Sunday, January 26, 2020

Orwells Animal Farm Genre Untangled English Literature Essay

Orwells Animal Farm Genre Untangled English Literature Essay Out of George Orwells repertoire many of his works can be described as somewhat ambiguous in terms of genre. For instance, Down and Out in Paris and London is a recount of his personal experiences flavoured with fictional elements, a semi-autobiography, but it is written in the objective voice of a report, article or documentary with additional sociographic speculations. Many of his essays linger on the boundaries of the short story, as well. Animal Farm is no exception of this Orwellian tendency to fuse different genres. It is often labelled as a dystopian allegorical novella or satire, but has been called a fable in the Aesopian tradition as well. In the present paper I will analyse Orwells work from the viewpoint of all these genres separately keeping in mind of course, that the genres themselves overlap each other in some characteristics and examine how Animal Farm functions as a dystopia, a satire and a fable. While Animal Farm fits some of these characteristics it also lacks in others. It certainly portrays oppression in the form of a totalitarian centralized power, however, in contrast with some well known works strongly associated with the genre including Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four as well it describes the process of how the utopian dream develops into the dystopian nightmare. Considering displacement it is not really in line with the dystopian trait either. It is for certain that the story takes place somewhere in the English countryside, we are even given the name of Willingdon and The Red Lion, an existing village and pub in East Sussex. Otherwise there is no special importance in the geographical location of the Farm, suggesting that it is not important where it takes place, and consequently, that it could happen anywhere. As for temporal coordinates they are even less specified or notable; the story is not tied to, and thus not untied from any particular date or era. The story could have taken place yesterday just as well as a hundred years ago or in the distant future; it is not dissociated or displaced from either Orwells or todays readers time. (Of course depending on the interpretation of the story, it does allude to the Stalinist regime and the Russian revolution but only externally as its mere allegory not internally to the novellas fictional universe.) However, it could be argued that there is some kind of displacement, not in spatial or temporal terms but in the very nature of the story as a fantastic beast fable or fairy story as Orwell called it. Its characters of talking animals who read and write and manage a farm on their own is surely not a picture of our everyday life. The feature Animal Farm most clearly adopts from the dystopian genre is the intention of warning. It warns of the danger of communist dictatorship and raises the attention as well of the existing conditions present at the time in the Soviet Union; or in a more general interpr etation the corrupting effect of power when exercised by anybody  [1]  . However, the element of warning or at least criticism of human vices or follies with the intention of improvement  [2]  is also representative of the satire. Although it is usually meant to be funny, its purpose is not just humor for its own sake but an attack on something the satirist strongly disapproves of and to persuade the reader (or viewer depending on the medium) to strive for a solution to the problem presented, using the weapon of wit, irony, and caricature.  [3]   In Animal Farm the satirical irony emerges from Orwells style of narration and his use of the animal allegory. The narrative style he employs is characterized by simple language and light, objective even impersonal voice with the limited point of view of the enslaved animals. The plain language on the one hand is to reflect the naÃÆ' ¯ve perception of the animals  [4]  , on the other this terse phrasing is set in ironic juxtaposition[to] the crassly elitist, manipulative, unintelligible, and circumlocutory discourse of the pigs, through which the fictitious passes off as factitious.  [5]  Samir Elbarbary in his essay Language as Theme in Animal Farm even argues that the conscious derangement of language, and linguistic superiority which sustain the assumption of power, is one of the novellas fundamental thematic concerns. Language and how language can influence or even determine the way people think is often a recurring theme in Orwells works, for example the idea of Newsp eak in Nineteen Eighty-Four, and he even addresses the problem directly in essays, such as Politics And The English Language, in which he attests for simple uncomplicated language in scholarly and especially in political contexts. According to Elbarbary, in Animal Farm the revolution is, in a sense a language-focused enterprise, a product of specifically aggressive linguistic energy, and language  [6]  , which can efficiently control reality, is the source of the tragic outcome rather than its mere reflection. Those animals who have an underdeveloped language, are compleatly overpowered by the linguistic skill of the pigs; their ensnarement is less a matter substance than of generic linguistic impotence and deficient semantic memory.  [7]   Even thought the point of view of the narrator is limited (or at least it is more distant from the feelings or thoughts of the pigs than that of the other animals), the narration still implies more to the reader than the animals themselves are aware of. We understand the difference between the truth of a situation and what the characters know about it, while the characters remain ignorant of the discrepancy, which creates dramatic irony. For example when Squealer explains that the van in which Boxer was taken to the hospital formerly belonged to a horse slaughterer and that the veterinarian who now uses it did not have the time to paint over the horse slaughterers sign on its side, the narrator says: The animals were enormously relieved to hear this.  [8]  The reader however, can assume the truth right when the van appeared to carry the horse away. Another level of satire is in the characterization. Orwell attributes easily recognisable human traits to animals, which remain absolute, that is they are character types rather than fully developed characters, without the ability to grow or change, the animals shall stay both animal and human. It removes the possibility of very complex characterization.  [9]  In the light of the parallel that can be drawn between the story and the Russian revolution, some characters are clear caricatures of exact historical figures (like Napoleon-Stalin, Snowball-Lenin) others of specific social groups or classes or even tools used to uphold dictatorship (e.g. Boxer-working class, Squealer-propaganda), creating a grotesque mirror image not just of the events but the figures involved in it, enhancing the validity of the satirical parallel. The third genre considered here is the already mentioned beast fable. It is usually a brief tale that conveys a moral lesson, usually by giving human speech and manners to animals. It is a very old form of story related to folklore and proverbs, the fables in Europe descends from tales attributed to Aesop, a Greek slave in the 6th century BCE. The French fabulist La Fontaine revived the form in the 17th century with his witty verse adaptations of Greek fables.  [10]  The form can be associated with the satire as well as the beast fable is also used as a culturally universal satirical technique. It is basically the dramatic realization of a metaphor and satirists have always found this translation of metaphor to dramatic fact an extremely effective way of portraying the true nature of vice and folly. As far as characters, style and language (its simplicity thus serving double causes) Animal Farm fits the criteria of the genre. According to Christopher Hollis the writer of the beast fable must throughout be successful in preserving a delicate and whimsical balance due to the overall absurdity of animals behaving and talking like humans and discussing complicated intellectual problems. He argues that Orwell is able to maintain this balance by avoiding any unnecessary explanation of the fantastic elements of the story in an otherwise realistic setting.  [11]   However if we take into account its length it is considerably longer than the traditional fable. In addition, some point out that its moral lesson is questionable or nonexistent as it is impossible to attach a moral to any familiar sense to Animal Farm, where wickedness ends in triumph and virtue is utterly crushed.  [12]  I do agree that there is no lesson to be learned in the fashion of for example The Tortoise and the Hare, however I believe that there are moral undertones embedded in the overall message of the novella, like power corrupts; it is a moral lesson without answers, or a moral tragedy of humankind. In conclusion, Orwells Animal Farm seems to function best as a satire but he consciously incorporated techniques and elements of other literary forms, most elaborately of the beast fable, to use it as his satirical vehicle. As for the dystopia genre it seems to be a little farfetched to attach the term to Orwells novella, it is more like a loud hee-haw at all who yearn for Utopia.  [13]  

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Author/Mother Relationships Essay

It is very important to have a good relationship with at least one of your parents. You need to be able to share memories of your childhood with the people who raised you. I believe that sharing childhood stories with your parents gives you a connection to a relationship based on trust, emotion and sincerity. In Tony Ardizzone’s short story â€Å"My Mother’s Stories,† Tony tells the reader of his relationship with his mother while she is very sick in the hospital. Throughout the story Tony talks about childhood memories with his mother and he also describes the stories that she is telling to him. I think that through his memories and their stories together the reader is able to imagine and relate to the relationship between Tony and his mother, Mary. We first begin to see the feelings between the author and his mother at the end of the fourth paragraph of the story. Talking about his mother’s stories, he says â€Å"For now the sounds and pictures are my sounds and pictures. Her memory, my memory.† (Ardizzone, 117) You can tell from these sentences that Tony feels very connected to the memories that he shares with his mother. Throughout the story, his mother tells Tony stories about her wedding day, the births of all her children, and other stories from when they were younger. Tony also recalls several memories he has with his family and his mother. It seems like these are events that he remembers often but seems to recall more clearly now that it is nearing the end of his mother’s life. I think it means a lot that his mother felt like she should share these things with her children. It shows that Tony and his mother are very comfortable with each other. Towards the end of the story Tony describes a time from when he was younger. Mary protects her children from seeing a very sick dog get put down by a police officer. Tony says â€Å"We try to look out the windows too, but she pushes the five of us away. No, she says. I don’t want any of you to see this.† (Ardizzone, 125) She tries to protect Tony and his siblings from having to witness death: something terribly awful but of course, inevitable. I think that it is ironic that this is the last story that Tony imagines while his mother is in the hospital. It is ironic because in the story his mother is trying to shield him from seeing something die and sometime very soon Tony might have to see death take over his mother. He is not entirely sure how he would deal with this real fact. I think that this last story shows the reader that his mother really cared about her family and is protective. Since we get this feeling from â€Å"My Mother’s Stories† it shows us that Tony and his mother portrayed their relationship from their stories and memories. Tony and his mother share a relationship that is full of trust and emotions. The connection between the author and his mother is revealed to the reader or listener through the memorable events in their lives. These stories get brought to the surface of Tony’s memories at this point in his life because his mother is now very sick and is in the hospital. Recalling these precious memories can show people the type of relationship he shared with his mother and remind the audiences of the connections within their own families.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Barack Obama Speech Analysis Essay

In the compelling Inauguration speech of Barack Obama, the first African-American President, a large range of language and oratory techniques are utilized to convey his message to an audience of over a million Americans. The speech was delivered on the traditional inauguration date of the 20th January 2009, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where, 45 years earlier, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. During Obama’s speech, he uses a range of oratory devices to present himself as credible, the techniques include; the proficient use of tone and performance aspects, extensive use of biblical references, allusion to history, and an important underlying theme. These techniques help to convey his strong message of hope and reapplying the good old American values of honesty, courage, tolerance and loyalty. On the 20th January 2009, democrat Barack Hussain Obama became the first African-American to take the presidential oath for America . He delivered his inauguration speech to an audience of over a million Americans, and at a time when the world’s economy had taken a downturn and America had a controversial presence in the Middle East. Americas history had been darkened by its racism and history of slavery and so the significance of this event was amplified as it showed a new acceptance and a positive step in American Civil Rights. Obama also delivered his inauguration speech on the steps of the Lincoln memorial where, 45 years earlier, Martin Luther King delivered his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Congressman James Clyburn, the highest ranking African-American congressman of that time said about the event, â€Å"Today is about the validation of the dream Dr. King initiated 45 years ago on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial†, this shows the significance of the event, and put pressure on Obama to put on a show of strength. In Barack Obama’s Inauguration speech, it soon becomes obviou s that he is a seasoned orator who has a natural ability to persuade the audience’s emotions. His use of tone and pitch, amplified by his presentation, has a convincing effect on his delivery. In his opening sentences he says â€Å"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you’ve bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices bourne by our ancestors.† In hearing this, the listener is struck by his humbleness and sense of humility. The tone urges caution which  contrasts with the celebratory mood of the audience. His choice to use words like humbled, grateful and mindful along with his natural charisma and charm, causes the audience to respect him and listen to what he has to say. To increase the desired effect of his speech on the audience, Obama repetidly uses an allusion to history, this also helps to strengthen the audiences confidence in him. His statement â€Å"all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness† is a clever twist on the Declaration of Independence, a founding document of America and something all Americans can relate to. He uses a patriotic appeal and asks for a â€Å"†¦return to these truths†, a return to the old and true American traits of â€Å"honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patrionism†. The appeal effectively utilizes pathos, coupled with with allusion and historic references, to pursuade his audience to believe in him. During the delivery of his speech, Obama repeatidly alludes to biblical references, which acts not only as a useful language technique, but also shows a link to his background and heritage. In saying â€Å"the time has come to set aside childish things† (1 Corinthains 13:11), Obama exploits the ethos appeal and cleverly alludes to the refence, as his audience is not all christain and he did not want to offend them. This is yet more proof of his natural oratory ability and it also reflects on his African-American background, in which biblical references and hymns were used and widely known. These effects combined with the seamless delivery proves his incredible speaking ability and his charisma and charmwhich has helped him in his American dream, from being raised by a single mother, to becoming the first African-American president. Obama’s inauguration speech includes the interesting theme of ‘Drawing strength from out heroic past’. There are many references to history that Obama then applies to the current time. He took office at a troublesome time when the economic downturn was occurring and people were growing weary of the war on terror, so Obama cleverly addresses these issues with references to returning to the ideals of founding fathers, which raises a note of patrionism and brings the audience together. To help portray his theme, Obama includes extensive use of personal pronouns, for example â€Å"We the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents†, he commends the audience for rem aining faithful to past ideals while using the  personal pronoun ‘we’, which deepens their confidence inhim and continues to draw the audience and speaker together. The speech effectively serves its purpose and addresses the issues of the day, while being strengthened with the use of personal pronouns, which has a constructive effect on the audience in view of getting the audience to believe in Obama, and accept what he is saying. The effectiveness of Barack Obama’s inauguration speech is complimented by his compelling use of oratory devices and techniques, including; the convincing effect of his tone and pitch, amplified by the presentation, the combined effect of allusion and historic references in making his appeals, an extensive use of biblical references which represents his heritage – and which are thoughtfully alluded to, as well as an underlying theme which helps Obama to elaborate on his message and address the issues of the day. These techniques are the cornerstone to gaining acceptance from the audience and persuading them to believe in what he is saying, and he also uses his charisma and charm in conjunction. The result is, a critically acclaimed speech which the NYTimes states as â€Å"Reveling in a moment of national significance† where Obama puts on a positive show of strength, rises to the occasion, and establishes himself as the 44th President of the United States of America.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Is Cancer A Serious Health Condition - 869 Words

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