Mind Map

Analysis:

Work Cited

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. London, Penguin UK, 2008.

In Animal Farm, George Orwell uses a dystopian writing device of character's thoughts, which is evident with the comment "– ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS" about the hypocrisy of pigs that proclaim the absolute equality of their citizens but give power and privileges to only pigs (Orwell 90).

George Orwell not only uses allusion as a dystopian writing device, but he also uses the literary device of foreshadowing throughout "Animal Farm." During Old Major's speech, he claims that “Man is the only real enemy--" and that they need to "[r]emove Man from the [farm]," who are "the root cause of hunger and overwork--” (Orwell 4). It serves as a foreshadowing that the goal of animals' coup d'État is to kick humans out of the farm and let animals work for themselves, not someone else.

• The story illustrates the internal conflict within the protagonist --the collective animals-- regarding equality and fairness, because the pigs are beginning to adopt humans, and self-imposed in their own superiority.
• Reflects how power can change individuals and shows the struggle to maintain principles amidst changing power dynamics, showing the manipulation of the pigs and the distortion of the initial revolutionary ideals.
• The statement marks a turning point in the plot as it signifies the corruption of the pigs' original ideals, leading to the establishment of a new hierarchy that mirrors the humans' exploitative system.
• The new system is worse for the other animals and better for the pigs, and it is a true example of a dystopia, with larger hierarchical gaps.
• The motif of power and corruption deepens, illustrating how good intentions can become twisted for personal gain, and provides a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked authority.
• It is also a perfect example of communism

• The inciting incident of the novel, Old Major’s speech foreshadows the potential for a revolutionary change in the animals’ lives by removing humans.
• The speech inspires especially Napoleon to carry on Old Major's work and provides insight into the animals.
• Old Major’s statement, “[m]an is the only real enemy we have” foreshadows the main conflict, setting the humans as the antagonists, suggesting the struggle for empowering humans and obtaining equality (Orwell 4).
• It foreshadows the possible challenges animals might have and the unexpected consequences, such as the power struggle between Napoleon and Snowball which leads to the consequences of revolution and the downside of leadership.
• The speech suggests a utopian society where animals can live without interruption from the oppressing human dominance as it claims that removing humans would end hunger and overwork.

Final Statement

Protagonist’s Thoughts

Use of Foreshadowing

George Orwell's Animal Farm makes use of many dystopian writing devices, including the protagonist's thoughts, slogans, and literary devices such as allusion foreshadowing, and warnings. By analyzing the protagonist's thoughts, readers can understand the major characters's internal struggles. Orwell's expert use of this technique is evident in the powerful declaration, "[a]ll animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" (Orwell 90). This statement reveals the animals's collective conflict over fairness and equality. Another effective tool in dystopian writing is the use of slogans to emphasize sameness. The evolution of "four legs good, two legs better" serves as a stark illustration of the corruption of power and a warning against leadership corruption (89). Literary devices, such as allusion, are also utilized to foreshadow events in the narrative and draw comparisons to historical conflicts, such as Stalin's expulsion of Trotsky, as seen in the allegorical election between Napoleon and Snowball. The tragic conclusion of Animal Farm serves as a subtle yet impactful warning, highlighting the tragic outcome of the animals' struggle and the cyclical nature of political corruption. With these dystopian writing devices, Orwell effectively intertwines a narrative that not only entertains but also provides a thought-provoking analysis of the fragility of ideals, the dangers of unchecked authority, and the blurred borders between oppressors and oppressed in our societies.

Animal Farm

Dystopian Writing Devices

by Tei Im

George Orwell employs several dystopian writing devices, including literary devices. The skillful usage of allusion is evident throughout the novel. Furthermore, the use of allusion and allegory is directly evident when there is an election between Napoleon and Snowball, but suddenly “-- nine enormous dogs ... dashed straight for Snowball, who

only sprang from

his place just in

time to escape

their snapping

jaws” (Orwell 35).

Analysis:

Use of Slogans

Use of Allusion

Warnings and Cautions

• This event alludes to Joseph Stalin's expulsion of Leon Trotsky from the Soviet Union. Where Napoleon represents Stalin and Snowball represents Trotsky, due to power struggles between the rivals, Trotsky gets assassinated by Stalin's secret polices (dogs).
• Pigs introduce the concept of Animalism, which promotes equality and better rewards. It alludes to the idea of communism that Stalin brings up. It gives animals, citizens of Russia, hope that they will have a better life, but again the only ones suffering are the innocent workers.
• As a result of the allusion to the Russian Revolution, this quotation hints to the readers what will happen as the plot progresses, such as the pigs becoming like Mr. Jones themselves at the end, a parallel to Stalin’s totalitarian government after the overthrow.
• The event of revolution is one of the main conflicts throughout the story, which is person vs government.
• In the story, the person vs. government conflict is represented through the animals vs. humans, but this soon becomes animals vs. pigs

In the profound social commentary woven into George Orwell's "Animal Farm," a subtle yet powerful warning emerges in the conclusion, when "[t]he creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again [and] it was impossible to say which was which" (Orwell 94). This warning encapsulates the tragic resolution of the animals' liberation struggle, poignantly underlining the ultimate betrayal by the pigs.

Analysis:

• This warning encapsulates the tragic ending of the novel, highlighting the animals' failed attempt to gain freedom and the pigs' ultimate betrayal.
• The caution reinforces the motif of cyclical patterns of oppression and political corruption to show the recurring oppression that prevails even after a revolution.
• The message serves as a poignant conclusion to its exploration of the theme of power and corruption, underlining the dangers of unchecked authority and the fragility of ideals in the face of absolute power.
• The quotation plays a role as a warning about the blurred boundaries between oppressors and oppressed, and how quickly one’s ally can turn into an enemy, especially when power and corruption are involved.
• This text highlights the dangers of power and corruption, which can dissolve a movement and distort it into tyranny and oppression.

Another dystopian writing device is the slogans. George Orwell utilizes slogans as a means to emphasize the sameness of the dystopian society set in "Animal Farm." The original slogan of “four legs good, two legs bad –” symbolizes the animals's united strength against human oppressors and their desire for freedom (Orwell 22). However, a significant turning point occurs and the slogan changes to "[f]our legs good, two legs better" as the pigs's power corrupt (Orwell 89). This alteration sets the dystopian factor that serves as a warning of the pigs' corruption and their manipulation of language to align with their corrupted values, exposing the dangers of leadership corruption and the misuse of power.

change it to “[f]our legs good, two legs better” (Orwell 22, 89).

Analysis:

• The alteration of the slogan is a significant turning point in pig's values, and the new version implies that humans and pigs are superior to other animals, which stands against the initial philosophy.
• Also, it demonstrates the pigs’ corruption as they change the slogan that they once stood for, to align with their corrupted values.
• The transformation of the slogan illustrates how those in power can manipulate language to serve their own interests. In the story, the pigs, who were once the delegate of fairness and equality from humans, have now changed the slogan to justify their adoption of human traits and behaviours, revealing the danger of leadership corruption and how it can lead to the misuse of power.
• The slogans contribute to analyzing the theme of manipulation and propaganda, emphasizing how those in power can twist language to serve their interests and deceive the masses.
• The change of slogan is ironic since it reverses the original message of condemning two-legged creatures to praise them.
• It also highlights the hypocrisy of the original principles, showing how power can deprive the cognition of what used to be good.