Animal Farm Lesson Plan

When George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, World War II was devastating Europe. The story serves as an allegory for the Russian Revolution in 1917, in which Tsarist rule was overturned and Communist rule took its place. An avid Socialist, Orwell believed the Russian state had betrayed the ideology of Communism, which is equality for all, because those governing were abusing their power. In 1924, Joseph Stalin proclaimed himself the political heir in Russia, outmaneuvred his rivals, and became one of the most murderous dictators the world has ever seen. Stalin’s purging of potential or imaginary rivals, his increasing paranoia, his complete disregard for life, his promotion of official lies...