Assignment brief Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria 2017-18 Overview of assessment task Animal Farm Essay Discuss the genre of Animal Farm by addressing: What makes this text specific to its genre by describing the context which surrounds it. Analyse the influence of this contextual information on the narrative and how this affects the overall piece. Analysing the different characters within in and evaluate the functions of these characters taking into consideration who this relates to genre and context. Your essay will need to address how the character development is focussed on expressing an idea form an authorial standpoint which questions the role of society and the ideologies which construct it. Learning outcomes and assessment criteria Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria 2. Understand the significance of context in relation to works of literature 2.1. Describe the ways in which context is evident within literary texts. 2.2. Analyse the influence of contextual information in a work of literature 5. Understand the use of characters 5.1. Analyse a range of characters in a work of literature 5.2. Evaluate the functions of a range of characters in a work of literature
Grading Descriptors and Components 2017-18 GD 1 Understanding of the subject Merit a. Demonstrates a very good grasp of the relevant knowledge base. Distinction b. Demonstrates a very good grasp of the relevant knowledge base GD 2 Application of knowledge Merit a. makes use of relevant ideas concepts with either b. a breadth or depth that goes beyond the minimum required to Pass Distinction a. makes use of relevant ideas concepts with both b. a breadth and depth GD 7 - Quality Merit a. is structured in a way that is generally logical and fluent Distinction a. is structured in a way that is consistently logical and fluent
This essay will look at the genre of George Orwell s novel Animal Farm. It will look at the different characteristics of the genres and the influence of the contextual information has on the writing of George Orwell. Furthermore it will look at the different characters in the novel and how these are affected by the context of Animal Farm. Genre can be described as a style or category of art, music or literature. There are many different types of genres within literature within Animal Farm. In particular, one genre that can be seen within animal farm is allegory. Allegory is described as: A story, poem or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden message, typically a moral or political one. (2016, oxford university press) Moreover, through analysing the genre within animal farm allegory is consistent throughout. George Orwell personifies the animals in order to provide an identity that symbolises a historical figure. Furthermore, Orwell uses animal characters to draw the reader away from the world and the events going on at that time. In addition, through animal farm there is also a feeling at satire within the genre of the novel. Satire is the use of humour and irony within a novel to expose or criticize and issue. (Mifflin, 2005) Orwell, indirectly attacks Russian communism through animal allegory and in this sets an ironic and humours feel to the characters and to the novel. In addition, Animal fam may also be a fable as Orwell personifies the animals and gives them an identity. Fables usually have a moral behind them too, in animal farm it can be argued that the moral behind it is that power corrupts. Animal farm also follows a narrative, which means it has a start, middle and end. George Orwell also known as, Eric Arthur Blaire was the son of a British colonial civil servant and was educated in England. After this he decided to join the Indian Imperial police. After resigning in 1927 he then decided to become a writer; however no success came from his writing at this time he decided to move to Paris and had many different jobs. George Orwell had his first book Animal Farm published in 1945, which refers to the Russian revolution and how society was following the events of what happened. In the 20 th century a tiny minority of individuals controlled most of the country s wealth. The ruling class were rich and powerful; however the
majority of the population were poor, peasant workers on low wages. In 1918 there was a civil war in Russia where Western countries sent armies in to fight against the Bolsheviks as they were worried that communism might spread to their country. The Bolsheviks promised Peace, bread and land (2010, Smele) however what the people of Russia received was in fact very different from this. Leon Trotsky played an important role in the Russian revolution, by 1921 the civil war had been won and that was when it was noticeable that Trotsky was the logical successor to Lenin. (2015, Truman). George Orwell uses his novel Animal farm to portray what was happening and what has happened in Russia at that time. George Orwell clearly has a political purpose into why he has written the book; therefore it is clear that there are many themes throughout. One main theme is power. Many of the characters have power and control in different ways power in which Orwell is using the animals in the novel to show how historical leaders had power in society at the time the book was published. An example of this is Napoleon he holds control over the other animals and enjoys dictating them, just like political leader Joseph Stalin. Totalitarianism could be classed as another theme that is present within the novel. Totalitarianism is defined as: a form of government in which the ruler is a dictator. (Unabridged, 2016) This is clearly present within Animal farm with the character Napoleon, he is the dictator who orders the other animals around, furthermore he also has his team of other animals that can be seen as his government which follow his rules and ideas, and an example of this is squealer. Social stratification is another major theme within the novel, it can be defined as: a system that ranks categories of people in a hierarchy (study.com 2003). This was present within the farm with napoleon being the leader with his workers. There are many characters in the book that represent many different historical figures and show how the context of the book has influenced these characters. One of which is Napoleon, who has a reputation of not much of a talker but always getting his own way. At first Napoleon does not join in with the meeting and talks about the rebellion with the other animals, it is not until the other animals have already done so
that he starts to take leadership. The only project that Napoleon shown enthusiasm for was the training of the litter of puppies. Although Napoleon does not train the puppies for their good or the good of others, but in fact the benefit for himself, in which the puppies become his very own private army. George Orwell clearly has a high level of intelligence on politics as he centres Napoleons character around dictator Joseph Starlin. His name and character is much like the communist leader who betrayed many when he was given power, a character within the novel that clearly manipulates, lies and betrays the other animals on the farm to benefit himself. Squealer is portrayed as a clever, manipulative pig. Throughout Animal farm he is known as the voice of napoleon he voices all the ideas and manipulates the other animals on the farm so they believe that any ideas that come from Napoleon will be beneficial to themselves and the farm, when it was the opposite idea that came from the pair of them did nothing but exploit the other animals. To the other animal s squealer is seen as very persuasive as the animal s state: he could turn black into white. (Orwell, G, 1945, Pg. 11) how the other animals describe squealer in the novel means he is able to convince animals even when something is false. Throughout the novel Squealer uses complicated language, which is seen to confuse, intimidate and to an extend manipulate the other animals. In addition, squealer sees the other animals as gullible and uses this to his advantage as he knows he can easily manipulate the other animals. Squealer was Napoleons propaganda, much like the Russian leader Starlin and his propaganda machine. Snowball is based upon the communist leader of the Russian revolution, Leon Trotsky. In the Russian revolution Trotsky was constantly battling for power against Joseph Starlin. (Biography.com Editors. (2014). Within the novel, it is snowball that contests Napoleon for leadership of the farm, after the events of the rebellion. Snowball is the first one to write the seven commandments, which are as follows: whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy, whatever goes upon four legs or has wings is a friend, no animal shall wear clothes, no animals should sleep in a bed, no animal should drink alcohol, no animal shall kill another animal, and all animals are equal, (Orwell, 1945, Pg.17). However, later in the novel Napoleon and Squealer
change many of the commandments in order to benefit the pigs, without the other animals suspecting. Snowball is one of the first animals to promote animalism and improve the farms infrastructure, although snowball fails at this as he is simply relying on his own logic and skill to influence the other animals however snowball did not succeed at this and does not have the skills that Napoleon did. The other animals saw snowball as a loyal member of the group and provided the animals with literacy which meant they were all able to read the seven commandments. Snowball was an important member of the group and had an important role within the novel as he was based on the Russian political leader Trotsky who had a constant power struggle with fellow leader Joseph Starlin. Looking at Boxer in the novel George Orwell uses boxer as a representation of the workers that were exploited in the Russian revolution. He is portrayed as a loyal, hardworking, strong member of the group who shows his strength at the battle of the cowshed when he knocked a stable by unconscious with his hoof. However, although the other animals see Boxer as strong, the likes of Napoleon lead boxer on in hope of his retirement when in fact he was being exploited for work and led to his death. This shows the innocence and naivety of Boxer, Orwell uses Boxer to show how workers in Russia have been exploited. Boxer is a valued and important character as he shows how workers have been exploited through leadership and power. Old major plays an important role within the novel, and Orwell bases his character around German philosopher and sociologist Karl Marx. His theory was known as Marxism, which suggests that history is based on class struggle; Karl Marx suggests that the rich have become the most powerful with the rise of the bourgeoisie leaving the superior group in the shadows. (2015, Truman). The way Old Major has been portrayed In the Novel shows that George Orwell had a positive outlook on the reallife character s views, Karl Marx. Although George shows old major to be a positive character there are some parts of the book where Old majors character may be questioned to how sincere he really was. An example of this is how Old major creates what could be seen as a false friendship with the others in order to
encourage them to believe his ideas and thoughts. Overall Old Major is seen as a persuasive and wise pig that encourages the other pigs to join in with the chant of the song Beasts of England. (2016, sparknotes) In conclusion, George Orwell s novel Animal farm is written within the ideology of the Russian revolution in order to show the betrayal that occurred between Russian politicians and leaders. He personifies the animals involved to create them an identify that relates to an individual in Russian history an example of this is Napoleon based around Russian leader Joseph Starlin. Through looking at the characters each one plays an important role within the novel and each character represents a leader or time of Russian history. Through analysing the characters, it is evident that each one had a different incentive and motive within the novel just like the political leaders George Orwell is referring to throughout. The genre of the novel sets the theme for the contextual and political influences that creates the narrative of the novel. C N Truman, 2005, Karl Marx, The History Learning Site http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to1980/russia-1900- to1939/karl-marx/ Orwell, G, 2000, Animal Farm, penguin classics, London Harcourt, 2016 Animal Farm. George Orwell. https://www.cliffsnotes.com. The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy 2005, Third Edition Hougton Mifflin Company. http://www.dictonary.com/browse/satire Sparknotes, LLC, 2016 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm