Literary Analysis: Animal Farm

General

1. The plot is based on the Russian Revolution, but instead it takes place on Manor Farm. The animals plan a rebellion to overthrow their human masters. The animals are successful in overthrowing the humans on the farm and start to set up their own government. The animals set up there own rules and laws known as the Seven Commandments of Animalism which insures equality. As time progresses the pigs establish a totalitarian and dictatorship government due to their greater intelligence. The pigs eventually replace the humans and take over the farm. The narrative allows a careful observation of the pigs rise to power and taking the place of humans.
2. Since the novel for the most part is based on the Russian Revolution the theme is for the most part political. The theme seems to be no matter what form of government is in power or in charge over time will become corrupt.
3. The overall tone of the novel is negative. There are parts where the tone is triumphant due to overthrowing the humans, but it is all downhill from there.

• “The seasons came and went, the short animal lives fled by. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion, except Clover, Benjamin, Moses, the raven, and a number of the pigs.”
• He walked heavily around the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plans, and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans, and walked out without uttering a word.

• None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.

4. Allusion – there are many allusions to the Russian Revolution throughout the novel. This is mainly due to the fact that the novel is based on the political strife in Russia.
   Personification – All the animals can talk which is a human trait. Plus they set up a government and build things.
   Fable – The novel uses animals to teach the moral lesson of the danger of power.
   Foreshadowing – It becomes evident that as the pigs break the commandments the animals start to fall apart.
   Motif – The novel uses motif often throughout the novel. For example the sheep's chant over and over again.
   Satire – The whole novel is satire of the social and political strife in Russia.
   Allegory – The characters and setting all represent something.

Characterization

1.Direct Characterization: Because Animal Farm is such a short novel direct characterization is essential to the novel's progress and getting the theme across.

• “Boxer was an enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high, and as strong as two ordinary horses put together. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance, and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence, but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. Napoleon was a large, rather fierce looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way.”

Indirect Characterization: This is used to make the novel more interesting and the plot more intriguing.

• “When a boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill, it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch, his breath coming fast, the tips of his hoofs clawing at the ground, and his great sides matted with sweat, filled everyone with admiration.

Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as 'Napoleon'. He was always referred to in formal style as 'our Leader, Comrade Napoleon', and the pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-Fold, Ducklings' Friend, and the like.”

2. The diction and syntax does not change when focused on a character or characters.

3. Since there is no protagonist every character is different. Some characters are flat and some are round. Some are dynamic and some static. The pigs are mainly dynamic and round and all the other animals are flat and static.

4. I came away like I met a character because the novel is viewed from a political satirical standpoint.