Animal Farm Vocabulary

Flashcards based on Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution lecture notes.

Animalism

A belief system with no owners, no rich, no poor, where all animals are equal and everyone owns the farm.

Old Major

Conceived the idea for Animalism and believed animals must revolt. He dies before the revolution.

Communism

A system with no owners, no rich, no poor, where all people are equal and the government owns everything during a 'transitional phase.'

Karl Marx

Founded Communism and urged workers to unite and take over the government.

Squealer

A persuasive speaker who convinced animals to believe and follow Napoleon; he changed and manipulated the commandments.

Napoleon

A character based on Josef Stalin; not a good speaker, cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, and corrupt, with a main ambition for more power.

Snowball

Smart, a good speaker, and idealistically wanted to make life better for all animals; one of the leaders of the revolution, later exiled by Napoleon.

Boxer

A strong, hard-working horse who believed in Animalism and lived by the maxims 'I will work harder' and 'Napoleon is always right.'

Mollie

Didn't care about the revolution, liked things the way they were, and fled once the regime changed to humans.

Mr. Frederick

A tough, shrewd man who is perpetually involved in lawsuits and known for driving hard bargains.

Mr. Pilkington

An easy-going gentleman farmer and owner of Foxwood Farm who is a bitter enemy of Mr. Frederick.

Vyacheslav Molotov/Agitprop

Molotov worked for Stalin and used any lie to convince people to follow him. Agitprop (Agitation/Propaganda) was used to falsify information and dupe the people.

The Dogs

Assisted Napoleon in keeping other animals in line. Also carried out executions upon Napoleon's orders

The NKVD (Secret Police)

Helped Stalin maintain control of power, also carried out the roundup of dissidents that opposed Stalin's regime

Religion

Marx called religion the 'opium for the people'; Stalin knew that religion would stop violent revolutions.

The Working Class

Dedicated to working for the cause. Also, tricked by their leaders and the use of maxims

Russian Aristocracy

Felt they were 'above' revolution, resisted change and only thought about themselves and their kind.