Language

Choice of words

On a basic level, the choice of words in Animal Farm reflects its rural setting, as there are countless references to farm animals, farming implements, and other terms associated with farming. Expressions like ‘cart-horses’ (p.2), ‘windfall’ (p. 22), ‘pastures’ (p. 24), ‘artificial manures’ (p. 42) and ‘seed-beds’ (p. 52) all serve to strengthen the image of a farm setting.

However, because the book also has a strongly political focus, a large number of political terms can be found as well - especially words and phrases associated with communism. For example, the animals constantly call each other ‘comrade’ (e.g. p. 3) even before their ‘Rebellion’ (p. 11), and later on the animals ‘vote’ at a ‘general assembly’ (p. 19) and form ‘Committees’ (p. 20).

This curious mixture of words from two different worlds reflects the novel’s status as a political allegory - an unusual setting is combined with political elements, to tell a familiar story of revolution and society reform in a different light.

Tone

The tone in the text is mostly straightforward, with events presented as they happen and as the animals experience them. The text itself is a mix of narration and dialogue. It also makes heavy use of indirect speech, as it often simply summarises the general idea of conversations or announcements:

[Napoleon] announced that he had already made all the arrangements. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings, which would clearly be most undesirable. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. (p. 43)

The third person narrator does not directly comment on the situations that unfold, though we are often told how the various animals experience them. We do get a sense that the narrator sympathises with the animals, as we are often told in specific detail about the pain and hardships they suffer.

The tone is ironic at times, especially when it presents the events from the point of view of the ‘lower class’ animals, who are often unaware of what is really happening. This becomes more and more clear as the story goes on and the animals start to accept incre...