CP/M/CPM_CDROM.iso/mbug/mbug183.arc/ESSAYS

Text File | 1979-12-31 | 7KB | 170 lines

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These notes refer to HSC/VCE English Literature Examination.
However they are of general interest to anyone preparing to
answer essay questions on Anumal Farm in any exam.

The exam offers a choice of essay topics (Traditionally three
on each set text). The candidate may answer TWO essay questions
but no more on any text.

There is a 20% mark allocation for the essay so about 30
minutes should be allowed for answering this question.

Notes on approved essay techniques follow.
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You are advised to follow these steps in writing your answer.
1.
Quickly select the topic which seems best suited to the study
and preparation you have done. Usually this will be obvious.
If you have trouble choosing jot down rough notes about each
topic and see which one is easier to give information on.
2.
Check the question carefully underlining key words. Be 100%
sure that you know exactly what the examiner wants you to do.
Many essays are failed because they are off the topic although
the candidate has shown wide knowledge of the text.
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3.
Now plan your essay. It may seem that time is very short but a
well-planned essay will be written much more easily than one
where you are struggling to think of ideas as you write.
Any essay topic should fall naturally into some kind of logical
form or order. Try to allot one paragraph for each major point
you want to make.
For instance if you are asked to compare Snowball and Napoleon
a possible arrangement would be:
-at first both seen as equals
-Snowball is idealistic Napoleon more practical
-Napoleon is shrewd ruthless ambitious
-Snowball is naive an easy victim
-final analysis; Snowball is too weak to withstand N's force.
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4.
As you plan try to think of quotations that are relevant to
your topic. Jot them down also. It doesn't matter if it is not
a long or complete quote but it should be fully relevant.
You won't get marks for writng down all the quotations from the
text that you have learnt - only those you use to back up some
point that you are making.

Almost as good as a quotation is a precise example from the
text. The body of your essay should fall into the pattern of:
Point - Evidence - Point - Evidence etc.
If you can help it never make an unsupported statement.
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Now let's try a sample essay topic.

I have made up one that deals with one of the major ideas of
the play.

Briefly describe the character of Squealer and show what you
think Orwell was trying to achieve by creating this character.

This topic falls naturally into two parts:
  - describe Squealer
  - show what Orwell was trying to achieve
My plan follows.
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* ESSAY PLAN *

PARA. 1 Describe Squealer giving brief examples

PARA. 2 Power of persuasion - turning 'black into white'

PARA. 3 Use of fear to obtain co-operation

PARA. 4 Statistics/misinformation/revising history

PARA. 5 Conclusion - Orwell's purpose was to show the harmful
and degrading effects of propaganda.
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* MODEL ANSWER *

Squealer was a small fat pig with round cheeks twinkling eyes
and very persuasive habits. The others said of him that:
he could turn black into white.
Along with Snowball and Napoleon Squealer helped to form the
principles of Animalism. After the expulsion of Snowball he
became Napoleon's chief helper.
His main purpose is as a kind of Public Relations Officer. He
uses all the powers at his disposal to persuade the other
animals that the pigs' actions are correct and that Animal Farm
is prospering.
Later he spends most of his time justifying Napoleon's more
outrageous actions.
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Clearly with the character of Squealer Orwell reveals the many
aspects of propaganda and its extraordinary power to influence
people's beliefs and actions.
One side of this is shown by Squealer's sheer persuasiveness.
He was a brilliant talker and his way of skipping from side to
side and whisking his tail helped to convince the animals.
For example he justifies the fact that the pigs receive all the
milk and windfall apples by claiming that they only did it for
the sake of the other animals.
Ingeniously he adds the convincing detail that he himself
actually dislikes milk and apples and is really suffering for
their good.
Orwell shows how subtle propaganda can change the way we think.
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A more disturbing aspect of Squealer's persuasion is soon
revealed. He uses fear as a tool to convert them to his point
of view.
One example of this tactic is when he threatens them with the
return of Jones. By exposing them to this fear he convinces
them to trust the pigs and the animals quickly conform.
As well as the vague threat of the return of Jones Squealer is
not above causing physical fear.
For instance the animals dare not raise their doubts about
Napoleon's sudden change of heart about the windmill because
the three large dogs who accompany Squealer 'growled so
threateningly.'
Orwell uses these incidents to show how a totalitarian
government can control its citizens through fear.
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Another method used by experts in the art of propaganda is
known as 'misinformation'. This is the use of falsehood and
rumour to achieve ones ends.
For example Snowball and Frederick are both the subject of
vicious rumour. Snowball is blamed for destroying the windmill
and is accused of being in league with Jones and many other
'crimes'.
Frederick is said to practise all kinds of cruelties upon his
animals. These false or exaggerated stories give the animals
another source of fear forcing them to rely more on the pigs
and also direct their minds away from what is happening on
their own farm.
Once again Squealer's methods are shown by Orwell to parallel
those used in Russia and other totalitarian states.
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Yet another example of Squealer's misinformation is the use of
misleading statistics.
Even as their rations are being reduced or 'readjusted'in
Squealer's misleading terms he convinces them that actually
food production is up and they are better off than they were
before.
Perhaps the most blatant form of propaganda is that of revising
history. Past events such as the Battle of the Cowshed become
distorted in the animals' memory allowing Squealer to reveal
new versions.
For instance Snowball is declared to have been a coward
although Boxer thought he could remember his bravery.
Even worse the Seven Commandments are gradually perverted or
have conditions altered.
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While we may laugh at the animals' innocence (for example they
don't realise what is happening to the Commandments even when
they catch Squealer virtually in the act of changing them)
Orwell is serious in showing how events and documents can be
altered to suit the purposes of a government.

So we have seen the important function of Squealer in the
novel. The little pig with the twinkling eyes and the golden
tongue reveals clearly the evils of propaganda in all its
forms. It is just one more of the disastrous side-effects that
Orwell saw as inevitable in a totalitarian state.

End of Model Essay