Question

Write an essay of at least 250 words that describes and explains examples of figurative language you found in Animal Farm when you completed your response journal on that topic. Include one example of each of the five types of figurative language from the words or phrases you selected.

Answer 1

George Orwell in his Animal Farm rules out the old approach of using literary devices. The author satirizes totalitarianism, creating a world of animal kingdom with animal characters. Indeed, the characters exhibit namely behaviors which it has a political allusion.

Figurative language is used to recreate a new meaning, to say something in a different way that is already said. It is used by writers to make the writing material easier to read, make it more interesting, and help the reader to imagine the story better than the simple form. Overall, it is a creative process which helps writers convey the ideas how they want and how they think it is correct.

Orwell used many different literary devices. Among them onomatopoeia, metaphor, allusion, simile and personification are notable examples. Onomatopoeia is a literary device used to create a word to resemble the sound. Since Animal Farm takes place in animal kingdom, Orwell has extensively used animal sounds. At one point of the novel, Old Major sings the song "Beasts of England". Orwell uses onomatopoeia for the vivid description of the scene. He writes the following lines: "...the cows lowed it, the dogs whined it, the sheep bleated it, the ducks quacked it." Although there is onomatopoeia, Orwell shows that there is a transformation from pigs to humans in which they start using human language.

Orwell creates metaphor in the character Farmer Jones, accompanied by his actions and behavior. Additionally, the constant repetition of the lines "Four legs good, two legs bad" characterize man metaphorically in comparison with animals.

The novel itself is an obvious example of personification based on its name and characters. The author personifies animals related to the certain traits and emotions. However, Orwell also used extended personification showing that pigs can write and read. It is an allegory for the Soviet revolutionaries and their manipulation of the world.

Allusions could be found in the examples of Cuban Revolution (also it was thought that Orwell alluded Cuban Revolution as well) and in the administration of the USSR. The characters Napoleon and Snowball are the allusions respectively for Stalin and Trotsky.

Simile is also a metaphor considering only the usage of the connecting words such as like, as, so, than, or etc. Orwell writes that "All that year animals worked like slaves". In this last example like slaves is a simile.  

Answer 2

The figurative languages used in the novel “Animal Farm” are Imagery, symbolism, irony, hyperbole, and foreshadowing.

Imagery is a vivid language that appeals to the senses.

Imagery is a literary device which includes languages which are descriptive. It functions as a way for the readers to imagine the world of literature in a better way. It also adds symbolism in the piece of art. Imagery is drawn upon the five senses which consist of taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound. It helps in better imaginings of the artist's world in his work. Imagery is used in the following lines in the novel:

"He repeated a number of times, 'Tactics, comrades, tactics!' skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh." (Chapter 5, Page 58)

Symbolism is the other meaning which an object, event or situation carries on other than its literal meaning. The example of symbolism is:

“It was about this time the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there.” (Chapter VI)

In this sentence, the farmhouse symbolizes division of power.

The irony is the statement which has the meaning opposite to what is said literally. It creates humor. The example of irony is:

“Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. At first, no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies who Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. Though not yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones.” Chapter 5, page 21.

this is ironic because none were supposed to work like humans on the farm.

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement which is not meant to be taken literally.

The example of Hyperbole is in Old Major's Speech:

“His two slogans, ‘I will work harder’ and ‘Napoleon is always right,’ seemed to him a sufficient answer to all his problems.” pg. 61  

Foreshadowing is the warning given in the novel about any future event which may occur.  The example of Foreshadowing is when the pigs will behave like humans:

“Without saying anything to the others, she (Clover) 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 colors.” pg. 46