GCSE AQA 'Animal Farm': Key Themes

Novella

A short novel or long short story

Anthropomorphic

When an animal has human characteristics or behaviours

Theme

An idea that is explored throughout a book or play

Class

Class denotes how much wealth you have and determines your quality of life. For example, people who are middle or upper class are able to pay for superior healthcare and education

Power; Control

In 'Animal Farm', we see some of the characters who have more power than others. For example, when Napoleon is powerful, he treats others poorly and acts as a dictator. Napoleon has power because everyone else is afraid of him. He uses his dogs to intimidate other characters and even executes other animals

Education

The theme of education is presented in how the animals learn. Snowball wants all the animals to read and write, whereas Napoleon wants to stop the animals learning so he can control them

Language

In the story, we see how language affects what the animals believe. Squealer uses manipulative language to try to impact how the other animals think. He reminds the animals of Mr Jones which scares them and makes them feel grateful to have Napoleon as their leader

Religion

The theme of religion is explored through the Commandments and Sugarcandy Mountain. Jewish and Christian faiths and the Ten Commandments and Sugarcandy Mountain symbolises heaven for the animals

Equality

This idea links closely to the key theme of class. Equality is the belief that all individuals are equal, in the rights and opportunities they have

Didactic novella; Didactic novel; Didactic

A story with a moral message intended to inform and educate the reader

Satire

A novel that exposes and critiques politicians and their tendency to manipulative others for personal gain

Corruption

Napoleon symbolises Stalin and his violence explores the corruption of socialist principles

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing occurs in a literary text when the author or playwright gives clues and hints about what is to come in the plot. For example, Napoleon's deception begins with him taking milk for the pigs

Imagery

The use of emotionally charged words and phrases to create vivid pictures in the minds of the readers or audience

Symbolism

Animal Farm' is filled with historical context about the Russian Revolution. Symbolism is employed throughout which different characters representing different historical figures

Communist Manifesto; The Communist Manifesto

The name of the manifesto by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels that critiqued the capitalist economic structure and the class inequality it relies on

1917

The year in which the Russian Revolution took place

The Seven Commandments; Seven Commandments

Over the course of the novella, Napoleon manipulates all of these rules to create a higher class for the pigs

The barn; Barn

This place on the farm represents a space for community and equality

Beast of England; The beasts of England

The name of the socialist anthem sung by Old Major