Animal Farm Analysis

Animal Farm Analysis

Animal Farm – Notes
Chapter 1 : Old Major’s Speech
Techniques:

  * Inclusive Language
  * Imperative
  * Rhetorical Questions
  * Metaphors
  * Repetition
  * Personification
  * Juxtaposition
  * Emotive Language

Explain how Old Major has used this piece of rhetoric to instill a sense of comradery in the animals and instigate the rebellion.

Old Major, opens his motivating speech with “Comrades”. Orwell uses inclusive language to portray how Old Major, as the leader of the animals includes them to make them feel encompassed in his message. “But I will come to the dream…I have something else…I do not think… I shall be with you” This imperative language underlines the fact that he has a role of leadership in Animal farm. Old major depicts the animal’s lives as “miserable, laborious and short” by the use of emotive language, which further accentuates the animals struggle. Old major then juxtaposes their misery by opening up with the positive vision. “Climate is good, it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater…” This further emphasises the pursuit of happiness, which the animals look up to. Orwell then puts a halt to the fantasy and asks, “Why then do we continue in this miserable condition?” The inclusive language ‘we’ creates an impact on the animal’s personal feelings. Orwell’s use of rhetorical questions creates emotion in his speech, which makes the animals think about the situation they are currently facing. "Before I die I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom". This makes the animals feel sadness for he is near the end of his life, shame because he is such a noble character, and gratuity for sharing his wisdom with them. The animals also believe almost anything old major says because he is old and wise. He has lived a long life on the farm and knows a lot about the farmer Mr Jones. Over his life Old Major has watched the sinister and wicked ways of Mr Jones and has realised that he is an evil man...