Commentary on Old Major's speech

Old Major's speech was directed to the animals. It was about over throwing the man and the animals should take over. It was all a rebellion. In this short essay I will describe the persuasive techniques used by Old Major to persuade his fellow animals to follow his dreams. I will include quotes and other important features used by Orwell. The main part of his speech is on his dream. Old Major the 'Middle White Boar' chooses the place and the time to make his speech very carefully. From this we can infer that he has taken his time to analyse successful techniques employed by other famous speakers from the past. In addition Old Major has a title and that is he was a prize to Mr. Jones. Also his appearance was revealing. He had a benevolent appearance and his tushes where never cut. Orwell describes how well Old Major had positioned himself on 'a sort of raised platform.' He did this in order to give the speaker (Old Major) prominence, to make him look bigger and more important so that the farmyard animals would believe he was a person who should be listened to with respect. Another important feature to do with persuasion was that Orwell states Old Major was 'ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantern which hung from a beam.' This means that Old Major was in the light and the audience was in the dark. Additionally he was more comfortable than the rest

  • Word count: 1191
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The 3 Size Challenged Pigs.

The 3 Size Challenged Pigs Once, there were three size challenged pigs, of different nationalities, who lived together in mutual respect and in harmony with their environment. Using resources that were native to the area, Mr Australia built his house out of straw, Mr France built his out of sticks, and Mr America built his out of clay that was shaped into bricks and baked in a small energy-efficient oven. When their work was completed, and they were satisfied with their efforts, the three height impaired pigs settled down to live in peaceful autonomy. Little did they know that their ambitions would soon be shattered! One day, along came a niceness-deprived wolf with expansionist ideas. He saw the pigs and grew hungry, in both a physical and ideological sense. When the pigs saw the wolf, they ran to Mr Australia's house of straw and huddled in the corner. The wolf ran up to the house and banged on the door, shouting, "Vertically challenged pigs, let me in!" The pigs replied, "Your shock tactics hold no fear for pigs defending their homes and culture!" But the wolf was not the type to be denied what he believed to be his obvious destiny, so he huffed and puffed and blew down the Australian pig's house of straw. The pigs, shocked at the wolf's ability to blow down a house in a single breathe, ran for the house of sticks belonging to Mr France. Along came the wolf and

  • Word count: 706
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What Strategies Do The Pigs Use To Suppress The Other Animals On The Farm, And How Is This Suppression Heightened Through Orwell's Use Of Language?

Introduction Animal Farm is a book written by George Orwell, but his real name was Eric Arthur Blair. The book was based on the Russian Revolution, which occurred in 1917. The idea of the book came about as he began to notice the indecisiveness of the Russian Government. He also witnessed how badly the leaders were treating the public. The events relate to when Tsar Nicholas the 2nd was the leader of Russia. He was a very rich man and made sure that everyone else was poor. He wanted all the luxuries for himself, but wanted everyone else to live in poverty. The revolution occurred in February during which time the Provisional Government was overthrown and Vladimir Lenin kicked out Nicholas the 2nd, which led to Lenin having control of Winter Palace. Orwell was annoyed with the way that the leaders of Russia were treating their public. Lenin's reign then came to an abrupt end when he died in 1924. Consequently, Russia was left without a leader making it vulnerable. Stalin then competed with Leon Trotsky for the leadership and eventually won. Trotsky had plans to industrialise the country, but Stalin refused to have these plans implemented. This is similar to Snowball's plans for building a windmill for the overall good of the farm. In 1928, Stalin copied Trotsky's idea and industrialised the country. Stalin was initially a moderator but then became a

  • Word count: 1809
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Animal Farm - Snowball's Diary

Animal Farm Snowball's Diary 8th March Old Major died in his sleep today. He had known that his time was near. He gathered us all into the barn only 3 days previously and spoke openly of the wisdom he had gained over the years and of the strange dream that he had. He spoke of how we are all comrades. He asked what kind of life do we have? 'Miserable, laborious and short.' We are given only so much to eat that will keep us breathing and give us the strength to carry out a days work and no more. We are pushed to the limits and when we are not capable of carrying out our duties we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. Most animals do not know the meaning of happiness because they do not live beyond 1 year. The life of an animal is misery and slavery. Remove man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever. Man is lord of all the animals, he makes them work, gives food enough to prevent us from starving and keeps the rest for himself. He is very selfish he is our enemy. He spoke of Rebellion and how we must fight when the time came for future generations to carry on the struggle until it is victorious. Little did we know the Rebellion was going to start so soon. 1th March Napoleon and I decided to hold meetings during the, week to discuss and prepare for the Rebellion if it was to happen. Today I was talking to my comrades about how we

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Does "Animal Farm" fit the definition of a fable?

Does "Animal Farm" fit the definition of a fable? A fable is a story with animal characters which teaches a lesson or has a moral. The animals speak like humans and normally have a specific quality, such as the slow tortoise and the speedy hare. A famous fable writer was Aesop. Characters do not develop much in the story and humour is often used. Fables are made-up stories but often make important points about real life. The fable (In Greek language "Muzos" which you can literally translate as "myth") has its own evolution over time, according to the development of the people expressing it and their culture. "Animal Farm" is written by George Orwell. The animals of Manor Farm overthrow their human master and look forward to a new way of living, one with peace and freedom, but when the pigs of the farm take control of Animal Farm, they create havoc and all animals are soon back to their old ways and conditions of starvation, overwork and intimidation. The animals have not succeeded in their desire to be equal. This is shown when Benjamin reads out on a wall, "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others". This story fulfils many of the characteristics of a fable. The characters do show many human strong points and also display human weaknesses and faults such as greed, pride and vanity. This case can be seen in two pigs who personify greediness

  • Word count: 724
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Animal Farm essay

Animal Farm Animal Farm is the most famous work of political fable ever written. In it; the animals take over the running of a farm, and everything is perfect for a while - until the pigs get out of hand. It's a brilliant description of what happens when a revolution goes astray. True appreciation of Animal Farm requires an understanding of the history of the Russian revolution, but those without it will still get the point. And Animal Farm can even be appreciated as a story by children with no understanding of the political message at all! As Churchill said: "Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely". This is vividly and eloquently proved in Orwell's short novel. "Animal Farm" is a simple fable of great symbolic value, and as Orwell himself explained: "it is the history of a revolution that went wrong". It tells a good story that aims to prove that human nature and diversity prevent people from being equal and happy, or at least equally happy. The novel tells the simple and tragic story of what happens when the oppressed Manor farm's animal's rebel, drive out Mr. Jones, the farmer, and attempt to rule the farm themselves, on an equal basis. What the animals seem to have aimed at was a utopian sort of communism, where each would work according to his capacity, respecting the needs of others. The venture failed, and "Animal Farm" ended up being a dictatorship

  • Word count: 872
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Trace the course of rivalry between Snowball and Napoleon, and narrate the circumstances in which Snowball was expelled from Animal Farm.

Q1 Trace the course of rivalry between Snowball and Napoleon, and narrate the circumstances in which Snowball was expelled from Animal Farm. Immediately after Old Major's death, the two main characters, Napoleon and Snowball, were introduced: Napoleon was introduced as a "large, fierce-looking Berkshire", "not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way"-usually by force. Snowball, on the other hand, was "more vivacious", "quicker in speech" and "more inventive", although lacking Napoleon's "depth of character". This marked difference in their characters brought about clashes between the two. Right after the Rebellion, when the animals went to the harness room, they saw all the tools of torture and slavery used by Jones. Snowball threw the ribbons into the fire, considering them clothes, which were the marks of a human being, and that all animals should go naked. In this way, he had subtly declared himself leader, with the issuing of this decree. Meanwhile, Napoleon went to the store-shed and distributed more rations of food to everyone. This sparked off Snowball and Napoleon's rivalry as they both yearned to lead the animals. During the Meetings, where all the animals assembled, debates were being held. The work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated. However, in view of Napoleon and Snowball's situation, it was

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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George Orwells' Animal farm - Which incident in the noel has affected you the most deeply? Remember to refer closely to your chosen incident in explaining why you feel as you do.The incident of the pig's party with Men has affected me the most deeply.

Animal Farm by George Orwell Essay Question Melissa Nicole Teoh /12 (15) Which incident in the noel has affected you the most deeply? Remember to refer closely to your chosen incident in explaining why you feel as you do. The incident of the pig's party with Men has affected me the most deeply. At the beginning of the incident, when the deputation of neighbouring farmers arrived at the farm, I was angry. The pigs had invited Man, the animals supposed enemy to make a tour of inspection, which was outrageous to me, and the perfect opposite of Old Major's ideals for the farm. I also felt sorry for the animals, who were weeding the turnip field, and did not know "whether to be more frightened of the pigs or the human visitors. Later on in the evening, when the animals on the farm heard loud laughter and bursts of singing coming from the farmhouse, I was disgusted. I was disgusted as animals and men were arch enemies, yet the pigs were meeting with them on terms of equality, a downright opposite of the commandments at the beginning of the Rebellion. When the animals began to creep as quietly as possible into the farm house, with Clover leading the way in, I felt admiration for the animals that they had finally dared to stand up on their own feet, and not be extremely afraid of the pigs, and were inquisitive of what was happening in their surroundings. Next, when Mr.

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Animal Farm is a dystopian novel. Throughout the book, and through the characters, Orwell shows us the dangers of the societies in such a way, which explains every aspect of the different situations.

Animal Farm is a dystopian novel. Throughout the book, and through the characters, Orwell shows us the dangers of the societies in such a way, which explains every aspect of the different situations. The dangers that Orwell has warned us about are power corrupting, propaganda, the dangers of the different societies, how animals (people) were treated for anything that was thought wrong by the leaders, and the after affects. His message is very effectively communicated, as he explains every danger, every situation to the reader, and how it can go wrong. All through history, there have been cases of power corrupting. In the story, this is shown through Napoleon, whose Russian Revolution counterpart is Joseph Stalin. The pigs are all related with this, as they are given power, and they abuse it. This is one of the major dangers that Orwell warns us about all. Along with corruption, Orwell tries to teach us how propaganda can affect animals (people's) minds. In the books case, Squealer would use propaganda to convince the animals that Napoleon was always right, and he was doing everything for the good of the farm, and the main fact that the pigs knew all. "Comrades', he cried, 'You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in the spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to

  • Word count: 800
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Egyptian mummies

EGYPTIAN MUMMIES Many ancient civilizations believed in life after death. We identify mumification with ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians - during the time of the dynasties - believed that mummification would guarantee the soul passage into the next life. Some believed that the dead lived on in the tomb. While others thought of the dead as having gone to a blessed afterworld in some far-distant place. That being the case they provided for both worlds. In no other civilization have such elaborate preparations for the afterlife been made in the preservation of the dead. In addition to his ba (body) and his ka (spirit guide) - an Egyptian had a soul, which flew away at death. Mant cults believed that the soul was a human-headed bird with the face of the deceased. During life the soul had resided within the body - probably in the belly or in the heart--but after death it flew freely about the world, taking refuge in the tomb at night, when evil spirits might be about. But in order to find the right tomb, it was necessary that the soul be able to recognize the body from which it had come. Hence the body of the deceased was preserved in the best possible way. It was mummified. The word 'mummy' is not of Egyptian origin, but is derived from the Arabic 'mumiyah,' which means 'body preserved by wax or bitumen'; This term was used because of an Arab misconception of the methods

  • Word count: 3052
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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