A Hanging - Structure + Influence Opinion Essay Flashcards
Finish the quote.
“My ________… think of all ________ you are causing to us”
“My DEAR FELLOW… think of all THE PAIN AND TROUBLE YOU are causing to us”
Why is the quote “my dear fellow… causing to us” ironic?
The pain the guards are experiencing is nothing compared to the pain the prisoner experiences
How does the quote “my dear fellow… causing to us” make the reader feel?
Angry towards the prison staff
What does the puddle symbolise?
Symbolises his life + body continuing to function even before his death
Why is the puddle significant to the essay?
Shows the humanity of the prisoner
What does the dog symbolise?
The Burmese people
Why is the dog significant to the essay?
Shows the humanity of the prisoner
Finish the quote.
“______!” he shouted almost _______.
“CHALO!” he shouted almost FIERCELY.
What element of structure does this quote relate to?
“Chalo!” he shouted almost fiercely.
Climax
How does the sentence structure of this quote enhance its impact?
“Chalo!” he shouted almost fiercely.
- Short sentence creates more drama + aggression
- Reader feels the desperation + struggle of the Super Intendant
Finish the quote.
“he stepped ________ a puddle on the path”
“He stepped SLIGHTLY ASIDE TO AVOID a puddle on the path”
What key idea does this quote refer to?
“He stepped slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path”
- Unnatural to take a human life away when they still have time to live
- Still minimising discomfort before death, shows the prisoner still has life to live
What quote shows the dog’s reaction to the death of the prisoner?
“but when it got there it stopped short, barked and then retreated”
Why is the dog’s reaction impactful to the essay?
- Stark contrast to the dog’s mood before
- Even dog sense something is wrong and is unsettled
- Shows how unnatural the death-penalty is
Finish the quote.
“small _______ cages”
“small ANIMAL cages”
Finish the quote.
“sodden ________ rains”
“sodden MORNING OF THE rains”
What technique is used in this quote?
“sodden morning of the rains”
Pathetic fallacy
How does this quote relate to the exposition of the essay?
“sodden morning of the rains”
- Sets the scene of the essay
- Describes mood of the prison
- Sets mood for the essay
How does Orwell describe the setting? Name 3 quotes.
"a sodden morning of the rains" "sickly light" "small animal cages" "ten feet by ten feet" "almost bare"
What extra things do we learn about the prison through Orwell’s description? Give 2 things.
- Prisoners’ poor health
- Prisoners’ being dehumanised
- Depressing atmosphere
Finish the quote.
“it had made ______ and jumping up ________”
“it had made A DASH FOR THE PRISONER, and jumping up TRIED TO LICK HIS FACE”
Finish the quote.
“steady, ________, almost like the ___________”
“steady, RHYTHMICAL, almost like the TOLLING OF A BELL”
What kind of structure does this quote relate to? Why?
“steady, rhythmical, almost like the tolling of a bell”
- Rising action
- Getting closer to the final event, everyone is tense + uncomfortable, heightened feelings
Finish the quote.
“his head _________”
“his head ON HIS CHEST”
Finish the quote.
“the _________ can’t get their ___________”
“the PRISONERS can’t get their BREAKFAST TILL THIS JOB’S DONE”
What do these quotes tell us in relation to the themes of the essay?
“his head on his chest”
“the prisoners can’t…. this job’s done”
- He’s uncomfortable with killing another human
- Argues that killing another person is against human nature
- Death penalty negatively impacts prison guards
How do the readers feel towards the Super Intendant?
- Angry: his lack of empathy towards the prisoner
- Sympathy: hard job + he shows remorse
What themes do the actions of the Super Intendant relate to?
- Injustice: he doesn’t deserve to be scared, he isn’t the one dying
- Anti-death penalty
How does Orwell’s description of the prisoner make the reader feel?
- Anger at poor treatment + lack of respect
- Sympathy for poor physical + mental condition
What themes does the description of the prisoner relate to?
- Injustice: poor treatment
- Cruelty: malnourished + psychological effects
Finish the quote.
“one felt an impulse to __________”
“one felt an impulse to SING, TO BREAK INTO A RUN, TO SNIGGER”
How does this quote contrast with the event that just occurred? Why is this significant?
“one felt an impulse to sing, to break into a run, to snigger”
- Surge of life in observers contrasts lack of life in prisoner
- Shows what the prisoner has lost
Finish the quote.
“a ____________ of a man”
“a PUNY WISP of a man”
Finish the quote.
“_____________ eyes”
“VAGUE LIQUID eyes”
What do these quotes tell us about the prisoner?
“a puny wisp of a man”
“vague liquid eyes”
- Poor physical condition
- Malnourished + weak
- Afraid of his death
- Resigned to his fate
- Dehumanised by prison
- Effected mentally + physically
