Politics and the English Language: Questions on Rhetoric and Style

Politics and the English Language: Questions on Rhetoric and Style

1. Orwell's thesis is both stated and implied. His thesis is that a cause and effect are closely linked. A bad cause can spiral into a bad effect.

2. Orwell's analogy of the cause and effect of alcohol abuse to the demise of language in paragraph two is effective because It shows a chain reaction, in which the person is drinking alcohol hopes to demolish their problems but actually ends up creating more. 4. In some types of writing, “particularly in art criticism and literary criticism,” you can find a long passage which is “almost completely lacking in meaning,” for they do not “point to any discoverable object.” They will use words that are opposite of each other or contradict each other, by using these they are being “consciously dishonest.”

3. Paragraph 5: “But in between these two classes there is a huge dump of worn-out metaphors which have lost all evocative power.” compares metaphors to a dump; “dump” implies an disorganization. Orwell says that the metaphors are “worn-out”, or lack originality and effectiveness.

Paragraph 4: “phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated henhouse.” ; compares phrases to sections of a prefabricated henhouse; effective because it creates a vivid picture and is comical. Building a henhouse does not require strenuous effort and the word "prefabricated" implies unoriginality.

Paragraph 12: “[T]he writer knows more or less what he wants to say, but an accumulation of stale phrases chokes him like tea leaves blocking a sink.” compares stale phrases to tea leaves; effective due to its originality and does a nice job of translating the writer's inability to effectively communicate because of his gaudy metaphors.

Simile: compares the choking to tea leaves blocking a sink.

Paragraph 15: “A mass of Latin words falls upon the facts like soft snow, blurring the outlines and covering up all the details." compares Latin words to soft snow;effective because it conveys that Latin words prevent the writer from delivering his message, effortlessly holding a negative connotation.

Paragraph 16: “[H]e... feels, presumably, that he has something new to say – and yet his words, like cavalry horses answering the bugle, group themselves automatically into the familiar dreary pattern.” Simile: compares words to cavalry horses; effective because both cavalry horses and words are powerful.

4) A newly invented metaphor assists thought by evoking a visual image, while on the other hand a metaphor which is technically "dead" has in effect reverted to being an ordinary word and can generally be used without loss of vividness. But in between these two classes there is a huge dump of worn out metaphors which have lost all evocative power and are merely used because they save people the trouble of inventing phrases for themselves. Many of these are used without knowledge of their meaning, and incompatible metaphors are frequently mixed, a sure sign that the writer is not interested in what he is saying. Some metaphors now current have been twisted out of their original meaning without those who use them even being aware of the fact.

It was difficult to understand what Orwell was trying to say without using examples. Without examples, these phrases are a jumble of words that I have to come up with my own visuals for in order to follow along and not die of boredom.

5. Orwell's footnote is used as citation of his evidence, or like background information. He chose to place it at the end because putting in his text would most likely distract the reader from the essay's main purpose

6. Orwell establishes credibility by using examples and metaphors. They help the reader understand the point he is trying to make and assert his knowledge on the subject, providing more credibility.

7. The organization of this essay is coherent with a lengthy gradual build. He begins by getting his point across then elaborates on how a writer can achieve certain objectives while simultaneously telling them what not to do.

8. Orwell’s purpose is to inform his readers about the “bad habits” of writing in politics and the effects of those bad habits. Through many examples he explains the power of language and how it is controlled by small things, like word diction and simplicity. The historical context of post – World War II is one such example, reminding us of Hitler's manipulative language that heavily contributed to his large following.

9. Orwell consistently uses an informative/formal tone in his essay. From explaining his beliefs into arguing for them, he maintains a professional voice in order to attain credibility and effectiveness.

10.

1) Never use the passive where you can use the active. Orwell does exactly that in the first sentence of his essay, "Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it."

There  is unnecessary wording that does not help deliver the content of this essay.

2)Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.    Orwell contradicts this by using not one but many metaphors and similes, including the "collapse of  civilization."

3)Never use a long word where a short one will do. Strangely, Orwell's entire essay is wordy, so

he could have used his own advice and cut some words out.

4)Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous; In paragraph 16, he says, "...and for certain you will find that I have again and again committed the very faults I am protesting."