Animal Farm

Text Guides

Structural Features Analysis

Literary Features

Structural Feature Analysis and Purpose
Fable This genre allows Orwell to portray complex political ideas in a simple and relatable way. It also enables him to critique human behaviour through the actions of animals, which provides distance from real-world political figures.
Allegory The story is a symbolic narrative in which characters represent broader sociopolitical ideas, paralleling the events of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism. Through allegory, Orwell critiques totalitarian regimes, the betrayal of revolutionary ideals, and the manipulation of power.
Circular narrative This creates a sense of inevitability and inescapability, suggesting that the pigs were always going to abuse their power and become tyrants.
Setting The small, rural farm in England serves as a microcosm for the world and, more specifically, the Soviet Union. The simplicity of the farm setting helps universalise the themes of the novel. It also mirrors the isolationist policies often adopted by totalitarian regimes.
Allegory Each character serves as a symbol for larger social and political forces.
Omniscient narration The all-knowing narrator grants readers access to a deeper understanding than the characters have, creating an ironic gap between what the animals think and what we know is really happening.
Dramatic irony The animals on the farm remain unaware of the pigs’ betrayal, but the reader can clearly see how the pigs are exploiting them. This dramatic irony heightens the reader’s awareness of the corruption of the pigs and underscores the theme of exploitation.
Propaganda slogans These slogans represent the manipulative power of language and propaganda. They are used by the pigs to control the other animals and justify their actions, mirroring how political regimes manipulate language to control the populace.

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