Symbols

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Character Symbolism

The characters in Animal Farm symbolise different figures from the Russian Revolution:

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Character Symbolism

The characters in Animal Farm symbolise different figures from the Russian Revolution:

Symbolism

In addition to the characters, the following features of Animal Farm symbolise different aspects of the Russian Revolution:

The flag with the “hoof and horn”

The Soviet flag with hammer and sickle.
At first this is a symbol of freedom for the animals, but in the final chapter, Napoleon says that the symbols on the flag (the symbols of freedom) are to be removed.

The windmill

The industrialisation of Russia. The animals have to sacrifice everything (eventually even the beloved Boxer) in order to build this windmill.
Just as the Russian people suffered and worked to establish Stalin’s 5 year industrial plan.

The Battle of the Windmill

When Hitler invaded Russia and the Soviet army suffered greatly, but ultimately defeated his attack.

The setting

The Soviet Union (however, Orwell has chosen a simple British farm setting in order to show that this could happen anywhere and to represent the corruption of all dictatorships).

Whips

Slavery.

Guns

Violence.

Mr Jones (name)

Mr Jones has a common name. Napoleon and Jones symbolise all dictators – Orwell is warning his audience to be careful of those in power because absolute power corrupts.

The animals

The animals symbolise any group of people who are totally overpowered by their leader: inequality in a totalitarian state.

1Important Plot Features

1.1Plot Summaries

1.1.1Chapters 1-2

1.1.2Chapters 3-4

1.1.3Chapters 5-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5Chapters 9-10

1.1.6Keywords

1.1.7End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-5

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Chapters 6-10

2Characters & Their Links to History

2.1Key Characters

2.1.1Old Major

2.1.2Snowball

2.1.3Napoleon

2.1.4Squealer

2.1.5Boxer

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Characters

2.1.7AO2/3 - Key Characters

2.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Boxer

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Mr Jones

2.2.2Clover

2.2.3Hens

2.2.4Sheep

2.2.5Mollie

2.2.6Benjamin

2.2.7Moses & Mr Frederick

2.2.8Pilkington & Mr Whymper

2.2.9End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.2.10End of Topic Test - Other Characters 2

3Key Themes & Orwell's Purpose

3.1Key Themes

3.1.1Education

3.1.2Power & Control

3.1.3Power & Language

3.1.4Equality

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

4Language, Form & Structure

4.1Language, Form & Structure

4.1.1Form & Structure

4.1.2Language

4.1.3Symbols

4.1.4Narrator & Allegory

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