Orwell: "Politics and the English Language"

1. What is Orwell’s thesis? Does he actually state it, or is it implied?

“Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble.” It is not just about the admen.

2. How effective is Orwell’s analogy of the cause and effect of alcohol abuse to the demise of language (para. 2)?

“A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”

This comment is effective because it directly compares the effects of alcohol to our untidy use of the English language.  

3. In each of the following paragraphs — paragraphs 4, 5, 12, 15, and 16 — Orwell uses at least one metaphor or simile. Identify each figure of speech. Then explain how it works and whether you find it rhetorically effective.

Paragraph 4: “The writer knows more or less what he wants to say, but an accumulation of stale phrases chokes him like tea leaves blocking a sink.”

This simile explains how the tea leaves are the writer’s words and when there are meaningless phrases which means the writer won’t successfully get people to understand the main purpose of his/her text.

4. Orwell develops his ideas through extensive use of examples. Try rewriting paragraph 5, 6, 7, or 8 without examples. How does the effect of the paragraph change?

To remove any examples from the text would leave the paragraphs blank because they are entirely made up of examples. Orwell uses these examples to support his arguments and by removing them, it would leave his arguments too vague and we would not be able to comprehend his main point.

5. What is the purpose of the additional information provided in Orwell’s footnotes for paragraphs 7 and 8? Why do you think Orwell chose to put the information in footnotes rather than in the main text?

His footnote is used as his citation of where he found his evidence. He chose to place it at the end because putting in his text would most likely distract the reader and he would not to be able to portray his main argument clearly.

6. Orwell wrote this essay before he was well known for his novels. He uses the first person, yet he does not directly state his qualifications to speak on language. How does he establish ethos? Should he have been more direct?

Orwell establishes ethos by using a formal tone and showing his knowledge and awareness in the English language throughout his essay.

7. How would you describe the overall organization of this essay? Examine its movement, from the examples in the opening to the rules in the ending.

Overall the organization of this essay is very well put together. He starts off with the examples at the begging to show what he is trying to claim. And throughout the text he supports it with examples of what to and not to do. Overall it is very coherent.

8. What is Orwell’s purpose in writing this essay? How might the historical context of post–World War II affect that purpose? Cite specific passages to support your response.

Orwell’s purpose in writing this essay is to inform the “bad habits” of writing in politics, because of the lack of thinking their words through, and how Political writers declined the value of the English language to mislead people. The purpose of the historical context of post – World War II is for him to argue that the Nazi Propaganda affected his purpose.  

9. How would you describe the tone of Orwell’s essay? Can you sum it up in one word, or does the essay range from one tone to another? Cite specific passages to support your response.

Orwell uses a formal tone in his essay. Because he is arguing his claim, throughout most of his essay, the formal/informative tone does not change.