A hanging by George Orwell Flashcards
“It was in Burma, a sodden morning of the rains.”
“It was” - reflective tone
“sodden” - word choice suggests landscape is drenched, created miserable tone
suggests all is not well in the prison.
“A sickly light, like yellow tinfoil, was slanting over the high walls.”
transferred epithet connotes prisoners’ ill health, adds to sombre mood. Suggests they aren’t treated well.
“like small animal cages”
“small “ alludes to the idea of extreme cluastrophobia and confinement
simile highlights the way in which the prisoners are treated like mindess, worhtless creatures
stripped of all dignity and pride
“a puny wisp of a man”
vivid description of prisoner
fragility, malnourishment = concerning, conveyed by “puny”
“wisp of a man “ symbolises how he is now merely a shadow of his former self
“a shaven head and vague liquid eyes”
WC “shaven” highlights inhumane conditions, dignity stripped
Metaphor “liquid” suggests that prisoner is disassociating, not all there, spirit is broken and he is a shell of a man due to his poor treatment.
“Six tall Indian warders”
word choice highlights contrast between prisoners and warders - prisoners are weak, malnourished while warders are tall, well fed. Highlights poor conditions, dehumanisation of prisoners.
“like men handling a fish which is still alive and may jump back into the water.”
The writer uses a simile to emphasise how tight the guards were holding the prisoner. Just as people need to keep a tight grip of a fish so too did the guards feel they had to keep a firm control on the prisoner.
“fat Dravidian”
Word choice contrasts with “puny”, suggests he is getting enough food & privileges. Further emphasises ill treatment if prisoner as he is visibly malnourished in comparison.
“it seemed quite a homely, jolly scene, after the hanging”
irony. Absurd statement suggests celebration after murder; highlights relief of officials as execution is over - glad it’s completed, suggests they’re uncomfortable
“‘he’s all right,’ said the superintendent.”
Irony. Prisoner is dead, suffered - not alright. Uncaring, callous statement evokes sympathy in reader for prisoner due to ill treatment and insensitivity.
What happens in paragraph 10 which suggests that this is the epiphany/turning point? ( the writers stance on capital punishment)
Change of tone - reflective, frank. Use of sentence structure (parenthesis, listing, anaphora), word choice highlight how he has realised how wrong CP is
“the same thought was on all our minds: oh, kill him quickly.”
Irony - Orwell appears to want killing despite being against it. Indicates discomfort of everyone in vicinity due to wrongness of situation.
What is the purpose of the dog?
Symbolises equality - dog doesn’t realise that the guards are ‘more’ important than the prisoner; prisoner is ‘inferior’. Is innocent; unaware of societal roles and seriousness of situation. Highlights how there is no difference between the men so how do they have the right to take one’s life?
Use of contrast - purpose
Emphasises ill treatment of prisoner, evokes sympathy in reader so provokes them to question own views on CP
writer’s purpose
make a social comment about capital punishment and provoke the reader to consider their own views on the subject
