A Stylistic Analysis of Ideological Language in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell

Abstract

This study aims to provide a Critical Stylistic account of how ideological language is constructed in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, grounded in the approach outlined by Jeffries (2010). This study focuses on two TEXTUAL-CONCEPTUAL FUNCTIONS: naming and describing and representing actions/events. This study employed a qualitative descriptive research design, which is supported by close readings of selected passages from Orwell’s Animal Farm. The findings reveal that the author manipulates naming practices such as “comrades,” “traitor,” and “leader” to ideologically construct positive and negative identities, create oppositions, and legitimize power. He also employs representational strategies to skew agency, rewrite past events, and normalize ideological paradoxes (“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”). In conclusion, this study draws ideological meaning from Orwell’s Animal Farm, which is more than just reading between the lines. Ideological messages are constructed through linguistic choices. Furthermore, this study clarifies ideological manipulation and promotes stylistic theory by applying Jeffries’ principles. It also foregrounds how stylistics can function as a pedagogical tool to better understand and read critically against political discourse.