to war for their country and they were blessed. Church was always in some misunderstanding with communism because they couldn't be silent with all those murders and disasters around them. Church was always like moral vertical of society so they had to say something and of course, feel consequences. Moses was kicked out of the farm like church was in the start of Stalin's ruling of Party. Later they were accepted back, maybe to give people some false hope, so they can handle with reality easier.
Beer was not a sign of bribe, it was probably showing that church wasn't producing food and they were using it, like Party did. They tried to control the church but it was impossible. Maybe some of them did provide some informations to KGB, but those were exceptions. Thousands and thousands were tortured and killed for not cooperating with KGB.
My brother was reading Animal Farm in time of learning about 18th century history on his History classes. So when I asked him some Orwell's questions who looked me strangely...I really don't see purpose of reading Animal Farm before learning 20th century history.

[osamabanana]

hmm i was thinking while doing my assignment about the name napolean. im sure it was no coincidence that he had the same name as napolean bonapart. any link there perhaps what do we all think?

[The Atheist]

Maybe some of them did provide some informations to KGB, but those were exceptions. Thousands and thousands were tortured nd killed for not cooperating with KGB.

Exactly. My understanding was that the KGB took the initiative in seeing that those ones who were removed were replaced by ones friendlier to the party aims?


My brother was reading Animal Farm in time of learning about 18th century history on his History classes. So when I asked him some Orwell's questions who looked me strangely...I really don't see purpose of reading Animal Farm before learning 20th century history.

I think it can be a great introduction to that part of history in itself. The problem with 20th century history is that it's so vast compared to other eras that different countries have different agendas and the Russian Revolution may be dealt with cursorily anyway. I know our own history (a few millennia ago!) lessons were so British Commonwealth-biased that I didn't really know much at all about the rest of the world from my lessons.

Maybe schools need to look at where Orwell fits into high school English nowadays - the Revolution itself is nearly a century old and of course has been replaced by a more recent, more peaceful revolution. (so far)


hmm i was thinking while doing my assignment about the name napolean. im sure it was no coincidence that he had the same name as napolean bonapart. any link there perhaps what do we all think?

Good spot. Orwell contains few coincidences, if any, and naming Napoleon is quite deliberate.

The accepted theory is that Napoleon Bonaparte did a very similar manoevre in hijacking a revolution for his own ends and Orwell saw the opportunity to pour some hot sauce on the legend of Napoleon. Makes perfect sense to me.

I think Orwell had a bit of an agenda about Napoleon Bonaparte and wove it beautifully into the story. The legendary picture of Napoleon the man is that of a great, brave general, but Napoleon the pig is a cowardly, manipulative character - note the Battle of the Cowshed and how Napoleon's cowardice in hanging back was quickly replaced by the legend of his heroism.

Two for the price of one, I guess.

[bazarov]

Exactly. My understanding was that the KGB took the initiative in seeing that those ones who were removed were replaced by ones friendlier to the party aims?


Bishop is replacing them, not KGB, so KGB was helpless in those situations. Priests were very very rarely friendly to Party, church was always a symbol of fight and hope against Party.
Today, in worlds majority, number of priests is falling, many believe that it's because they ''don't have to fight or show their disagreement against someone or something''. That situations is most serious in ex communist states, mostly in Europe.

[aldana]

My brother was reading Animal Farm in time of learning about 18th century history on his History classes. So when I asked him some Orwell's questions who looked me strangely...I really don't see purpose of reading Animal Farm before learning 20th century history.

I DO believe that teaching something of the 20th century history is somewhat essential in approaching the reading of Aninal farm...I did precisely that with my students. Before even starting with the reading itself...we had a somewhat thorough introduction on historical background both for the author and for the russian revolution and following events in history. :thumbs_up

I must say that they were really into it...because they had already seen general 20th century history in other subjects, so they knew quite a lot about the topic and were able to contribute in the discussions.


But there still were a few points that proved to be really specific of the russian history -hence my question regarding moses as a symbol of church- and sometimes it's nice to hear different interpretations on the sybject.

:D I must say this forum is extraordinary...everybody is so willing to help and contribute with their ideas!!!! it's fantastic!!! :thumbs_up

I have to confess that i'm a big fan of Bazarov and The Atheist's views...THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH ALL OF US!!!:banana:

[katie9trent]

This is great stuff!

[igsozted]

i`m writing an analysis on this novel. could you guys help me cite the social and political issues found in the novel and in what chapter it appears. thank you.;)

[The Atheist]

i`m writing an analysis on this novel. could you guys help me cite the social and political issues found in the novel and in what chapter it appears. thank you.;)

If you start with the first post of this thread and just keep reading, I'm pretty sure you'll find all the answers - nearly everything in Animal Farm relates to social and political issues and we have them laid out above.

Enjoy!

Edit: Obviously, if there are more questions after that, give us a couple of specific ones.

Cheers

[bazarov]

Indeed...
Nice location! :thumbs_up

[The Atheist]

Indeed...
Nice location! :thumbs_up

:D

I figured it was appropriate!



.

[RickyLPH]

Well hello, I have an IGCSE Coursework to do on Animal Farm, "What strategies do the pigs use to suppress the other animals on the farm?"

And help or ideas anyone please??? :)

[The Atheist]

Transferred from the forum:


Well hello, I have an IGCSE Coursework to do on Animal Farm, "What strategies do the pigs use to suppress the other animals on the farm?"

And help or ideas anyone please??? :)

Psychology/disinformation to begin with - "Who wants to see Jones back?" "Surely, none of you want Jones to return?" along with the reports on how much better things are since the revolution than before the revolution. Changing the commandments. All mirror tactics of those used in Russia.

Because simple disinformation & propaganda camapigns can only go so far, other methods are needed to ensure power continuance - enter the dogs. The dogs are the KGB (more correctly, the OGPU, in Orwell's day, I think) and they keep dissent down by instilling a climate of fear and state violence - the animals have seen their kin massacred, they now understand that to show dissent is to die.

[The Atheist]

Well hello, I have an IGCSE Coursework to do on Animal Farm, "What strategies do the pigs use to suppress the other animals on the farm?"

And help or ideas anyone please??? :)

Just to keep it all in the one place, I've answered this in the AF homework thread, at the top of the forum page.

Or, you can just click this link (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=410032&postcount=37)!

[RickyLPH]

Thank you... :)

It really helped, i didn't get the Dogs idea. But i got the rest thnx... ;)

[frostedflake]

Help Me Please!

i am so confused!

thank you all soo much!

[The Atheist]

I am wrighting a paper for my av. english class & the teacher asked me to compair and contrast the setting of Animal Farm to todays's modern world.

Ok, this is easy:

When Orwell wrote Animal Farm, the Russian Revolution was long in the past, >20 years, and was written against the backdrop of WWII. Orwell notably didn't seek to have the book published until he was sure Russia/USSR would survive the war.

Orwell wanted to point out what he saw as the evil in Stalinism and his brand of totalitarianism - quite rightly as history showed. The world situation was one of enormous upheaval, almost every country having just finished its involvement in WWII, and the political landscape of the world was changing rapidly.

Because Orwell wanted to cover the period from the Russian Revolution in 1917, through to the end of WWII, in 1945, he started Animal Farm at a time just before the Revolution - say about 1914 - 1916, a time when Russia had major problems with famine, the tragedies of WWI and a ruler - the Tsar - who behaved very much as Jones does in AF: aloof, uncaring, selfish. The Russian people rose in revolution exactly as the animals did in AF.

Compare that to today:

The world is largely stable, apart from a couple of [historically] minor conflicts, at present. Those conflicts will not change the shape of the world, WWII certainly did. The USSR no longer exists and has been gone for over 15 years, which I'm guessing is most of your life? Russia is a country at peace with itself and its neighbours and it has the appearance of a democracy.

Today, famine is largely the domain of developing nations, so Orwell would find it very hard to simulate the happenings of Manor Farm and relate it to a particular country or philosophy.

[The Atheist]

Transferred from another thread:


ok so my topic for my short answer is:

Some people believe that power is corrupt.

A. List two things Napolean does where he uses his power.

B. Prove how he uses his power in an unfair way.

Piece of cake!

Napoleon changes the truth by insisting something else happened - this is an action known as propaganda and has been used by mankind since communication started.

Here is a very brief list of some of Napoleon's propaganda - others are easy to find:


Changing the facts of the Battle of the Cowshed to make Snowball appear a traitor instead of a hero.

Getting Squealer to change the Commandments to suit himself.

Claiming the windmill was his idea all along.

Overstating his own actions in the Battle of the Cowshed to make him appear heroic.

Changing allegiance from one neighbour to the other.

Selling Boxer to the knacker's yard.

Reducing rations while claiming they were going up.


Given that the premise of the Revolution is "All animals are equal", you could use any of Napoleon's propaganda as being "unfair", but the ration situation is an ideal example - animal rations dropped and all milk, eggs and apples were reserved for the pigs, along with foodstuffs to turn into alcohol, while the other animals were given barely sufficient, and less than had been the case under Jones.

Another good one is the changing the last remaining Commandment to, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" which gives absolute proof of his unfairness; it puts into words that equality [fairness] does not exist any more.


I have one or two ideas to put down for it but i just dont wanna sound stupid lol so i was just hoping someone could help me out.

thanks :)

Hope that does the trick. If not, keep asking until it does!

Cheers

[Anslee]

Thankss

[The Atheist]

I need to write a reflective essay on Animal Farm for summer reading.
I have until around August 4th to write it because school starts on August
6th.
If someone could help maybe explain some of these things and how they were in the book I would love it!

Looks pretty straightforward, and no doubt Bazarov can help me out. I'll give you a few starters and I do suggest you read the rest of this thread as it will hang it all together nicely for you.


1. It has multiple levels of meaning.

It is a morality story in its own right and it's an allegorical story of the Russian Revolution and early years of the USSR.


2. It has effective unique style.

The title says it all. How many great works of literature swap humans for animals to make a point? Especially one as compelling as AF?


3. Strong irony, paradox, and/or ambiguity.

Irony aplenty in the overthrow of humans, only to replace the regime with - exactly the same thing! Very strong irony indeed.

I guess you could stretch the animals acting like humans into the paradox category. I wouldn't term it that way myself, but it's the closest you'll find.

Ambiguity's an interesting one; Orwell was one of the least-ambiguous writers and nothing springs to mind as ambiguous. I'll give it more thought and come back later if I can find any examples, but they certainly haven't ever jumped out at me. I'll give one suggestion, because of the "paradox" question - the windmill, why it was destroyed, the design of it and the rebuilding. The animals were all told different lies, so it isn't really ambiguity, but it's the closest I can get immediately.


4. Truth of experience, life, significance, humanity, compassion, justice, integrity, relationships, loyalty, faith, conflict, self-discovery.

Oodles of examples. Orwell was quite moralistic in his writing and there are lots of examples of his statements on those moral views through the book. I suggest you look at Boxer, Clover, Benjamin and Muriel as the animals you'll find offering insight into the points.


5. Significance of truth.

Another quite odd question, because the book is more about suppression of truth, so the only way truth can be discussed is to look at its contamination and perversion. The significance of the truth of the book is found by all who read it: Stalinism = evil.


6. Universality.

Of appeal of the book, I'm guessing this refers to. The appeal is easy - the animals appeal to younger readers while the strength of the story holds everyone.


7. Participation in the great dialogue of ideas of the centuries.

One of the great dystopian novels, an essential discussion basis. The fact that you've been asked to write an essay on it 60+ years after publication pretty well says that there's still no better way of expressing the story.


8. Time tested- usually the 50 year value or likely to be read/valued in 50 years.

62 years and still going strong? I'd be confident it will still be as popular in 2045.



Thank you so much if you can help!
I would reallllly appreciate it!

Thanks! :D


Good luck - just get back to me in here if you need any more specifics.

Cheers

[Anslee]

Thank you so much! That helped a ton!

[sweet16]

hey eveyone
i am doing a project on animal farm and i need help with the conflicts in the story. i am supposed to write about the internal and external conlfits in animal farm but i am not sure wat the internal conflicts r. plz help if u hav any information on wat the internal and external conlficts of the story r!!!!

[The Atheist]

hey eveyone
i am doing a project on animal farm and i need help with the conflicts in the story. i am supposed to write about the internal and external conlfits in animal farm but i am not sure wat the internal conflicts r. plz help if u hav any information on wat the internal and external conlficts of the story r!!!!

I'm guessing that's a study project, so I've answered the question in the homework thread.

Click on this link. (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=415572#post415572)

[The Atheist]

Transferred from another thread:


hey eveyone
i am doing a project on animal farm and i need help with the conflicts in the story. i am supposed to write about the internal and external conlfits in animal farm but i am not sure wat the internal conflicts r. plz help if u hav any information on wat the internal and external conlficts of the story r!!!!

Nice, easy one again:

Internal conflict splits in two definite subjects; conflicts within the farm - which is mainly centred around Snowball vs Napoleon, and also conflicts internally in individual animals - best examples Clover & Boxer, when they realise something is going wrong but don't quite know how to deal with it and end up accepting the official position/s.

External conflict is shown in many places; the battles between Animal Farm and neighbouring farms and the wider conflict of all other farms being very scared of Animal Farm and wanting to get rid of it.

Also, do read the rest of this thread, there is lots of stuff which will help you. As always, if you need more, just ask!

Cheers

[Logos]

Looks pretty straightforward, and no doubt Bazarov can help me out. I'm sure he will when he returns next month :)
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26610
.
.

[Logos]

Mod note: I've now merged a few specific AF homework question topics into this one.

[marjie]

Hmm, seems easy but I am helping a hearing impaired-blind student with this essay (need to do it asap) and it aint easy! I need simple language but with enough content so he is able to discuss it. Any suggestions please? Many thanks.
:idea:

[The Atheist]

Hmm, seems easy but I am helping a hearing impaired-blind student with this essay (need to do it asap) and it aint easy! I need simple language but with enough content so he is able to discuss it. Any suggestions please? Many thanks.
:idea:

Sorry for the delay - hope this is soon enough.

There are two parts to compare - life straight after the revolution and also at the end of the book.

Under Jones, the animals were there for one purpose only: to make a living for the farmer and his family. He only took care of them to ensure that they continued to lay eggs, give milk and help with growing crops.

Straight after the revolution, the animals worked for themselves and were able to eat more food, because the same farm was no longer supporting a human family as well the animals. There were no threats to their lives and all the animals were truly happy for the first time.

After Snowball was chased away, things changed and by the end of the book, the pigs have replaced the humans as the ones taking the benefit from the farm. They are using all of the income to pay for their luxuries, while they keep the animals in conditions which are very similar, but worse, than when Jones ran the farm. The way it is worse under the pigs is that when Jones ran the farm, the animals only really feared death if they were the type of animal to be used as food, while under the pigs, any animal was able to lose its life, purely at the whim of the pigs, if they thought you were any kind of danger to them.

[abhishek_cs27]

Hi to everyone viewing this!
I have an essay due very soon and i need help! Here is the question...

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. " (Orwell, 2003,p.92).
Writers are often concerned with problems of inequality. Compare how this issue is treated in animal farm and any other text you have read. Make sure you include specific refrences.:alien: thanx

[AimusSage]

The assignment seems pretty straightforward to me. Is there anything specific you need help with?

[abhishek_cs27]

Are there any good books I can refer to as my references?

[AimusSage]

That depends on what books you have read, but to give an example, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells deals with inequality. Why don't you go from there. The entire texts is available on this website too. The Time Machine (http://www.online-literature.com/wellshg/timemachine/)

[abhishek_cs27]

Thanx Lotz!

[abhishek_cs27]

So in the Time Machine I should compare the inequality of the 2 groups in the future?

[abhishek_cs27]

What would one compare Animal farm`s inequality with (other than the Russian Communism) (books or other things = ok):crash: :alien: ?

[The Atheist]

What would one compare Animal farm`s inequality with (other than the Russian Communism) (books or other things = ok):crash: :alien: ?

There are some excellent examples in recent history:

South Africa under Apartheid, which was dismantled almost 20 years ago. Under Apartheid, anyone who wan't a pure "white" citizen was discriminated against to the extent that they were very much second class citizens.

USA in the days of slavery right through to the Civil Rights actions in the 1960s.

India, up to 1948, ruled by England, with the enormous native population unable to have a say in their own futures.

Afghanistan, under Taliban (pre-invasion) where women and people of religion other than Islam were oppressed.

There are current examples, but that would invove politics, so I'll merely suggest that asking teachers or even ringing up a local journalist should enable you to find a couple.

Books also, there are many which fit the bill.

Orwell's own 1984, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, right back to Plato's Republic, there are literally hunderds of books which show inequality, but those are probably the most famous examples.

If you have to read one, pick Brave New World - it's very short and available online free here (http://www.huxley.net/bnw/index.html).

If you need more help, just ask!

Good luck!

[abhishek_cs27]

Thanks!! That helped! I`ll start Brave new world!

[bazarov]

Atheist, you've done great job!
India gained her freedom in 1947 :)

[The Atheist]

Atheist, you've done great job!
India gained her freedom in 1947 :)

Cheers & welcome back!

(That'll teach me to use memory rather than Wiki :sick: )

:lol:

[ainazalea]

I'd like to know what is the utopia of the animals in 'Animal Farm'..Is it the sense of belonging or is there any other?Thanks in advance.

[bazarov]

Their utopia is actually theory of socialism.
They will unite, defeat humans and live all together in products of their work on the farm.
All animals are equal! Sad story of socialism putted in one sentence. They thought everyone will work, as much as they can and they will all enjoy in food, drink, freedom and happiness. But why would one work for 10 hours(Boxer) if he will get the same or less as one who didn't work at all(Napoleon or any other party member)? Boxer maybe isn't the best example because he didn't argue, but others did and you know what happened then! Realization of all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others actually destroyed their utopistic idea of life.

Of course, let's see wait The Official has to say! :lol:

[The Atheist]

Of course, let's see wait The Official has to say! :lol:

Hahaha!

I need a smiley which laughs even harder!

Can't add to what you have.

:D

[ainazalea]

Thanks for the explanation Bazarov..I wonder if I can compare that utopia to George and Lennie's in 'Of Mice and Men'.. :)

[bazarov]

Thanks for the explanation Bazarov..I wonder if I can compare that utopia to George and Lennie's in 'Of Mice and Men'.. :)

I'm so sorry, I haven't read Of Mice and Men :sick: Yet...

[ainazalea]

No problem :) ..I was just wondering..LOL..And still wondering..Thanks a lot for your(Bazarov) answer to my previous question.I'm not really familiar with the Russian revolution or the 20th century history itself but reading the The Atheist's and your views and comments helped a great deal.

[Emily411]

Hi, I had to read this book for summer reading and have no idea how to answer the question that goes along with it... "Animal Farm is replete with subtle and not so subtle lessons on blind conformity and the misuse of power. What are some of the lessons you've personally taken away from the novel regarding education of the masses, knowledge of history, idealist though and class structure? Has the novel changed your worldview in any way?" Please comment back with any ideas as to how I should respond!

[rabid reader]

1a) it was because the animals were undereducated and did not have a firm knowledge of their past that they were so easily manipulated. The idea that Napoleon was the great hero of Cowshed and Snowball was working to over throw the farm, while Snowball was actually the hero and Napoleon was no where to be seen during the battle. You can see how the animals lack of general knowledge made it easy for them to hate Snowball despite him being innocent.

1b) I don't know what idealist through is so i am going to assume you meant theory and answer from there. I don't think Orwell seems to discount idealism in Animal Farm. Prior to Snowballs disappearance there seemed no reason that Animal Farm shouldn't have been viewed as a success in the making. When they were democratically motivated, and they were listening to the qualms of the animals. Then Snowball was banished and with him fell his idealism. Though Napoleon still propagated it as if you were striving toward this idealist soceity. So I think Orwell is saying be wary of anyone promising you paradise, make sure they have your best interest at heart.

1c) I think Orwell believes that class structure exists when it is allowed to exist. When the animals were under the drunkard farmer they lived in a class system. When they were under the duel leadership of Snowball and Napoleon their was no classes, one was free to be as involved or uninvolved in the government as they would like. Leadership seemed to appeal to the Pigs but they were of course the smartest. Then after Snowball was evicted from AF the class system was stricter and reinstated.

1d) I think you are the only person who can answer your own world view. I myself was because to understand a lot better Totaltalitarianism and in a swreder light.

[bazarov]

What do you need?

[bigfoot007]

HELP!!! i need to write an essay about the story animal farm and i cant quite get the deeper meaning of it... :bawling: what's the message of the story and can you people name themes or other stories that are related to animal farm??? HELP!!! thanks a bunch!

[Lambert]

You're probably the fifth one this week askin' the same question....


Have a gander on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm) and if you're still confused come back to us.

[bazarov]

Animals represent peoples, humans, who had some influence on Russian Revolution and it's allegory on Russian Communism. Through the life of poor animals, Orwell gives his way of seeing communism and his ideas and thoughts about it.

You don't have to visit Wiki, our official thread is really great. Read it carefully and slowly form the first page, and if you still don't understand something or have any other question, feel free to ask.

[Truth>Reason]

It really isn't that complicated, bigfoot007. You only need a basic understanding of the Russian Revolution to understand AF.

[The Atheist]

You don't have to visit Wiki, our official thread is really great. Read it carefully and slowly form the first page, and if you still don't understand something or have any other question, feel free to ask.

10% commission cheque in the mail! ;)

[bazarov]

Somebody stole it...Can I get another one?

[bigfoot007]

i think i get it a little bit.. but can you people give me other themes for the animal farm?? thankss!!!

[bazarov]

i think i get it a little bit.. but can you people give me other themes for the animal farm?? thankss!!!

What themes do you have so far?

[snowtastic]

I am studying Animal Farm at the moment at school and so far I am on chapter...1!

I just wondered if anyone had any views or ideas on it which they could kindly share with me which would help me with my studies. This website is also really good.

Any quotes to remember?

Any character profiles?

Anything like that would be much appreciated.

[Nightshade]

Hello snowtastic you might want to look at this thread.
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25291

[bazarov]

Everything is explained in thread our nice muppet mod gave you; about idea and profiles. The most important quote is definitely All animals are equal but some animals are more equal then others (quote changes as story goes).

P.S. If you have some other questions, post them in LitNet homework thread. Welcome!

[Teacheth_me]

ok, so im spose to write a 1000 word Essay about the novel of animal farm. My task is to read a novel that focuses on a social problem. I then have to examine this social problem and how it has been dealt with by a variety of texts and a number of cultures over time (Animal Farm – corruption, Greed, Abuse of Power

Can you please help me out and give me some information about how readers are positioned by the text to form various opinions on the social issue; whose interests are being served by the dominant discourses of the text AND whether the novel reinforces existing norms through other texts.

My response also needs to pay attention to the relevant practices of a research assignment. Meaning a hypothesis is needed, and I need to refer to six texts that include one of each of the following, novels, plays, short stories, biography’s, autobiography’s, poems, songs, artworks, photographs, monuments and buildings

Please help me out...

[The Atheist]

ok, so im spose to write a 1000 word Essay about the novel of animal farm. My task is to read a novel that focuses on a social problem. I then have to examine this social problem and how it has been dealt with by a variety of texts and a number of cultures over time (Animal Farm – corruption, Greed, Abuse of Power

Can you please help me out and give me some information about how readers are positioned by the text to form various opinions on the social issue; whose interests are being served by the dominant discourses of the text AND whether the novel reinforces existing norms through other texts.

My response also needs to pay attention to the relevant practices of a research assignment. Meaning a hypothesis is needed, and I need to refer to six texts that include one of each of the following, novels, plays, short stories, biography’s, autobiography’s, poems, songs, artworks, photographs, monuments and buildings

Please help me out...

Have you actually read the book? It isn't obvious from your post that you have.

My first suggestion is to read the entire AF homework help thread at the top of the forum page - you'll find lots of good stuff in there - then pop any remaining questions at the end of that thread and I'll see what I can do, and no doubt Bazarov will as well.

:)

[Logos]

ok, so im spose to write a 1000 word Essay about the novel of animal farm. ....


....My first suggestion is to read the entire AF homework help thread at the top of the forum page
Now merged :)

[AHHxCHRISTINA]

okayy ihave no idea how to start this essay:flare: its making me mad
heres the prompt, "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others." Write an essay in which you will discuss the bitter truth of the above statement in the context of the novel. In your essay, be sure to include certain events and the behavior of certain character.

Also we cant use qoutes or questions in our in truduction paragraph. Ya im doing tis for english honors and i dont know how to start it. we have to haev a good attention getter and i cant think of any. and everything we say must led back to our thesis statement. and are thesis statement must be like arguble he said. so any help ontopics on how to start the paper? NO QUOTES OR QUESTIONS!!!!
:]
THANKS

[AHHxCHRISTINA]

no ones helping me:[

[The Atheist]

no ones helping me:[

Hi there! Gosh, you only gave us 13 minutes!!

:lol:


okayy ihave no idea how to start this essay:flare: its making me mad
heres the prompt, "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others." Write an essay in which you will discuss the bitter truth of the above statement in the context of the novel. In your essay, be sure to include certain events and the behavior of certain character.

Also we cant use qoutes or questions in our in truduction paragraph. Ya im doing tis for english honors and i dont know how to start it. we have to haev a good attention getter* and i cant think of any. and everything we say must led back to our thesis statement. and are thesis statement must be like arguble he said. so any help ontopics on how to start the paper? NO QUOTES OR QUESTIONS!!!!
:]
THANKS

Ok.

I suggest having a read of this whole thead, this has been well covered in previous posts - both the reason for the statement and what it means for all of the animals apart from the pigs. Reading the thread should give you a few good tips on things to say, without having words put in your mouth.

If you still need help after that, one of us will be glad to help - and if you need it urgently, PM me or Bazarov, or even better, both of us!

*I'll give you a hint for the attention-getter; start at the end of the novel. When Clover is looking from man to pig and can't tell the difference, that's the unltimate expression of the animalian inequality - the pigs have become indistinguishable from humans.

[Nightshade]

You know what always worked for me , although I suppose your really not supposed to do it this way... work my way from the middle out start with the body come up with a line of argument then write the introduction that brings it in.

[bazarov]

Their utopia is actually theory of socialism.
They will unite, defeat humans and live all together in products of their work on the farm.
All animals are equal! Sad story of socialism putted in one sentence. They thought everyone will work, as much as they can and they will all enjoy in food, drink, freedom and happiness. But why would one work for 10 hours(Boxer) if he will get the same or less as one who didn't work at all(Napoleon or any other party member)? Boxer maybe isn't the best example because he didn't argue, but others did and you know what happened then! Realization of all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others actually destroyed their utopistic idea of life.

Of course, let's see wait The Official has to say! :lol:

Man, I'm quoting myself! Rare situation :D

This is answer from one previous but actually very same question. It's on page 5 of this officially the best thread...If you need something else or this isn't clear or good enough, Official and his assistants are ready to help.

[mad_chief100]

What does changing the name back to Manor Farm symbolize?

[The Atheist]

What does changing the name back to Manor Farm symbolize?

It shows the same thing as the pigs and men being indistinguishable at the end of the book - the pigs have completely taken over. They changed the name to appease humans who they'd be trading with. It tells the world that the farm is being run along the same lines as it was under Jones - a commercial entity, just that it's now run by pigs instead of men.

[AdoreroDio]

May I add to that? The whole book Animal Farm is a reflectio nto the Russian Revolution. The changing of the name is when Russia changes it's name back- I can't remember exactly but it had one name before the revolution when Czar Nicholas was in power (Jones) then the animals took over (Russian Revoltion) and it changed it's name then the pigs took over (Stalin) and they changed their name back to the smae one as before the revolution.

[bazarov]

May I add to that? The whole book Animal Farm is a reflectio nto the Russian Revolution. The changing of the name is when Russia changes it's name back- I can't remember exactly but it had one name before the revolution when Czar Nicholas was in power (Jones) then the animals took over (Russian Revoltion) and it changed it's name then the pigs took over (Stalin) and they changed their name back to the smae one as before the revolution.

What changes?

[MarileeRixon]

OMG!! You guys are awesome!! I just read this whole thread, from the first post the the last, and I think I finally understand the book properly now!
For my Yr 9 English class we are required to read Animal Farm, and write about it, how we've been influenced by it, the author's messages, about the author himself, etc., etc....And now, thanks to everyone who posted in this thread, I finally understand the book! Thankyou all soooo much!!

[MarileeRixon]

Oh, and another thing....I couldn't help but notice that the pigs (Devious little devils!) changed the Seven Commandments a couple of times throughout the book. Obviously in the dead of the night, when the other animals were sleeping, or during the day when everyone else was out working, building the windmill, ploughing fields, etc.
Is there a reason behind that other than just that the pigs are greedy, selfish, and think themselves superior to all other beings?

[The Atheist]

Oh, and another thing....I couldn't help but notice that the pigs (Devious little devils!) changed the Seven Commandments a couple of times throughout the book. Obviously in the dead of the night, when the other animals were sleeping, or during the day when everyone else was out working, building the windmill, ploughing fields, etc.
Is there a reason behind that other than just that the pigs are greedy, selfish, and think themselves superior to all other beings?

It was more that they kept changing the commandments to suit their own desires. They wanted to walk, drink alcohol and sleep in beds, so the commandments changed along with those desires. In the end, they just did away with the lot, as my sig notes. :)

Glad you found the thread helpful!

[bazarov]

They made commandments to suit them best; and if something happened and they needed change of commandment to justify their behavior, they would simply change the commandment.

[MarileeRixon]

OK...Thanks, Guys!

[truedatt]

well wuts the question because there are plenty of way in witch i could go with that and i dont feel like righting an esay myself

i guss that Orwell is telling us to keep aware of whats going on within our government and not to allow happy storys and fictional numbers blind us. For exampleBoxer represents the commen blue coller worker. His maxums " I will work harder" and "Nepolean is always right" demonstrat his divotion to his leaders but this divotion has blinded him and evenchualy leads to his death

[The Atheist]

well wuts the question because there are plenty of way in witch i could go with that and i dont feel like righting an esay myself

i guss that Orwell is telling us to keep aware of whats going on within our government and not to allow happy storys and fictional numbers blind us. For exampleBoxer represents the commen blue coller worker. His maxums " I will work harder" and "Nepolean is always right" demonstrat his divotion to his leaders but this divotion has blinded him and evenchualy leads to his death


Not trying to be mean here, but I've never seen so many errors in one post. Note the corrected version -


well what's the question because there are plenty of ways in which i could go with that and i dont feel like writing an essay myself

i guess that Orwell is telling us to keep aware of what's going on within our government and not to allow happy stories and fictional numbers blind us. For exampleBoxer represents the common blue collar worker. His maxims " I will work harder" and "Nepolean is always right" demonstrate his devotion to his leaders but this devotion has blinded him and eventually leads to his death

15 mistakes without counting the lack of capital letters?

Some of your premises are ok, but to pass the message across with any kind of authority, at least a reasonable degree of accuracy is helpful.

[The Atheist]

Ive just been reading George Orwells 'Animal Farm' in my tenth grade english class, now we have finally finished reading the novel we have been given an essay. Which i am having some difficulty with. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
'Explore How George Orwell challenges his society through his writing'

Thanks.:yawnb:

I've also re-posted your question in the AF Homework thread, here. (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25291)

Have a read of the whole thing, we've covered most of the possible questions, but we can expand a little on yours there as well.

[The Atheist]

Ive just been reading George Orwells 'Animal Farm' in my tenth grade english class, now we have finally finished reading the novel we have been given an essay. Which i am having some difficulty with. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
'Explore How George Orwell challenges his society through his writing'

Thanks.:yawnb:

Just shifted this from another thread.

Hey, Heyy!

Orwell is a writer who only wrote to get a message across. In AF, he used the unusual ploy of swapping the central characters of the Russian Revolution to animal characters to increase the impact. He knew that a simple story about the Revolution would remain unread and correctly guessed that an allegorical tale would have appeal.

If you cruise this thread, you should find enough material to keep you going, but if you need more, ask away!

[MarileeRixon]

Ok...Another question....What are the Morals of Animal Farm? New essay - "Write an explanation of Animal Farm’s key moral or morals. Support your
explanation with specific examples and plot elements from the novel"
I am having a hard time thinking of morals from the story other than "Communism doesn't work". Please help?

[The Atheist]

Ok...Another question....What are the Morals of Animal Farm? New essay - "Write an explanation of Animal Farm’s key moral or morals. Support your
explanation with specific examples and plot elements from the novel"
I am having a hard time thinking of morals from the story other than "Communism doesn't work". Please help?

There are several you can play with, the key one being Edmund Burke's famous quote:

Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. There could be little more absoluteness than the pigs' rule, nor any corruption so complete.

Benjamin is a good study. What is his morality other than wanting to live a long life? He knows and understands, but will not raise a hoof in protest - accepting that submission is the only choice.

The morality of not allowing any dissent. Even the implication of dissent is sufficient for the death penalty.

Lying, hypocrisy and cheating. The pigs are quite happy to give up the morality of Old Major and Snowball for the regime of Napoleon. Why is it ok with their moral code to lie and cheat the very animals which keep them in luxury?

Good luck!

[packersfan]

Ok...Another question....What are the Morals of Animal Farm? New essay - "Write an explanation of Animal Farm’s key moral or morals. Support your
explanation with specific examples and plot elements from the novel"
I am having a hard time thinking of morals from the story other than "Communism doesn't work". Please help?

One of my teachers one told me (this is one of the things, I actually remembered from school) that George Orwell didn't not think communism didn't work, he just thought that communism didn't work well in Russia. because many people (including me) like communism, they just know it will never happen in a big community because power corrupts and other factors as well.

For other morals, squealer's propaganda could be used, as well as napoleon's forcing of the animals confession. something like that

[da_zerg]

As a study guide for myself and anyone else who needs it, I am going to list the characters of Animal Farm and their symbolic references to the Russian revoulution. If I left something blank or have not elaborated on it, feel free to post and I will edit my post accordingly.

Animal Farm – Russia

Mr. Jones – Tsar Nicholas 2

Old Major – Karl Marx

Napoleon – Stalin

Snowball – Trotsky

Squealer – The controlled media (propaganda)

Boxer – Patriotic citizen

Moses – Religion

Pigs – Nobility (political figures)

Napoleon’s Dogs – Red Army (Red Terror)

Seven Commandments – Laws

Windmill - ??

Benjamin - ??

Animalism – Marxism (possibly)

The Rebellion – The 1917 Russian Revolution (February)

Battle of the Cowshed – The 1917 Russian Revolution (October)

Battle of the Windmill - ??

Other Animals (goat, hens, ducks, sheep, ect…) – Russian peasents

Pinchfield Farm - ?? (possibly Germany or another country)

Foxwood Farm - ?? (possibly Germany or another country)

“Beasts of England” - ??

[bazarov]

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25291

Welcome!
There is a thread devoted to characters and symbols in Animal Farm. If you feel that something is missing or is wrong, please post it!

P.S. Dogs represent NKVD, not Red Army.

[katelizzard]

Hi I am writing an essay about Animal Farm and need some help... It's quite a general question actually, Is Animal Farm a Childrens book? .. we need to use other people's critical work (secondary sources relevant to my topic). so baisically need some arguments and biases.... anything would help to get me started !:)

[The Atheist]

You've skated right past the best resource on the entire internet!

The AF homework help thread above, click here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25291), will tell you pretty much everything you need to know!

Good luck and if you have other questions, add them to the Homework thread.

[da_zerg]

Im having trouble finding out what these things in AF symbolize, i appriciate any type of help. Thanks in advance!

Windmill
Battle of the Windmill
Beasts of England

Also does the changing of Animal Farm to Manor Farm represent Russia forming the USSR and then reforming back into Russia?

[bazarov]

One of my teachers one told me (this is one of the things, I actually remembered from school) that George Orwell didn't not think communism didn't work, he just thought that communism didn't work well in Russia. because many people (including me) like communism, they just know it will never happen in a big community because power corrupts and other factors as well.


Name one place where communism functioned well?


Im having trouble finding out what these things in AF symbolize, i appriciate any type of help. Thanks in advance!

Windmill
Battle of the Windmill
Beasts of England

Also does the changing of Animal Farm to Manor Farm represent Russia forming the USSR and then reforming back into Russia?

Windmill is Five Year Plan, made by Stalin and Trotsky. It's an economic program that went very very bad. After Trotsky's removal from positions and from Soviet Union also, Stalin accused Trotsky to be only creator of Five Year Plan.

Battle of the Windmill probably shows Stalin's relegation of Trotsky, who had a great influence in Russia.

Beasts of England is an anthem. Stalin replaced old Russian anthem ''Internationale'' with new anthem ''the Hymn of the Soviet Union''. Instead of old hymn that praised people and revolution, the new one praised only Stalin. When Hruschov became leader, hymn was almost completely changed or removed.

Change of name symbolize change Red Army's name. Animal Farm - only animals are working, so it looks amateur and very unprofessional, which would probably result with lack of reputation. Red Army was called Workers and Peasants Army, obviously very unprofessional, which was unacceptable for one of world leaders. They changed name in Soviet Army; name that causes respect. Manor Farm suites better, someone would think real workers work there...

[da_zerg]

Well done! Thank you very much for the help :)

[bazarov]

Well done! Thank you very much for the help :)

You're welcome! If you need anything else, feel free to ask.

[boredom113]

i am writing an essay for english 10....i read the whole thread and found it extremely helpful.....thanks alot for the help!!!:thumbs_up :thumbs_up :thumbs_up :thumbs_up

[The Atheist]

Great news!

We aim to please.

:D

[thescholar]

Alright guys... I'm a relatively new reader (just beginning to work on the classics) and I was wondering, what purpose does Benjamin the donkey serve in the story? I've not yet finished, so his purpose might not have been revealed yet, but I was still wondering. Any theories?

[The Atheist]

He symbolises the older sector of Russian society who have seen it all and watch the revolution, plodding away, never expecting anything but what happens.

[thescholar]

I see. Thanks for your input, and for clearing things up for me. I look forward to posting in the future.

[bazarov]

Why is Heyyy! named as an author of this thread? This is some mistake, I am sure it wasn't like that before. Logos, you can't change past here ! :lol:
Or is this some Animal Farm joke?

[Logos]

No baz, no Orwellian joke :lol: ......

:( I made a bad mistake. Heyyy!'s topic was created before this one; someone 'bumped' it with a homework question and I, being your favourite automaton robot mod, went and merged them without checking dates first. Humble apologies to The Atheist have been duly sent.

....

<EOT> end of transmission

....

[The Atheist]

Nah, it's no problem to me. As long as it works and it sure seems to!








.

[wt3]

Hey,

I have to write an essay on characters in Animal Farm who are symbols of ambition and betrayal.

I've chosen Snowball as a symbol of benevolent ambition, Napoleon as a symbol of malevolent ambition (and of betrayal), Squealer as a symbol of self-centred ambition (as he uses Napoleon to get himself into power), and Boxer as a symbol of patriotic/devoted ambition.

I'm able to write about their ambitions (Snowball's ambition to look after the farm, Napoleon's ambition to gain power, Squealer's similar ambition to be in power, and Boxer's ambition to devote himself to the cause), etc but I'm a little thrown off at trying to show how they are symbols of ambition, etc. Any help?

[The Atheist]

Not quite sure where you're missing out, because you seem to have it all down nicely.

Your premises are good and you've got the descriptions right, looks to me as though you're ready to write it up.

[wt3]

I guess I'm just sort of asking should I just describe the character and his actions and then compare that to the type of ambition I'm saying he represents? That's what I've been doing, I already have about 1/2 - 2/3 of it done.

[bazarov]

Very good. :thumbs_up

[student0310]

My thesis is: Uneducated people are easily manipulated because they depend on others for information. I need 3 supporting facts from animal farm for this. I'm going to use how the seven commandments change as one. Can anyone give me some ideas about the other two...and examples from the book. Much thanks.

[The Atheist]

I've posted your question and my answer in the Official Homework help thread here. (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25291&page=7)

From new thread:


My thesis is: Uneducated people are easily manipulated because they depend on others for information. I need 3 supporting facts from animal farm for this. I'm going to use how the seven commandments change as one. Can anyone give me some ideas about the other two...and examples from the book. Much thanks.

The book is littered with them:

The changing story behind the Battle of the Cowshed.

The explanations given by Squealer like:"no animal may sleep in a bed with sheets

The ever-decreasing feed while being told they were getting more.

The sheep - easily swayed to be puppets of the regime.

The battle and alliance with neighbours.

The confessions - which is probably the most interesting one; kind of like a Stockholm-syndrome thing, the animals were frequently told that plots exist, ergo it must be true and some animals imagined they were part of it.

See how you go with those to start off!

[Banksy]

Forgive me if this question has already been answered, I didn't see it anywhere else:

I'm a little stuck on what the Barn represents. I believe it's the collective memory of Animal Farm. I'm just not quite sure what Orwell was trying to tell us.

Thanks in advance.

[The Atheist]

Forgive me if this question has already been answered, I didn't see it anywhere else:

I'm a little stuck on what the Barn represents. I believe it's the collective memory of Animal Farm. I'm just not quite sure what Orwell was trying to tell us.

Thanks in advance.

Interesting thought - I never figured the barn being anything more than the home and meeting place of the animals. I don't know about the collective memory idea; the animals don't have a memory beyond what Benjamin doesn't tell anyone.

Maybe Bazarov has an idea on it.

[bazarov]

Maybe Bazarov has an idea on it.

Maybe... I don't that there is something special in the barn. That's the biggest possible meeting place on farm, so it was probably picked because of that. Also, when peasants ( in real world ) had their big local meetings, they were also organized in the barns. Maybe some symbolism in that.

Collective memory doesn't exist, only what Benjamin tells them. The barn could represent place where everything started with Old Major's speech; it is the moment when history of Animal Farm starts to exist and that moment that will stay everyones memory, no matter of other later experiences.


Official, it was your 500th post! It's mine 1500th! :banana:

[The Atheist]

Official, it was your 500th post! It's mine 1500th! :banana:

:lol:

I hadn't even noticed - good spot!

About 490 of them are in this forum, I think.

[Banksy]

Couldn't it be possible to say that in changing the Commandmants, Squealer also changes the memories of the animals?

[The Atheist]

Yep, that's exactly the idea!

The animals modify their memories to fit the situation and the old memories eventually fade right away, to be replaced by false ones.

[bazarov]

Exactly...Memories will always look just like Pigs want them to look like, and Napoleon will always be right.

[Banksy]

Thank you for your time and help guys, much appreciated.

[bazarov]

You're welcome.

[kayleemarie08]

i need help fast.:(

can someone help me think of some ideas for a parargraph.
on george orwells animal farm??
please?

[The Atheist]

i need help fast.:(

can someone help me think of some ideas for a parargraph.
on george orwells animal farm??
please?

Try the homework help thread - lots of good stuff in there. Top of the main page.

[a.ial]

Hi all,
just wondering if anyone could help me out with an english essay which i have to do :bawling:

the question is: ‘Animal farm remains relevant in the 21st century.’ Discuss this quote and evaluate how effectively the text conveys its meanings.

any ideas will greatly be accepted XD

~.~THANX~.~

[jgweed]

I am not sure of the scope of the essay you are about to write, but you could certainly write one considering how the revolution uses propaganda to flatter the masses and gain support in AF and compare this relation to other "revolutionary" movements. Imagine the posters and slogans painted on the walls in AF, and compare these to those plastered on walls in any dictatorship today.
Cheers,
John

[The Atheist]

As usual, jgweed is dead right.

Essentially, human nature doesn't change. Think along the lines of Lord Acton's famous words; "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely", which is the whole point of Animal Farm. North Korea, Zimbabwe and several other countries show that right now.

[eyemaker]

.............:wave:

:yawnb

[aliceinwonder]

This forum has been extrememly helpful!!!!:lol:

I am currently doing some research on Animal Farm, and i'm having to look into Napoleon's character.....can I get some help on it? See....Napoleon is all high and mighty, right? And he thinks the farm couldn't survive without him....but, who is the true indespensable one at animal farm? I have read and re-read the entire book, but i'm still stuck on that question! I thought it might be Squealer, or maybe Boxer, but i'm not totally sure. Any ideas or thoughts?????

[The Atheist]

This forum has been extrememly helpful!!!!:lol:

I am currently doing some research on Animal Farm, and i'm having to look into Napoleon's character.....can I get some help on it? See....Napoleon is all high and mighty, right? And he thinks the farm couldn't survive without him....but, who is the true indespensable one at animal farm? I have read and re-read the entire book, but i'm still stuck on that question! I thought it might be Squealer, or maybe Boxer, but i'm not totally sure. Any ideas or thoughts?????

I think Napoleon would know that he isn't indispensible at all, but he must sell that concept to the other animals.

Boxer is probably the closest to an indispensible character - although he is dispensed with at the end, prior to that time, the pigs would not have been able to buy replacement horses and it was Boxer's strength which carried them through.

In terms of indispensible to the story rather than the farm itself, I'd go for Old Major. Without his ideals, the revolution would never have happened.

[jgweed]

Boxer is more, I think, the party loyalist who is fooled by Napoleon (Stalin) and is utterly dedicated to the party line. Think of some of the "confessions" made by that type during the purges.

[The Atheist]

Boxer is more, I think, the party loyalist who is fooled by Napoleon (Stalin) and is utterly dedicated to the party line. Think of some of the "confessions" made by that type during the purges.

Yep, he is the hard-working Russian peasantry that Stalin [& Napoleon] built his empire upon.

I was just referring to his physical attributes. As well as doing the hard work, the Battle of the Cowshed would probably have been lost without him.

[nikita-xo]

i am doing an english 10 class and i need to write an essay on how animal farm represents the russian revolution and world war 2 and i need to hand it in tommorow can someone plz help me out..

[The Atheist]

i am doing an english 10 class and i need to write an essay on how animal farm represents the russian revolution and world war 2 and i need to hand it in tommorow can someone plz help me out..

Read the thread at the top of this page - it's all in there.

[Aly707]

i really help finding rare, interesting points or symbolisms in animal farm! its urgent!

please dont suggest sites like sparknotes, gradesaver, cliffsnotes or novelguide. have used sites like that already.

[bazarov]

Thread above yours, sticky one; is all you need. If you read the book, they you'll understand it, and if you need further help post questions.

[mushcaa]

hi i kno im like your millionthh person to ask but i was wondering if i could have your opinion on what i should write for an assigment on animal farm?
this is the question ;

put animal farm into context and and a brief summary.
a description of the text that analyses key features and significant events in the text. (for your response concentate on the world or society being presented and any links you can find to our world).

a judgement of the text that includes your opinions and maybe some recommendations.

ANY HELP WILL BE MUCHHHLY APPRICIATED :)

[bazarov]

Please, read the story, it's 50 pages; and then check this thread from start and if you will have any questions, doubts or further explanation, ask here.
Write short summary of the plot, explain what events in real world story describes, relation humans - animals, who is who...

[Roxxy]

So, I am not entirely sure if this has already been covered, because I was going to read the entire thread, but I didn't have time, but anyway, when I read animal farm, one of the first things that I noticed was how strongly Orwell seemed to contrast Benjamin and Boxer. They were foils of each other, the two extremes of the people in the society of Russia, being Boxer (the ignorantly faithful) and Benjamin (the way too cynical for his own good).

Since Boxer accepts anything that is said by Napolean, he does not refuse the ample amounts of abuse that he is laden with. He does not recognize the corruption because in his mind it is all for the revolution, for the better society that everything has been sacrificed for. Benjamin, on the other hand, fully recognizes the pigs corruption immediately, but his cynisims is so large in magnitude, that he is unable to hope for anything better, because he believes it wouldn't come. the only time he shows any signs of hope is when the pigs are selling boxer, when he is being taken away, but by that time, it is far too late to rebel against the pigs.

Again, I am not sure if this has been said, but Moses is allowed back on the farm for the same reason the song "Beasts of England" is no longer sung. Once the pigs have reached their full corruption where all of the other animals are suffering in poverty, their perfect society that was the original reason for rebellion has been reached. However the other animals singing about a perfect society would make them realize that they were no where near that perfection. Moses is allowed to come back so that the animals, instead of having to sit in their poverty watching the pigs in wealth, thinking that this was not the perfect society they were striving for, will be able to hope for that better society after they die. Instead of Utopia in this life, ther is one in the next.

[balehead]

I have to do an essay, and it is:
"What human qualities does George orwell satirise in Animal Farm?"

I had to choose three qualities to do it on, and I chose gullibility, greed, and hypocrisy.

I wanted some clarification on the topic. Does it mean I have to state and briefly explain the quality, give an example of when it is in AF, and then explain how the instance I have described actually denoted that quality?

[The Atheist]

I have to do an essay, and it is:
"What human qualities does George orwell satirise in Animal Farm?"

I had to choose three qualities to do it on, and I chose gullibility, greed, and hypocrisy.

I wanted some clarification on the topic. Does it mean I have to state and briefly explain the quality, give an example of when it is in AF, and then explain how the instance I have described actually denoted that quality?

Yep, that pretty much nails it.