Transcript George Orwell

By: Jessica and Mariah
Biography
§ Eric Blair was born 1903 in Motihari, Bengal. At age one he moved back to England
with his family. At age five he attended Christian school till he finished his basic
education but never attended a university. Instead he joined the Indian Imperial Police
in Burma. He resigned shortly after having hated the imperialism where he reflected in
his first novel “Burmese Days” (1934) along with a few essays Where he takes the
name George Orwell to publish his works..
§Orwell lived in poverty for a few years supported with a few side jobs. Orwell found his hate
for Communism when he volunteered for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.
On May 20, 1937 Orwell was shot through the neck, inspiring him to write “
Wounded by a Fascist Sniper”.
§In 1944 Orwell published Animal Farm. In 1948 Orwell published “Nineteen EightyFour “. Around 1940 he married Eileen O’Shaughnessy who died in 1945, during this
marriage they adopt a son, Richard Blair.. He remarries in 1949 to Sonia Brownell.
At age 46 Orwell dies of Tuberculosis.
Background infromation:
§This book was written in 1948, as an outlook
to the future.
§The main character,Winston is actually a
reflection of Orwell himself and his own
thoughts on socialism.
§ Orwell wrote that government twisted everyday life by changing the language and
inserting propaganda whenever possible. He also states that the government
manipulates the people in order to gain control over society.
Winston:
§ Weak, unhealthy, and
paranoid.
§Is able to see through
deceitful lies.
§Keeps a journal even
though it is again the law.
Animal Farm
Background Information
∞ Animal Farm is a reflection of the Russian Revolution. This novel
retells the story of the development of Soviet communism in the form of
an animal fable, Animal Farm explains the rise to power of the dictator
Joseph Stalin. The overthrow of the human oppressor ,Mr. Jones who
represents Tsar Nicholas II; by a democratic coalition of animals
quickly gives way to the consolidation of power among the pigs. Much
like the Soviet, the pigs establish themselves as the ruling class in the
new society. The struggle for power between Leon Trotsky and Stalin
emerges in the rivalry between the pigs Snowball and Napoleon.
Main Characters
∞Napoleon: corrupt opportunist. He never shows interest in the strength
of Animal Farm itself, only in the strength of his power over it. He
only takes interests of training a litter or puppies they later become his
own private army or secret police, a violent means by which he imposes
his will on others.
∞Snowball: Napoleon’s rival for power over the farm. He is known to
be intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than
Napoleon. Snowball seems to win the loyalty of the other animals.
He also seems to enjoy taking major projects for the overall good,
such as the Windmill.
§The Complete Works of George Orwell, 2003
http://www.george-orwell.org/l_biography.html