Final answer:
George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is an allegorical novel that parallels figures and events from the Russian Revolution, with characters like Napoleon representing Joseph Stalin, and events like the Battle of Cowshed symbolizing the Russian Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
To understand how literature reflects historical events, one can examine George Orwell's Animal Farm in relation to key figures from the Russian Revolution, drawing parallels between the characters in the novel and actual historical personalities. For instance, the pig Napoleon symbolizes Joseph Stalin, using propaganda and fear to consolidate his power, similar to Stalin's rise to power following the Russian Revolution. Another example is Snowball, who represents Leon Trotsky, being an intellectual visionary who is eventually ousted by Napoleon as Trotsky was by Stalin.
Additionally, events like the Battle of the Cowshed can be associated with the anti-Revolutionary turmoil during the Russian Civil War. And Boxer, the cart-horse, exemplifies the dedicated but exploited working class, whose loyalty and hard work towards the 'common good' mirror that of the proletariat in Communist Russia, only to be betrayed by the ruling elite, just as Stalin's regime betrayed the workers it purported to support.
These examples from Animal Farm serve as an allegory and critical examination of the events and people involved in the Russian Revolution and subsequent Soviet regime. Relating these characters and events from the book to historical facts can provide a deeper comprehension of both the literature and the history it mirrors.