Get to Know the Author

This webquest provides resources for students in the ninth grade to focus on the historical, political and social aspects of the Stalin era in order to become better acquainted with the background for the scenario of Soviet totalitarianism and the genre, satirical allegory, used in Animal Farm by George Orwell.

After reading the following description, click on Activity 1 and read for understanding about the Stalin era.

Wikipedia describes Animal Farm as a satirical allegory in which animals play the roles of the Bolshevik revolutionaries and overthrow and oust the human owners of the farm, setting it up as a commune in which, at first, all animals are equal; class and status disparities soon emerge, however, between the different animal species. The novel describes how a society's ideologies can be manipulated and twisted by individuals in positions of social and political power, including how a utopian society is made impossible by the corrupting nature of the very power necessary to create it.

In Satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, irony, or other methods, ideally with an intent to bring about improvement Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit. A very common feature of satire is its strong vein of sarcasm which often professes to approve the very things the satirist actually wishes to attack.

An allegory is a figurative mode of representing meaning without the literal representation.

If you have questions, contact Ms. Blackwell at CarlaBlackwell@nisd.net.

Disclaimer: The links here have been scrutinized for their grade and age appropriateness; however, contents of links on the World Wide Web change continuously. It is advisable that teachers review all links before introducing CyberGuides to students.

Resources:

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm