In the story Animal Farm how is the use of allegory as a rhetorical device different from simply laying out a non-fictional account, or an historical or statistical analysis of the period and the rise of the Communist Party?

Answer: Within an allegory every character represents a political concept or has a different moral viewpoint. This leaves the reader to interpret the meaning of the story. Leaving each reader's interpretation different. As far as historical you could start with looking the bible. The bible offers complex moral and theological concepts told by Jesus. Allegory can bed seen for example "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me". Allegory can be seen with two gods resulting in feeling "forsaken."

If you look at all of the responses below yours about "allegory" I am certain you will be able to piece together your answer : )

so you do not feel this answer is adequate

To understand how the use of allegory as a rhetorical device differs from a non-fictional or historical analysis, let's break down the characteristics of allegory and its purpose.

Allegory is a literary device in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. In the case of Animal Farm, each animal character represents a specific political figure or ideology. For instance, the pigs represent the leaders of the Communist Party, while Boxer the horse represents the working class. This use of symbolism allows the author to convey deeper meaning and critique societal or political issues.

Unlike a non-fictional or historical account, an allegory relies on symbolism rather than presenting the events and facts straightforwardly. While non-fictional or historical accounts typically aim to present objective facts and analysis of a period, an allegory focuses more on metaphor and symbolism to convey its message. Allegory often creates an engaging and thought-provoking narrative, where the audience needs to interpret the meaning and draw their own conclusions.

For example, if one were to write a non-fictional account or historical analysis of the rise of the Communist Party, they would focus on presenting factual information, timeline of events, and analyzing the political and social factors at play. On the other hand, Animal Farm uses allegory to depict its critique of the Communist Party and its totalitarian tendencies in a more metaphorical and open-ended manner.

In summary, while non-fictional or historical analyses present factual information and objective analysis, allegory utilizes symbolism and metaphor to convey deeper meaning and invites the reader to interpret the story in their own unique way.