Key learning points

1. Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution which Orwell uses to present his key messages
2. Orwell is using the events of the Russian Revolution to comment on political power and totalitarian regimes
3. Some characters represent historical figures
4. Some characters represent social classes or wider ideas

Keywords

• Represent - To represent something is to serve as a sign or a symbol.

• Proletariat - Proletariat is a term coined by Marx to describe the class of people who do unskilled work.

• Apathetic - If you are apathetic you are unwilling to take action, you show little or no interest or emotion.

• Social class - Social class describes how people are grouped based on their income, job, and social standing, affecting their life chances.

• Bourgeoisie - The bourgeoisie refers to a materialistic upper class that support and benefit from capitalism.

Common misconception