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
When does Orwell’s epiphany occur
Paragraph 9 into 10 (“stepped slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path… one mind less, one world less.”)
“all toiling away in solemn foolery”
Word choice - oxymoron. Highlights how it doesn’t make sense to cut a life short when it is unprepared, not ready to end. Still working away on living.
“the mystery”
WC suggests Orwell does not understand why anybody would wish to take another man’s life
“the unspeakable wrongness”
Frank tone. WC “unspeakable” suggests that Orwell is so appalled by CP that he cannot formulate words to describe it. “wrongness” suggests inherently unfair, inhumane. No argument. Sure on view.
“one of us would be gone - one mind less, one world less.”
WC “one of us” suggests equality.
SS - anaphora. “one mind” - fully functioning human not ready to die. “less” - loss for the world.
“Everyone stood aghast”
WC highlights wardens’ shock of dog. Overreaction shows how uncomfortable they are with being complicit in this man’s death.
“It pranced around us and then, before anyone could stop it… jumping up tried to lick his face.”
WC “pranced” : liveliness contrasts with sombre mood, deadly situation.
by going straight for prisoner, symbolises equality of men. Contrasts with earlier techniques used to degrade and dehumanise prisoners.
“We all had a drink together, native and European alike, quite amicably. The dead man was a hundred yards away.”
“had a drink”: normal, relaxing action acts as coping mechanism to deal with horror they’re committed.
“together”: situation brought them closer regardless of nationality - all uncomfortable, complicit
“amicably”: friendly, joyful mood immediately contrasts with scebe of dead man
Contrast shocks reader and leaves them questioning own views on CP
“cutting a life short when it is in full tide”
WC “cutting”: abrupt, violent end
Metaphor suggests prisoner is full of life, not ready to die. So who gives another man the right to take this life?
