“more vivacious”
immediately establishes a contrast between snowball and Napoleon, the 2 emerging leaders. “vivacious” suggests snowball is lively and enthusiastic making him appear more approachable than “feirce looking” Napoleon. the comparative adjective “more’ suggests snowballs liveliness isn’t overwhelming but enough to make him stand out positively in the readers eyes. Orwell positions Snowball as the Trotsky figure in his allegory, whose intelligence and passion are no match for napoleons manipulation and desire for power.
“more inventive”
more creative and forward thinking, “inventive” implies imagination, innovation and problem solving ability making Snowball appear a true visionary. Orwell uses this to display Snowball as a moral character.
“four legs good, two legs bad”
uses simple, rhythmic language to enforce blind obedience and make it easy for the less educated animals to memorise. symbolically “four legs” represent the oppressed animals and the ideals of animalism and “two legs” denotes humans and the concept of exploitation. Orwells use of this phrase demonstrates how language itself can become a tool of idealogical control.
“instituting classes in reading and writing”
initial utopian vision of animal farm and animalism. the formal verb “instituting” conveys deliberate organisation and a sense of progress echoing revolutionary promises of equality. by prioritising “reading and writing” Orwell presents literacy as the foundation of independent thought, theoretically, a skill preventing manipulation. the irony is that the readers awarenesss that the early commitment to education will later be subverted as pigs monetise literacy to maintain control. this mirrors early bolshevik emphasis on mass education, later compromised by Stalins regime.
“launched his first attack”
dynamic verb “launched” has millitaristic connotations to present Snowball as a strategic and forceful, evoking imagery of precision and deliberate planning rather than chaotic violence
“only good human is a dead one”
Orwell uses blunt hyperbole to reveal the corrosive effects of revolutionary fervour once it becomes entrenched in absolutism. the noun “human” erases individuality, reflecting the dehumanising propaganda.
“9 enormous dogs dashed straight for snowball”
violent imagery symbolises consolidation of totalitarian power. “enormous” suggests physical threat, overwhelming force, and intimidation. the verb “dashed” implies sudden purposeful aggression. by targeting snowball, Orwell mirrors Stalins expulsion of Trotsky using the dogs as an allegorical parallel to the NKVG.
“seen no more”
chilling tone contrasting violence it conceals. totalitarian regimes erase enemies not only physically but historically from public memory.
