Animal Farm: A Fairy story?

The subtitle 'A Fairy story' undercuts these initial expectations and makes the book seem like an epic rather than the initial thoughts of a simple story which is short and to the point.

Orwell has written the novel in such a style that it reminds the reader of a simple children's narrative and gives it the feel of a fairy tale. He uses simple words and sentence structure to convey the story. This also provokes the reader into realising the truth behind the story rather than just perceiving it as a simple, child's tale.

Animal Farm is set on a farm in the countryside. This type of setting is often used in a fairy tale. These are often perceived to be neat, tidy and quaint as well as the cliché of little hedgerows, brick barns with stacked hay piles along with a windmill dominating the view of the surrounding fields. A farmer and his wife would care for the farm. But it has to be said Manor Farm was not the conventional fairy tale farm, however the connection to a fantastical tale is there.

The story, which includes talking animals who fight the evil farmer, gain control of the farm, interact and trade with other humans and build a windmill, gives it a fairy tale feel. When reading you have to forget the real world and be taken into the fantasy. But, as a reader I did not find myself questioning the plot or characters of the book.

Many fairy tales and fables are based a moral meaning or lesson. Animal farm also provides the reader with this. It teaches, using animals, of mans greed and how this will ultimately lead to the collapse of a communist state as well as how the workers are taken advantage of. It also teaches of controversy and selfishness in a setting in which we thought to be secure. Orwell uses 'A Fairy Tale' to make people realise and take note of the moral implications addressed in the book.

My personal opinion is that Orwell gave the novel the sub-title 'A Fairy Tale' to encourage the reader to look deeper into the narrative and not take it at face value. However, I don't think it can purely classified as a fairy tale as fits to many other genres. It could also be described as a fable, political analysis or an allegorical lesson for example.

George Tuck 10C