A hanging essay Flashcards
What is the main ethical issue presented in ‘A Hanging’ by George Orwell?
The ethical issue of capital punishment.
What stance does Orwell take on capital punishment?
He believes it is evil and against nature.
In which decade is ‘A Hanging’ set?
The 1930s.
Where does the setting of ‘A Hanging’ take place?
British Colonial Burma.
What role does Orwell have during the event described in ‘A Hanging’?
He is part of an execution party.
What literary techniques does Orwell use to convey his message?
Characterisation, setting, symbolism, turning point, and key incident.
What is the reaction Orwell aims to provoke in the reader towards the guards?
Outrage and repulsion.
What feeling does Orwell want the reader to have towards the ‘condemned men’?
Sympathy.
Fill in the blank: Orwell describes the wrongness of capital punishment as ‘unspeakable _______’.
wrongness.
True or False: Orwell supports capital punishment in ‘A Hanging’.
False.
What grim setting is established in Orwell’s essay?
The inhumane living conditions of the ‘condemned men’ in prison cells
The cells are described as being like small animal cages, emphasizing the lack of humanity.
What simile does Orwell use to describe the prisoners’ cells?
Like small animal cages
This simile suggests that the prisoners are kept in cramped conditions unfit for humans.
What does the comparison of the cells to animal cages imply?
The prisoners are forced to live like animals
This highlights the dehumanization they experience in their final days.
What literary device does Orwell use to describe the jailyard?
Pathetic fallacy
This device attributes human emotions to the setting, reflecting the grim atmosphere.
How is the light described in the jailyard?
A sickly, yellow light
The yellow light suggests cowardice and betrayal, indicating the shameful conditions.
What does the personification of the light suggest about the jailyard?
It indicates that the jailyard is stained by disease and ill health
The light itself appears to convey a message about the cowardly treatment of the prisoners.
How does Orwell characterize the prisoner?
As a puny wisp of a man
This characterization reflects the severe impact of the living conditions on the prisoner’s physical state.
What does the description of the prisoner symbolize?
The short amount of time he has left in his life
It foreshadows his inevitable death and hanging.
What is the overall effect of the setting and characterization in Orwell’s essay?
They evoke outrage at the conditions faced by the prisoners
The conditions have destroyed the humanity and dignity of the prisoners long before execution.
What does the essay use to show Orwell’s view of capital punishment?
Symbolism
The symbolism in the essay reflects Orwell’s belief that capital punishment is against life itself.
What interrupts the procession to the gallows?
The appearance of a dog
The dog symbolizes life and happiness in contrast to the grim atmosphere of capital punishment.
How is the dog described as it approaches the prisoner?
Danced and pranced
This description conveys joy and highlights the dog’s view of the prisoner as an equal.
What does the word ‘incuriously’ suggest about the prisoner?
Lack of interest
The prisoner has given up on life, illustrating despair and resignation.
What does Orwell describe the event of the dog as?
A dreadful thing
This ironic statement contrasts the expected joy of a dog showing affection.
What does the guards’ reaction to the dog indicate?
Joy and life have no place in the prison
The guards’ response highlights the immorality of their actions regarding capital punishment.
What does the symbolism of the dog suggest about capital punishment?
It is an act against nature and life itself
This symbolism prompts readers to question the justification of capital punishment in civilized society.
True or False: The dog symbolizes death in the essay.
False
The dog symbolizes life and happiness, contrasting with the theme of death in capital punishment.
Fill in the blank: The dog’s joyful behavior symbolizes _______.
All things good in life
The dog’s actions provide a stark contrast to the somber events surrounding capital punishment.
What is the turning point of the essay?
The man stepping to the side of the puddle.
In this memorable moment when Orwell fully realised the “unspeakable wrongness” of what they are about to do.
This moment is crucial as it reflects Orwell’s moral awakening regarding the act of execution.
What ironic action does the prisoner take as he approaches the gallows?
He steps slightly aside to avoid a puddle.
This irony highlights the contrast between the trivial concern for getting wet and the gravity of his impending execution.
What realization does Orwell have about the prisoner?
Although the man has given up on life, his body had not.
This epiphany underscores the complexity of life and the impact of human decisions on it.
What does Orwell use to emphasize the prisoner’s vitality?
A list of all the ways that the prisoner is alive and healthy.
Examples include ‘Bowels digesting… tissue forming,’ which illustrate the natural processes of life.
What does the list of the prisoner’s vitality emphasize about the execution?
It shows all the things the execution is going to be ending forever.
This emphasizes the finality of death and the loss of potential life.
What man-made decision does Orwell highlight in his epiphany?
The decision to end this man’s life, not nature’s.
This distinction raises moral questions about human involvement in life and death.
What moral question does Orwell’s realization pose to the audience?
Whether the taking of life in such a cruel and inhumane way can ever be justified.
This question invites reflection on the ethics of capital punishment.
What key incident does the text refer to that questions the morality of capital punishment?
The execution of a prisoner
The execution scene raises moral questions about capital punishment.
What does the prisoner repeatedly call out during the execution?
RAM! RAM! RAM!
This repetition emphasizes the tension in the room.
How does Orwell use literary devices to convey tension during the execution?
Repetition, capitals, and exclamation marks
These elements highlight the emotional atmosphere.
What do the last words of the prisoner signify about his state compared to the guards?
Calmness of the prisoner vs. tension in the guards
This contrast emphasizes the psychological state of both parties.
What does Orwell describe about the guards to illustrate their internal conflict?
The guards’ bayonets wavered
This personification symbolizes their doubts about the execution.
What does the dog represent in the context of the execution?
Life and happiness
The dog’s retreat symbolizes the unnaturalness of the killing.
What effect does the execution scene have on the reader according to the text?
Provokes repulsion and anger
It illustrates the horror of witnessing such an event.
What conclusion does the text draw about the nature of execution?
It is an immoral act against nature and humanity
This reflects a broader critique of capital punishment.
Fill in the blank: The once playful dog is described as ‘looking _______’ in the corner.
timorously
This description highlights the dog’s fear in response to the execution.
True or False: The guards are depicted as fully confident in their actions during the execution.
False
The wavering of their bayonets suggests doubt and hesitation.
What does the superintendent ironically declare about the dead man?
He’s alright
This means he is definitely dead, highlighting the guards’ lack of humanity.
What does the dialogue about the dead prisoner reveal about the guards?
Their lack of humanity and devaluation of prisoners’ lives
It prompts the reader to consider the moral implications of capital punishment.
How do the guards behave after the hanging?
They drink together amicably
This shows their comfort with death and the casual attitude towards the loss of life.
What does the sentence ‘the dead man was a hundred yards away’ symbolize?
The guards’ comfort with the idea of death
They socialize and joke in the presence of a recently deceased human being.
What does Orwell suggest about capital punishment?
It strips its victims of all shreds of humanity
This occurs before, during, and after death.
What genre is ‘A Hanging’ by George Orwell?
Non-fiction
It effectively questions the morality of capital punishment.
What does Orwell’s testimony reveal about the conditions under British colonial rule?
The brutality used to suppress the local population
It highlights the terrible conditions forced upon the Burmese.
What realization does Orwell come to regarding oppression?
All forms of oppression are immoral
This realization leads to the understanding that it is wrong to ‘cut life short’ for any reason.
Fill in the blank: The hanging prompts Orwell to question the morality of _______.
capital punishment
True or False: The guards show compassion towards the dead prisoner.
False
They exhibit a lack of empathy and regard for human life.
