Animal Farm Literary Devices

A review of literary devices in Animal Farm

allegory

allegory

the representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form

ex. Mr. Jones is the Russian Tsar and Manor Farm is an allegory of Russia

alliteration

the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

ex. "It is not crystal clear, then comrades..."

allusion

a reference in a work of literature to a well-known character, place, or situation from literature

ex. The Beasts of England is an allusion to the Soviet anthem L'Internationale.

analogy

a thing that is comparable to something else in significant respects

Mr. Jones is considered to be the Russian Tsar Nicholas II

antagonist

• Definition: Character opposing the protagonist

• Role: Creates conflict and obstacles

• Motivation: Often driven by jealousy, revenge, or power

ex. "Only get rid of man, and the produce of labour would be our own." Man is the original enemy, but in the end, so are the pigs because they develop human-like characteristics such as walking on their hind legs.

climax

• Definition: Turning point of the story

• Purpose: Resolves conflict

• Intensity: Highest emotional tension

• Impact: Determines outcome

• Elements: Character change, final confrontation

ex. "Napoleon runs Snowball off the farm and declares that decision will be made only by the pigs."

conflict

struggle between opposing forces

ex. Animals vs. Mr. Jones, Napoleon vs. Snowball, Animal vs. Self

rising action

• Events leading to the climax

• Builds tension and conflict

• Develops characters and plot

• Increases reader engagement

• Occurs after the exposition

ex. The animals overthrow Mr. Jones and take over the farm. The farm is renamed Animal Farm. The animals establish rules and Napoleon and Snowball fight for power.

external conflict

• Definition: Conflict between a character and an outside force

• Types: Man vs. Man, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Supernatural

• Purpose: Drives plot, develops characters, creates tension

ex. The farm animals fight against Mr. Jones

direct characterization

• Reveals traits directly: "She was kind."

• Author explicitly describes character

• Helps readers understand character quickly

ex. Boxer is described as "an enormous beast" and "not the smartest animal on the farm, but well reserved". This directly describes Boxer's character.

dystopia

• Definition: An imagined society characterized by oppressive control and dehumanization

• Themes: Totalitarianism, surveillance, loss of individual freedom

• Characteristics: Propaganda, strict social hierarchy, restricted access to information

ex. "All year the animals worked as slaves." The farm is led by communism and the story shows how society is oppressed.

falling action

• Resolves the main conflict

• Tension decreases

• Leads to the story's conclusion

ex. The animals of the story grow weak and the well being of the animals is no longer an important aspect.

foreshadowing

• Definition: Hints or clues about future events

• Types: Character, dialogue, setting, symbolism

• Purpose: Build suspense, create tension, enhance plot

ex. ”Without saying anything to the others, she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. Hidden under the straw were a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours."

hyperbole

• Definition: Exaggeration for emphasis

• Purpose: Create emphasis or evoke strong feelings

• Effect: Adds drama, humor, or emphasis to a statement

ex. “Napoleon is always right.”

imagery

• Definition: Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses

• Types: Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, kinesthetic

• Functions: Enhances mood, creates vivid mental pictures, evokes emotions

ex. "He repeated a number of times, 'Tactics, comrades, tactics!' skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh."

indirect characterization

• Textual clues show a character’s motivation and intent

• Speech and dialogue: How the character communicates with others

• Actions and behaviors: What the character does or how they react

• Interactions with other characters: Relationships and dynamics

• Physical appearance and surroundings: How the character presents themselves

ex. The sheep are indirectly characterized as brainwashed citizens since they often bleat "Four legs good, two legs bad."

metaphor

• Definition: Figure of speech comparing two unlike things

• Purpose: Create vivid imagery, convey complex ideas

"Four legs good, two legs bad." This implies that animals with four legs are good and humans are bad.

mood

refers to the atmosphere or emotional setting created by a piece of writing. It evokes certain feelings or vibes in the reader, influencing their emotional response to the text.

ex. The mood throughout the story changes. At the beginning, after the Battle of Cowshed, the mood is cheerful. As the story progresses, the mood is not as happy. Towards the end, the reader may feel more and more miserable.

motif

• recurring symbol/theme

• Adds depth/meaning to story

• Enhances understanding

• Conveys author's message

• Reinforces central ideas

ex. songs - Beasts of England is a motif of the rebellion

onomatopoeia

• Definition: Words that imitate sounds

• Examples: "buzz," "crash," "hiss"

• Enhances writing by creating auditory imagery

ex. "The hens woke up squawking with terror..."

paradox

a statement or proposition that, despite sound reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory

ex. “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

personification

attributing human characteristics to something nonhuman

ex. "It was a pig walking on its hind legs." At the end of the story, pigs develop human characteristics.

propaganda

techniques used to influence opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior

ex. When Squealer and Napoleon call Snowball a traitor and a criminal, name-calling is displayed.

protagonist

the character who drives the action--the character whose fate matters most.

ex. working class animals; In the beginning of the story, all animals are the main characters because they are working together to overthrow Mr. Jones. However, at the end Napoleon moves over to the opposing position.

repetition

expressing different ideas using the same words or images in order to reinforce concepts and unify the speech

ex. "Four legs good, two legs bad!" This line is repeated by the animals multiple times throughout the story.

setting

where or when the story takes place

ex. Manor Farm, Animal Farm

situational irony

an event occurs that contradicts the expectations of the reader

ex. The animals took over the farm so they could run it themselves.

verbal irony

when a speaker says one thing but means the opposite

ex. Squealer explains to the animals that Napoleon believes, most deeply, that all animals are equal, all the while the pigs are privy to living in the farmhouse and eating milk and apples while the rest of the animals starve.

diction

the selection of words an author uses to create a specific impact or tone in their writing

ex. "They explained that by their studies of the past three months the pigs had succeeded in reducing the principles of Animalism to Seven Commandments." Orwell 's choice of words in this extract gives us an insight into certain characteristics of the pigs. We've already learned that the pigs have taught themselves to read from an old spelling book and this implies their intelligence