Animal farm

• "what is the nature of this life of ours?"


  Rhetorical question makes the animals think about the unfairness go their lives

  
  

  the inclusive pronoun "our" shows Old Major believes all are equal
• "Let's face it: our lives are miserable, laborious and short"


  Old major uses a very emotive language to portray their lives in the worst possible light

  the triplet of words adds emphasis- the reader is introduced to lack of hope in the animals lives and the oppressive environment where they live

  
  

  
  

  whilst this may be true of some, its clearly not true for hum, yet it persuades because it is true for some- describes them as hopeless victims
• We are slaughtered with hideous cruelty


  Inclusive pronouns:

  + DIRECTLY ADDRESSES all animals.

  + Provides a COLLECTIVE IDENTITY for the animals.

  + Sense of unity in the SHARED SUFFERING EXPERIENCE.

  
  

  - Utilises VIVID and EMOTIVE language: + 'slaughtered'+ 'hideous' creates a semantic field of brutality + oppression →clear indication of matters being unjust/ inhumane.
• "No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness....No animal in England is free,"


  he uses repetition to emphases his point

  This is a hyperbole, a huge exaggeration but there is a grain of truth so it persuades
• "The life of an animal is misery and slavery; that is the plain truth"


  - Use of emotive language (semantic field of brutality)

  →straightforward language ("misery," "slavery," "plain truth") = BLUNT + UNAMBIGUOUS statement (esp. To illiterate animals)

  
  

  - Portraying the animals' EXISTENCE as one characterised by SUFFERING and SUBJUGATION

  
  

  .- Endings of nouns as well as 'and' may suggests CONTINUITY, a regular pattern that can applied to all animals- instigates change (ie: the rebellion)
• "It is summed up in a single word- Man. Man is the only one real enemy we have"


  - Direct + declarative (simple) sentence identifies humans as the primary adversary (enemy) to their well-being.

  
  

  FURTHER EMPHASISED by:

  + "real" suggests a singular and significant threat (illiterate animals)

  + "enemy" implies hostility and opposition, setting up a clear division

  + 'Only' and 'we' (inclusive pronouns) sense of unity when facing an enemy.

  
  

  persuasive- it unites them all against a common enemy
• "Man is the only creature that consumes without producing"


  - Contrast between "consumes" and "producing" highlights a perceived IMBALANCE in the relationship between humans and animals.

  
  

  - 'Only' distinguishes man, implies everyone should turn against them

  
  

  - Implies humans EXPLOIT resources WITHOUT contributing back, portraying them as PARASITICAL in their relationship with other creatures.

  
  

  creates a sense of anger- shows that animals feel they are being used by the humans

  
  

  persuasive as he's using comparisons that are easily understood. Ironically these descriptions could later be applied to the pigs, but the animals are too scared to voice them
• "Only get rid of Man..... Almost overnight we could become rich and free."


  exaggeration builds their aspirations to be free and give them hope, which encourages them to rebel

  
  

  He over simplifies things and does not elaborate to how they can accomplish this desire
• he uses the word "comrade"


  this makes them sound like friends and therefore persuades them to agree. It also makes them sound like fellow soldiers as they embark on a battle, which unites them in a common cause
• "all animals are equal"


  ends with some maxims- very effective persuasive technique as it leaves the animals with phrases that they can remember which seem to sum up what has been said

  
  

  Straightforward and declarative statement that sets a foundational principle

  
  

  .- Repetition of "all" emphasises inclusivity.

  
  

  - Assertion of equality suggests a desire for fairness and justice, laying the groundwork for the animals' collective aspirations and potential rebellion for animalism.