English study Flashcards
(40 cards)
What technique and themes can be used for “the milk had disappeared”?
Foreshadowing, foreshadows the pigs greediness/selfishness that will lead to corruption. Signals that the pigs are already prioritising their own interests over others.
What technique and themes can be used for “his body was buried at the foot of the orchard”
Metaphor, being buried in the orchard represents the cycle of power, and how it rises and falls like the seasons. Also symbolises the power shifts to come upon Old Major’s death.
What technique and themes can be used for “clothes which are the mark of a human being”
Dramatic irony, snowball rejects clothes as he believes that they are connected to humans, showcasing the animals desire to stay away from human ideas but foreshadows the pigs breaking the 7 commandments.
What technique and themes can be used for “Four legs good, two legs bad”
Slogan and simplification, the slogan helps less intelligent animals understand the ideology. However the simplification shows how propaganda can be used to control thoughts, especially when the audience lacks critical thinking.
What technique and themes can be used for “the others said Squealer that he could turn black into white”
Symbolism and hyperbole, it’s a way of saying Squealer uses his language to change the truth that his audience is believing. The hyperbole shows that he can show one thing (black) into another completely different thing (white) that isn’t actually possible to do, demonstrating his abilities.
What technique and themes can be used for “but no animal escapes the cruel fate of death at the hands of humans”
Symbolism, death here symbolises the ultimate power humans have over animals/those in power have over the working class
What technique and themes can be used for “All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.”
Antithesis (direct opposite), its a key part in Old Major’s speech that presents a clear oppression between humans and animals, establishes the framework for the animals ideology (animalism). A theme is class struggle.
What technique and themes can be used for “Old Major, the prized Middle White boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night”
Foreshadowing, introduces the idea of a “dream” that leads to the revolution, hinting that change is coming. The concept of Animalism is a dream, therefore idyllic and unreachable. Theme is revolution.
What technique and themes can be used for “so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say”
Ethos (credibility), shows that the animals deeply respect him, making them more likely to listen and believe him. His age, experience, and reputation give him moral authority, allowing him to speak as a trustworthy leader. Orwell shows how easily people (or animals) can be influenced when the speaker is admired. Themes of propoganda and manipulation
What technique and themes can be used for “No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth”
Pathos (emotion), by using the words “misery” and “slavery” he appeals directly to the animals sense of suffering and injustice. This evokes feelings of anger and hopelessness in the audience. The use of “plain truth” suggests their reality is not up to debate. Themes: propoganda, manipulation
What technique and themes can be used for “With their superior knowledge, it was natural that they would assume leadership.”
Irony and justification, as the narrator presents the pigs leadership as “natural”, which reinforces the idea that intelligence gives them the right to rule. This reflects how propaganda and ideology are used to normalise inequality. The word “natural” makes the pigs’ leadership seem inevitable, discouraging the other animals from questioning it - a tool of psychological control. It foreshadows the pigs’ increasing dominance and the gradual betrayal of the Animalism principles of equality. Themes: power and corruption.
What technique and themes can be used for “Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!”
Manipulative language, this quote lays on fear to control the other animals. By suggesting that failure to obey the pigs would result in the return of Mr Jones, the tyrannical farmer, Squealer pressures the animals into compliance. This technique—fear-based persuasion—is commonly used in propaganda and political rhetoric to discourage dissent and unify groups under a common threat. Theme: fear-based manipulation
What technique and themes can be used for “Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others’’
Unreliable narrator, Squealer was not in fact sent to make an explanation but rather to enforce propaganda amongst the masses and change public opinion, themes of manipulation and propaganda
What technique and themes can be used for ‘Now there was one thing that the animals were certain of’
Foreshadowing, this conveys the idea that the animals lack in their own thought, instead repeating what the pigs have told them. They lack personal autonomy and individual thought, and now the only thing they know is the altering idea of Animalism. Themes: Manipulation and Political agendas
What technique and themes can be used for “Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?”
Rhetorical question, The rhetorical question is used by Squealer to emotionally manipulate the other animals and shut down their argument. By making out any disagreement to be a threat to their freedom that they worked so hard for, he’s implying that by questioning the pigs leadership they are supporting the return of Mr Jones, their former oppressor. This political tactic uses fear and discourages unique opinions, making the animals easier to control. It shows how language is used as a weapon to stay in power and get what they want. Themes of manipulation and propaganda.
What technique and themes can be used for ‘When it was put to them in this light, they had no more to say.’
Idiom (expression), the quote uses an understatement in “they had no more to say”, which suggests they were shocked or couldn’t argue back. This makes the reader see that the truth was powerful and convincing. Theme of manipulation
What technique and themes can be used for “He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up.”
Symbolism, this quote is symbolic of the totalitarian government, where certain ideologies are forced upon citizens. By taking Jessie and Bluebell’s puppies young, Napoleon hides them from the rest of the farm and any thoughts that contradict the ideas of the pigs. Instead, he teaches them the way of the pigs, including their ideologies in favour of the pigs. Theme: enforcement of totalitarianism government
What themes and techniques can be used for “We pigs are brainworkers”
Justification, here the pigs are beginning to justify the inequality by claiming a unique role that sets them apart - this is part of the broader technique of rationalisation, where unfair actions are made to seem reasonable. Themes of power and class division/inequality
What themes and techniques can be used for “So it was agreed that the milk and windfall apples…. should be reserved for the pigs alone.”
Foreshadowing, in this quote we see the foreshadowing, as well as highlighting, of the themes of inequality that are beginning to come through between the pigs and the other animals, with the pigs becoming ‘better’ in the way that they are seen as ‘more powerful’. Themes of power and class division/inequality
What themes and techniques can be used for “The pigs had taught themselves to read and write”
Irony, orwell uses irony because the pigs use their learning not to help others but to take control. They keep their knowledge secret so the other animals stay ignorant. This shows how educated people (like political leaders) often have more control, especially if others (the citizens under leadership) are kept in the dark. Themes of knowledge and control
What themes and techniques can be used for ‘The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious.’
Irony, the use of the words ‘all too obvious’ displays the use of propaganda to convince the animals that the pigs are deserving of extra food and power without any need to question it. The irony displays and brings to light the absurdity of this manipulation to the readers. Themes of corruption, and manipulation propaganda
What themes and techniques can be used for “The Meeting always ended with the singing of ‘Beasts of England’”
Repetition and symbolism, Orwell uses the regular singing of Beasts of England to symbolise the farm animals’ sense of unity and loyalty to the revolution, making it a powerful tool of control, without any of the animals noticing. It represents their hopes and dreams for the future even as their reality changes. Themes of ritual and propaganda
What themes and techniques can be used for “…’Four legs good, two legs bad’. This, he said, contained the essential principle of Animalism.”
Foreshadowing, Snowball stated how the maxim ‘four legs good, two legs bad’ is the core principle of Animalism, the movement in which the animals have used to overthrow Jone’s rule. This is foreshadowing, however, as later in the book, the maxim is changed to ‘four legs good, two legs better!’
In this chapter, the sheep are said to have taken a liking to the maxim and were heard bleating it for hours on end in the fields. The sheep represent the mindless followers of dictatorships and regimes, and once trained, spew out the words they are given. Napoleon later trains the sheep to bleat the new maxim, ‘four legs good, two legs better’, which represents the crucial role of propaganda when overthrowing or inciting rebellion/national pride.
It removes the other ideas that were present in the original concept of animalism, trading equality for a constant comparison and thoughts and fear of the enemy then their own freedom. Theme of propaganda.
What themes and techniques can be used for “Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back!”
Symbolism, this quote is symbolising a threat that if the pigs are gone then the animals will fare badly, and this threat by the pigs forces idealism onto the animals, making them think that if the pigs are still healthy then Jones will stay away. This makes the pigs the only thing standing between the animals and Jones (in the animal’s minds). Theme: threatening idealism
