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Hyperbole
Definition of Imagery
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After Apple-Picking" contain imagery that engages... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines... read full definition
Chapter 10
Explanation and Analysis—Horrified Silence:
As part of the novel’s final betrayal, the pigs parade in front of the other horrified animals, walking on their hind legs and wearing clothes. In this passage, the author uses auditory imagery to deepen the confused, uncomfortable atmosphere:
There was a deadly silence. Amazed, terrified, huddling together, the animals watched the long line of pigs march slowly round the yard.
By this point in the novel, it’s clear that the pigs have abandoned all pretense of holding revolutionary ideas. After months of editing the Commandments and quietly changing the rules, they’re finally showing their true colors. Wearing clothes and walking on two legs were two of the first things the animals decided would be permanently banned. Now that the pigs have taken charge publicly, this is no longer the case. The auditory imagery of this scene’s new and "deadly silence" sets the mood for this shocking change as the pigs parade around the farmyard. This silence seems odd in the context of a “parade,” which one might expect to be noisy and joyful. In contrast to any celebratory racket, there’s a total absence of sound. This void emphasizes the fear and submission of the other animals, who are so shocked that they “huddle together.” The silence enveloping the yard as the pigs display their newfound power is a chilling confirmation of the drastic shift in the farm's power dynamics. The animals have lost the capacity to speak and are now mute spectators to their own oppression.
Related Themes:
