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?
I would like an analysis of this answer if possible please.
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."
Ok I am still trying.
What do you feel about this response?
The use of allegory as a rhetorical device differentiates from a non-fictional account in that an allegory is interpreted to reveal a meaning, typically a moral or political one. The reader has to interpret their own meaning of the story in order to make a connection on their own. In a non-fictional account, the meaning is already laid out. There is no need to mentally construct a meaning of the story.
Honestly, your answer is blather. look that term up.
Allegory puts truth and meaning in a new story line, and you are correct, the reader has to make the connection and the meaning of the story. In a non-fictional account, the reader does not have to mentally construct the meaning...it is laid out. Recommend leave out the Bible and Jesus out of this description, wrapping any argument you make in religious terms is usually distracting to your point.
1. Bobpursley is right. And, yes, omit the religious references. They are off-topic.
Definition:
allegory -- a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
"Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey"
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/allegory
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Fix this so there is no sentence fragment at the end:
This leaves the reader to interpret the meaning of the story. Leaving each reader's interpretation different.
Once you fix that and omit all the religious references, try again.
That is better. A historical account tells of people and events who actually existed. It is to explain what actually happened. A statistical account of something merely lists statistics. If you don't know what statistics are, look up the word in the dictionary using the link bobpursley gave you. An allegory is a fictional account. The characters and events are not ones that actually existed or exist and the events are not things that really happened. The allegory represents reality (as seen by the author), but is fiction, not history or statistics. You must understand what an allegory is, what history is, and what statistics are. You are still not quite clear on those concepts.
Analysis:
The use of allegory as a rhetorical device in Animal Farm differs from simply presenting a non-fictional account or a historical/statistical analysis of the rise of the Communist Party in several ways.
Firstly, an allegory employs symbolic characters and events to convey abstract ideas or moral lessons. In Animal Farm, each character represents a specific political concept or viewpoint, such as Napoleon representing Joseph Stalin and Snowball representing Leon Trotsky. This allows George Orwell to present the complexities and nuances of the Communist Party's rise in a more engaging and relatable manner.
Secondly, allegory leaves room for interpretation and invites readers to analyze and extract meaning from the story. Unlike a straightforward non-fictional or historical analysis, where the facts and conclusions are presented explicitly, an allegorical narrative like Animal Farm requires readers to critically assess the characters, their actions, and their symbolism. This encourages readers to develop their own understanding and draw connections to real-world events or ideologies.
Thirdly, an allegory often emphasizes the universality of its themes, making it applicable to various historical or sociopolitical contexts. By employing symbolic characters and events, the allegorical narrative can transcend the specific historical or statistical details of a particular period, thereby allowing readers to see broader patterns and underlying truths. This distinguishes it from a non-fictional or historical analysis that focuses solely on specific facts and events.
Moreover, when examining the use of allegory in literature or religious texts, such as the Bible, one can observe its power to convey complex moral and theological concepts. Jesus often employed allegorical language and parables to present spiritual truths in a relatable and memorable way. For instance, the biblical phrase "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me" can be seen as an allegorical expression of feeling abandoned or left alone, invoking deeper emotional and spiritual meaning.
In summary, the use of allegory in Animal Farm allows for a more engaging and interpretive experience for readers, as they navigate symbolic characters and events to derive lessons and meaning. This distinguishes it from a straightforward non-fictional or historical account, which typically presents facts and analysis explicitly. Allegory also enables a connection to broader patterns and themes, making it applicable to different contexts. The use of allegory can also be seen in religious texts, where it serves to convey complex moral and theological concepts in a relatable and memorable way.