English 3.0 Flashcards
(40 cards)
What does Orwell satirise through the character of Mr Jones being ‘too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes’?
He subverts traditional representations of the elite using clown-like verbs, portraying them as idiotic and indulgent to critique class systems and hierarchy.
How does Orwell use the pigs’ position at the front in Chapter 1 to hint at future events?
Through foreshadowing and positioning, Orwell implies that the pigs will become the leaders, revealing the emergence of a new totalitarian hierarchy.
What does the triplet ‘our lives are miserable, laborious and short’ achieve in Old Major’s speech?
It evokes sympathy and unity, reinforcing the harsh conditions and igniting revolutionary fervour. It also reflects Old Major’s rhetorical skill.
How does Old Major use procatalepsis and rhetorical questions in his speech?
He anticipates counterarguments to galvanise the animals, presenting humans as thieves to justify rebellion.
What is the significance of the quote ‘But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end’?
It symbolises the universal exploitation and mortality under tyranny, reflecting the hopelessness of the proletariat.
How does Orwell satirise religion through the character of Moses and Sugarcandy Mountain?
Moses represents the Russian Orthodox Church; his tales of heaven serve to pacify the animals and delay rebellion, mirroring how religion was used to suppress dissent.
What theme is presented in ‘perfect unity, perfect comradeship’ and how is it developed?
The repetition suggests utopian ideals that are later betrayed, showing how revolutionary dreams often give way to corruption.
Why is the phrase ‘No animal must ever…’ significant in the Seven Commandments?
The imperative tone shows how ideology becomes dogma; Orwell critiques how moral laws are later subverted.
What is ironic about the quote ‘All habits of Man are evil’?
The pigs later adopt all these habits, showing how revolutionary leaders betray their foundational principles.
How does ‘Beasts of England’ function as propaganda?
It unifies the animals through utopian imagery and rhyme, becoming a symbol of hope—but later banned when it no longer serves Napoleon’s power.
What is the symbolism in changing ‘Manor Farm’ to ‘Animal Farm’?
It’s a metonymy for political regime change, ironic because the power structure remains the same.
How does Orwell use colour imagery in ‘Napoleon sent for black and white paint’?
The binary colours symbolise moral absolutism and ideological control, establishing rigid propaganda.
What is ironic about the commandment ‘All animals are equal’?
It’s ultimately replaced with ‘…but some animals are more equal than others’, satirising how language is manipulated to justify inequality.
What technique is used in the phrase ‘Four legs good, two legs bad’ and to what effect?
Truncated syntax and repetition simplify ideology into a maxim, used to suppress dissent and enable blind loyalty.
Why does Orwell include the line ‘It was noticed that all the milk was gone’?
The subtle narration highlights the pigs’ early corruption and foreshadows their increasing greed and betrayal.
What is the allegorical role of Boxer in Animal Farm?
He represents the proletariat—loyal, hardworking, and exploited. His fate is a tragic indictment of totalitarian regimes.
How does Orwell satirise leadership in the pigs’ early assumption of control?
With sarcasm (‘it fell naturally upon the pigs’), Orwell mocks the idea that leadership is deserved or inevitable.
What is the thematic significance of ‘The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses’?
It shows the pigs’ opposition to religion as a competing ideological force, until they find it useful to reinforce their control.
How is dramatic irony used in the commandment ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed’?
The pigs eventually sleep in beds with sheets, and change the rule. The audience knows the commandment is manipulated while the animals remain unaware.
Why is the line ‘They would form an unalterable law’ about the Seven Commandments ironic?
All the commandments are later altered, satirising how regimes rewrite laws to maintain power.
How does Orwell use the line ‘Even the stupidest of them had already picked up the tune’ to comment on propaganda?
Through irony and contrast, Orwell suggests that propaganda is designed to be easily absorbed by all, reinforcing societal stratification and blind loyalty.
What does the pigs’ ability to memorise ‘Beasts of England’ instantly suggest?
It shows their intelligence and readiness to control the narrative; they weaponize ideology for manipulation.
How is the line ‘the animals were happy as they had never conceived to be’ ironic?
It creates a false utopian image while foreshadowing later suffering, showing how easily the masses can be placated early in a regime.
Why is the use of a ladder in ‘Snowball and Napoleon sent for a ladder’ symbolically important?
It symbolises hierarchy and elevation of the pigs above others. Orwell uses this to satirise how power structures form quickly after revolutions.
