Animal Farm

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Animal Farm

By George Orwell

“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

Allegory - Satire - Fable

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George Orwell British Author & Journalist

1903-1950

Born in India

At that time India was a part of the British Empire, and Blair's father, Richard, held a post as an agent in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service.

The Blair family was not very wealthy - Orwell later described them ironically as "lower-upper-middle class". They owned no property, had no extensive investments; they were like many middle-class English families of the time, totally dependent on the British Empire for their livelihood and prospects.

Noted as a novelist and critic, as well as a political and cultural commentator

One of the most widely admired English-language essayists of the 20th century

Best known for two novels critical of totalitarianism in general, and Stalinism in particular:

Animal Farm

Nineteen Eighty-Four

“Liberty is telling people what they do not want to hear.”

Slide 3

1984

The novel, published in 1949, takes place in 1984 and presents an imaginary future where a totalitarian state controls every aspect of life, even people's thoughts. The state is called Oceania and is ruled by a group known as the Party; its leader and dictator is Big Brother.

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George Orwell and His Beliefs

Orwell was a person who had a reputation for standing apart and even making a virtue of his detachment.

This “outsider” position often led him to oppose the crowd.

Orwell’s beliefs about politics were affected by his experiences fighting in the Spanish Civil War.

He viewed socialists, communists, and fascists as repressive and self-serving.

He was skeptical of governments and their willingness to forsake ideas in favor of power.

Interesting Fact:

George Orwell’s real name was Eric Blair.

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Why Animals?

In explaining how he came to write Animal Farm, Orwell says he once saw a little boy whipping a horse and later he wrote,

“It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the [worker].”

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George Orwell in India

He was born in India and spent his early years there since his father held a post there.

He was a lonely boy who liked to make up stories and talk with imaginary companions.