A HANGING BY GEORGE ORWELL AN APPROACH TO

A HANGING, BY GEORGE ORWELL AN APPROACH TO CRITICAL ESSAY WRITING

PAST PAPER QUESTIONS PROSE NON FICTION 2015 Answers to questions on Prose Non-fiction should refer to the text and to such relevant features as ideas, use of evidence, stance, style, selection of material, narrative voice. . . Non-fiction texts can include travel writing, journalism, autobiography, essays. . . 1. Choose a non-fiction text which recreates a moment in time. Discuss how the description effectively recreates this moment and show important this is to your appreciation of the text as a whole. (2015) 2. Choose a non-fiction text which is structured in a particularly effective way. Explain how the structure enhances the impact of the writer’s message. (2015) 3. Choose a non-fiction text which made you consider your views about a social or political or ethical issue. Explain what the issue is and how the writer uses language effectively to engage you. (2015)

PAST PAPER QUESTIONS PROSE NON FICTION 2016 4. Choose a non-fiction text in which the writer engages your interest in a place or culture. Discuss, with reference to appropriate techniques, how the writer successfully engages your interest in this place or culture. 5. Choose a non-fiction text in which the writer describes a traumatic or rewarding experience. Discuss, with reference to appropriate techniques, how the writer conveys the traumatic or rewarding nature of the experience. 6. Choose a non-fiction text in which the writer attempts to influence the reader’s opinion on a person or an issue. Discuss, with reference to appropriate techniques, how the writer attempts to influence the reader’s opinion on the person or the issue.

WHERE DO I START? 1. Read ALL of the questions from this section 2. Before you decide on a question be sure to understand what exactly it is that you are being asked. Remember: there are TWO parts to the essay question so read beyond the first line. 3. Answer the question 4. Make a brief plan…

ENSURE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION (albeit a short one) Example: Question 6: Choose a non-fiction text in which the writer attempts to influence the reader’s opinion on a person or an issue. Discuss, with reference to appropriate techniques, how the writer attempts to influence the reader’s opinion on the person or the issue. Answer: “A Hanging” by George Orwell aims to influence the reader’s opinion on the issue of Capital Punishment. Orwell effectively persuades the reader that Capital Punishment is an abhorrent, unethical practise that should be abolished through his clever and deliberate use of such literary techniques as Setting, Contrast, Symbolism, Imagery and Structure. (you’ll need to obviously have a good understanding of HOW these techniques do this before you write your response so study!)

BRIEF PARAGRAPH PLAN WHAT MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE? Ben TBen is busy writing a brief paragraph plan before he begins his essay. Ben doesn’t waste time looking over his shoulder wondering where the hell to begin. Not Ben is not hoping the ground will swallow him up. Be like Ben.

TASK 1: ANSWERING THE QUESTION • Choose 2 other Past Paper Questions (except for Question 3)and write a brief answer to them in Prose. You have 8 minutes

INTRODUCTION – T. A. R. T • Title- ‘A Hanging’ • Author- George Orwell • Relate to question & give brief synopsis of the text- The story was written during Orwell’s time serving in the British Imperial Police in Burma, between 1922 and 1927, during the British occupation of India. Orwell aims to influence the reader’s opinion on the issue of Capital Punishment. He effectively persuades the reader that Capital Punishment is an abhorrent, unethical practise that should be abolished. • Techniques- summarise the techniques which you will be looking at when answering the task: Setting, Imagery, Symbolism and Tone …He does this through his clever and deliberate use of such literary techniques as Setting, Contrast, Symbolism, Imagery and Structure.

Explanation & analysis: A good Topic Sentence will: identify the literary 1. Link to the essay task Make detailed and specific links back to the essay question and REMEMBER the should be techniques that have Your POINT 2. Introduce the focus of the paragraph latter part of the essay question: how he attempts to influence the reader’s been used analyse moreopinion. specific than your Here you MUST engage on a deeper/ personal level. T. S and will introduce and explain these in sufficient depth your evidence. It should Topic sentence: also contextualise things The text begins with the vivid description of the dismal setting, the description of which influencesfor thethe reader’s reader You can make a opinion on Capital punishment. secondary POINT within Point: Orwell describes the prison setting where the men are being kept: your paragraph. Evidence: It was in Burma, a sodden morning of the rains. A sickly light, like yellow tinfoil, was slanting over the SETTING high walls into the jail yard. Explanation & Analysis: Orwell’s use of pathetic fallacy is illustrative of the dreary and bleak setting of the prison. Furthermore, by personifying the lack of natural light as being “sickly” subtly alludes to idea that the prison itself is unsanitary and riddled with dirt and disease. Point 2: Orwell then continues by creating a vivid impression of the living conditions that the prisoners must endure prior to their hanging. They are kept in: Evidence: a row of sheds fronted with double bars, like small animal cages. Explanation & Analysis: The imagery used to describe each cell works to dehumanise the prisoners by giving the impression that they are confined to cramped cages deemed unfit for humans, thus evoking sympathy in the reader. Relate to Question: Orwell’s description of the setting reflect the condemnation which he has for Capital Punishment as a social issue as it is evident that Orwell is somewhat disgusted by the dirty, cramped squalor which the men are condemned to live in and it is through this description that he attempts to influence the reader to share the view that Capital Punishment is an abhorrent practise. Furthermore, we can assume that Orwell deliberately withholds details of the crimes which some of the prisoners are being held for in order to allow the reader to focus on the indignation of objecting any human being to live in such terrible conditions.

NEXT STEPS – ENSURING YOUR ESSAY FLOWS • Your essay should have a natural flow to it. • In order to achieve this it is best to NOT jump around from one part of the text to another. • Write your essay CHRONOLOGICALLY. • Use TIME CONNECTIVES in your Topic Sentences to ensure the marker can enjoy a smooth journey from beginning to end…

TIME CONNECTIVES & TOPIC SENTENCESEXAMPLES • The text begins with the vivid description of the dismal setting, the description of which influences the reader’s opinion on Capital Punishment. • Orwell goes on to create a revealing contrast between the prisoners and the guards which helps to illustrate his condemnation of the death penalty • As the essay progresses Orwell uses powerful symbolism which further convinces the reader to share his aversion to Capital Punishment • On his way to the gallows Orwell describes the moment the condemned prisoners avoids a puddle, which acts as a powerful image in the essay for the abolition of Capital Punishment • Towards the end of the text, once the hanging of the prisoner is

PARAGRAPH 2 • Orwell goes on to create a revealing contrast between the prisoners and the guards. - Point: Make an introductory point - Evidence: “He was a Hindu, a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes. ” “Six tall Indian warders… fat Dravidian in a white drill suit” “Two of them stood by with rifles and fixed bayonets, while the others handcuffed him” - Explanation & Analysis: Zoom in and Zoom out! Example - Relate to Essay Question

Orwell goes on to create a revealing contrast between the prisoners and the guards which helps to illustrate his condemnation of the death penalty. As well as being subjected to the brutality of the prison cells, the prisoners also appear to be completely emancipated. Orwell describes one prisoner as a: “puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes. ” The prisoner’s “puny” appearance conveys images of malnourishment, frailty and vulnerability which contrasts directly with the “fat Dravidian guard in the white drilling suit”. Furthermore, Orwell describes two of the guards as being: “stood by with rifles and fixed bayonets, while the others handcuffed him” Considering the fragility of the prisoner the guards seem to take unnecessary measures in order detain the man; this is often regarded as an allegory for Orwell’s criticism of Imperial rule in India at this time. What’s more, by describing the prisoners “vague liquid eyes” Orwell has attempted to humanise him (which contrasts with the animalistic conditions in which the prisoners are kept ) in order for us to question to legitimacy and morality of the hanging about to take place. Therefore Orwell’s use of contrast is an effective literary device which helps to convince the reader that the death penalty is nothing but an inhumane display of strength and power.

MOVING ON TO YOUR NEXT MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH SMOOTHLY • Remember, a Topic Sentence should both link to the essay question and also establish the focus of the paragraph. Example: • As the essay continues (time connective) Orwell uses powerful Symbolism(establishes the focus of the paragraph) in order to continue to influence the reader (links to the question) to share his aversion for Capital Punishment. – Continue by making a specific POINT(put into context) i. e “As the guards are escorting a prisoner to the gallows they are made to feel uncomfortable by the surprise appearance of a stray dog. FINISH THIS PARAGRAPH