Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

I'm Mrs. Butterworth and I will be guiding you through the learning today.

The lesson is called Who's who in "Animal Farm," and we will be focusing on the allegorical element of George Orwell's novella, thinking about who or what the different animals represent.

Let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain how the different characters in "Animal Farm" represent historical figures and ideas.

So before we get into the lesson, there are a few keywords just to think about to help your understanding.

These are represent, proletariat, apathetic, social class, and bourgeoisie.

So our lesson, Who's who in "Animal Farm," looks like this today.

We're going to start by looking at different historical figures of the Russian Revolution and how these are represented in "Animal Farm." And then in the second part we're going to do the same, but focusing on social classes and ideas.

So let's get started with those historical figures.

We are now gonna read some quotes from some historical figures, and as we read these quotes, I want you to consider who could represent them in "Animal Farm." So we will look at the historical quote, we will look at who said it, and then we need to think about who represents them in "Animal Farm." So this is our first quote: "Death is the solution to all problems." And this was said by Joseph Stalin, who was the authoritarian leader of Soviet Russia.

He created a totalitarian state.

This quote shows the extreme violent measures he took when in power and the disregard for human life.

So who does this sound like on Animal Farm? Well done to everyone who thought Napoleon, because they both share these similar methods and strategies of control.

I'm thinking back to when Napoleon uses his attack dogs to expel Snowball from the farm, and when Napoleon holds those public executions, those show trials, and executes geese, pigs, and many other animals to create fear amongst the animals.

Here's another: "Life is beautiful.

Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression, and violence, and enjoy it to the full." So this was said by Leon Trotsky, and he was Stalin's political rival and eventually expelled.

Now, this is already sounding very much like one of the pigs on Animal Farm.

He upheld the original values of the revolution and believe strongly in the ideals of equality.

He was considered an intellectual.

Now, who might represent this in "Animal Farm"? Yes, it's Snowball, and Snowball continues to strive for a better quality of life for all of the animals.

He wants them all to be educated, he sets up societies.

He wants everyone to feel like they have a meaningful role and a sense of purpose.

And interestingly, like Trotsky, who was expelled by Stalin, so Stalin expelled him from Soviet Russia, Snowball is violently expelled from Animal Farm.

Let's look at another.

"The proletariat have nothing to lose but their chains." So this was said by Karl Marx, and you may have noticed that keyword there, proletariat, which Karl Marx coined to describe the working classes.

And Karl Marx is the founder of Marxism, and this underpins modern communism, and it was his ideals that influenced the Russian Revolution and the values that it originally stood for.

So who in "Animal Farm" uses their intellect and their charisma to inspire the rebellion and the revolution? Yes, it's Old Major, and exactly like Marx, it's his intellect that introduces the ideas of equality and the rejection of oppression.

And like Marx, these ideals become corrupted by authoritarian leaders.

Let's look at another.

"We are already enjoying the first fruits of our victory and we see an unparalleled rise in the standard of living and culture." So this was said by Molotov, and he was Stalin's right-hand man and very skilled in propaganda, and this quote shows his use of rhetoric and his ability to persuade.

Now, who does this sound like on Animal Farm? So Molotov and the power of propaganda are represented by Squealer, and he is also known for his excellent use of rhetoric and his persuasive skills, and we know that Napoleon uses him to control the animals.

Let's look at a final historical quote.

"What is going to happen to me and all of Russia?" Now, this was said by Tsar Nicholas II, so we can see that he's really concerned by his position in Russia.

And he was right to be, because he was the ruler of Russia who was overthrown by the Russian Revolution because he represented extreme wealth and power.

So who in "Animal Farm," initially in chapter one, represents this extreme wealth and power? Yes, Mr. Jones, correct.

He is also overthrown by the rebellion, like Tsar Nicholas II, and he is initially the owner of Animal Farm and has the control.

He controls all of the animals.

Excellent! So, true or false time.

Orwell's allegorical novel uses characters to represent different historical figures from the Russian Revolution, true or false? Well done, everyone.

That is true.

Now let's justify your answer.

Well done to everyone who noticed that it was A, that one example is how Old Major represents Karl Marx and the original ideals of communism.

So we are onto our first practise task, and what I would like you to do is to match the historical figure to the character who represents them in "Animal Farm." So I have done the first one for you.

So you can see here I have matched Mr. Jones with a line to Tsar Nicholas II.

And then I'd like you to explain their similarities in a sentence.

So I've said that Mr. Jones is responsible and presented as too drunk and is an ineffective leader.

So he has real similarities to Tsar Nicholas II.

So you need to pause the video and we will feed back our answers in a moment.

Well done, everyone.

Excellent work on sorting those historical figures and the characters from "Animal Farm." So let's feed back some answers so you can check your work.

So the first one we had is Napoleon and he represents Stalin, and we know that Napoleon carries out executions and uses fear to create a totalitarian state, just like Joseph Stalin.

And Squealer represents Molotov, and we know that they both give excellent persuasive speeches.

Old Major represents Karl Marx, and like Marx, Old Major is responsible for the original ideas of equality.

And Mr. Jones and Tsar Nicholas, and Mr. Jones is irresponsible and presented as an ineffective leader.

And then finally, Snowball.

Well done, absolutely, he represents Trotsky, and Snowball is also considered an intellectual.

So well done, everyone.

Okay, we are moving on to the second part of our lesson.

So now we have looked at specific people, those specific historical figures, we're now going to look at social classes and ideas and how these are represented through characters in "Animal Farm." So we are now gonna look at some descriptions of different social classes, and in a moment I would like you to discuss or think about which characters might represent them in "Animal Farm." Let's look at the descriptions together.

So the working classes.

These are a large group of individuals who sell their labour.

In "Animal Farm," Orwell suggests they are generally exploited and work harder than anyone else.

They have limited influence and power.

The older middle classes are generally well educated, and Orwell views them as apathetic and he criticises them for not using their intelligence to challenge authority.

And finally, the bourgeoisie.

They are the materialistic upper classes that support and benefit from capitalism.

In the context of the Russian Revolution, it was the upper middle classes that were unlikely to benefit from the revolution.

So what I would like you to do is pause the video to discuss or think which characters might represent them in "Animal Farm." Excellent! Now let's share some of our answers.

So the working classes.

Well done to everyone that mentioned that it was Boxer and Clover or the horses.

So Boxer has this phrase, "I will work harder!" And it really exemplifies Boxer's unwavering dedication to labour and his representation of the hardworking but often exploited working classes.

Boxer is literally worked to death, so it's a really interesting comparison that Orwell is making there.

Now, the older middle classes, this one's a little bit trickier, but I think Benjamin, you know, he says things like "Windmill or no windmill, life would always gone go on as it always has, and that is badly." And we know that this really reveals Benjamin's continued cynicism and apathy.

We know that he is very negative and that he's incredibly intelligent, but does nothing to challenge the pigs.

And finally, the bourgeoisie.

Absolutely, we have Mollie.

And Mollie's first reaction to the rebellion is, "Will there still be sugar after the rebellion?" And this really reflects Mollie's attachment to material things.

She's totally disconnected from the ideals of the revolution and does not want to sacrifice for the sake of others.

Well done, everyone.

Some excellent discussions happening there.

So let's just have a quick question.

In "Animal Farm," Benjamin represents? Well done.

He absolutely represents the older middle classes, and Orwell is suggesting that they are apathetic and cynical, which doesn't really help in the challenging of totalitarianism.

So Karl Marx famously declared that religion is "the opium of the people." What do you think he meant by that? Pause the video and discuss your ideas.

Excellent, let's share some of our ideas.

So Karl Marx is arguing that religion acts to soothe people and stop them seeing the injustices and suffering of the world around them.

And this is referenced by Orwell in the character of Moses, the tame raven.

Moses paints pictures of this mythical place, he talks about Sugarcandy Mountain where the animals will be free from pain and have all their needs met, and Orwell uses this as an allusion to heaven and organised religion.

Now pause the video again and discuss, why might the pigs be initially unhappy with Moses and his depictions of Sugarcandy Mountain? Great ideas, everyone, because yes, the pigs believe that they are actually creating a paradise of equality after the revolution.

So they may be unhappy to hear Moses talk of somewhere even better that might make their accomplishments on Animal farm seem inferior.

Okay, true or false time.

True or false, the pigs support Moses' stories about Sugarcandy Mountain? Well done everyone who said false.

That is correct.

Now, justify your answer.

Well done everyone that said B.

Absolutely, the pigs do work hard to convince the other animals that his stories aren't true.

So this really demonstrates that they view Moses as a threat to their power.

They don't want another influence coming in and saying that there's somewhere better than Animal Farm because this would threaten their position.

We are onto our final practise task, so well done, everyone.

And what I would like you to do is to complete the grid by matching the characters to the social class or idea they represent and justify your answer.

So think about everything we've looked at this lesson and you put it into this grid.

So I've done the first example for you.

So the social class or idea is the political classes, and the pigs represent this.

And the reason they represent this is because they have the most power and represent key political figures in the Russian Revolution.

So pause the video so you can complete the grid and then we can feed back our answers in a moment.

Good luck! Well done, everyone.

That required quite a lot of thinking and remembering what we have looked at this lesson.

So now let's share our answers.

You may not have exactly the same explanations, but hopefully you will have something similar or even better.

Let's look.

So we look to the political classes.

We know that these are the pigs and that we know they have the most power and represent key political figures in the Russian Revolution.

Now, who represents the bourgeoisie? Well done to everyone that said Mollie.

We know that she leaves the farm when she realised there will be no luxuries.

And this happened in the Soviet Union.

Lots of members of the bourgeoisie decided to leave when the rebellion happened, or flee.

The working classes is Boxer, yes.

Just by his work alone we can make that assumption, but it's also his blind loyalty that leads to his exploitation that links him to those working classes.

Who represents the older middle classes? Well done to everyone that put Benjamin.

We know that Benjamin is incredibly apathetic and he actually chooses not to read, so he does nothing to stop the pigs even though he understands.

And Benjamin is an interesting character, because could he have made a difference if he had decided to read? And then finally, religion, which is represented by Moses.

And Moses, like religion, tells stories of the afterlife and is able to influence the animals.

Well done, everyone.

We have reached the end of the lesson.

There has been a lot of information this lesson about all the different characters and what they potentially represent or who they represent, and hopefully this has given you a little bit of a better understanding of what Orwell is trying to achieve.

So let's just go through everything that we have learnt in this lesson.

So we know that "Animal Farm" is an allegory for the Russian Revolution, which Orwell uses to present his key message.

Orwell is using the events of the Russian Revolution to comment on political power and totalitarian regimes.

Some characters represent historical figures and some characters represent social classes or wider ideas.

Again, well done, everyone, and a massive thank you for all of your hard work in today's lesson.

I really hope I will see you again soon in another lesson.

Thanks and goodbye!.