Analysis of 'A Hanging' by Orwell
This analysis delves into the use of pathetic fallacy, first-person narrative, imagery, and language in George Orwell's 'A Hanging'. Key points discussed include the atmospheric setting, the impactful word choices, and Orwell's narrative choices to convey attitude and highlight themes of collectivism and responsibility.
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A Hanging Reading for Understanding and Analysis Questions & Answer Scheme
Lesson 1 Paragraphs 1 & 2: Establishing the setting In this section you will learn how Orwell: Uses pathetic fallacy to create atmosphere. Uses first person narrative. Uses imagery and vivid description. Uses language to convey his attitude.
1. Comment on the positioning of the word it - what is the effect? By placing the word it right as the first word of the essay, Orwell makes the reader question what was happening that day. The word it creates a sense of mystery around the event that will be described in the essay.
2. a) The writer uses the weather to create an atmosphere (the pathetic fallacy) : analyse the following word choice: sodden sodden means absolutely saturated with water, it suggests that the landscape was soaked but also creates a bleak atmosphere of misery. sickly - sickly is an unpleasant way to describe the colour being given off by the light. It has connotations of ill- health and creates an uneasy atmosphere at this point in the text.
b) Analyse the imagery a sickly light, like yellow tinfoil for effect. The simile a sickly light like yellow tinfoil has an unhealthy denotation. Both "sickly" and "yellow" are adjectives normally related with illness and decay hence the writer is insinuating the sunlight is abnormally off-colour; this reflects the unnaturalness of the situation taking place in Burma. Under usual conditions "light" and "tinfoil" are gleaming but to propse they are unhealthy looking is to suggest all is not well in the prison. I believe that Orwell's portrayal of a tense ambience helps the reader to understand that an aberrant event is about to take place, consequently this provokes anxiety and a slightly nervous reaction towards the overall situation.
3. We is simply the use of first person narrative in the plural. Why do you think Orwell chooses the word We over the word I ? Orwell does not want to feel accountable or responsible for the heinous act of taking a life. He wishes to create a sense of collective responsibility among all the men who were involved. We is also useful in creating an us versus them attitude in order to highlight the contrast between the guards and the prisoner.
4. Analyse the imagery the condemned cellslike small animal cages for effect. Again another effective simile, "double bars like small animals cages" is an example of the awful conditions in which these men live. To compare a human's cell to an "animal cage" is upsetting as the individuals in question are dehumanized; they are as insignificant as rodents. For this reason, a strong arousal of sympathy is provoked from the reader for them.
5. What do you think is the writers attitude towards these prisoners in the first paragraph? Support your answer with some reference towards the text. They are ill/ poorly treated- sickly small animal cages condemned They are dehumanized- brown silent men squatting Any sensible comment explaining that he feels some degree of sympathy towards these men.
6. In paragraph two Orwell observes the prisoner and his guards in vivid detail. Write down all the adjectives used to describe the prisoner. puny wisp shaven head vague liquid eyes thick sprouting moustache quite unresisting arms limply he hardly notices what was happening
7. Explain in your own words what Orwell meant by the description- A) A puny wisp of a man- this makes us visualise a physically weak man. This is effective as the man is a convicted criminal, yet Orwell describes him in a way that makes him seem like the victim. B) Vague liquid eyes- once again, Orwell s description of the prisoners eyes makes him seem almost innocent and certainly not like a dangerous convict. Making us question the harshness of his impending death.
8. What do you think is Orwells attitude towards the man who was to be hanged? Explain and support your answer from the first three lines of the paragraph only. One prisoner had been brought out of his cell. He was a Hindu, a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes. He had a thick, sprouting moustache, absurdly too big for his body, rather like the moustache of a comic man on the films. Orwell has a sympathetic attitude towards the man. He describes him at appearing weak, innocent and even comical. He does not seem to believe that the man is capable of committing a grievous crime. By describing the man in a comical light, Orwell suggests his own nerves over being involved in the hanging of the man.
9. Explain how the writer uses sentence structure and word choice in the sentence Two of them tight to his sides to make the behaviour of the guards seem brutal. Orwell uses a list to describe in detail all of the things that the guards did to the man- handcuffs, bayonets, chains - the lists of steps taken by the guards to secure the prisoner seems exhaustive and quite unnecessary as he fails to resist any of their attempts, thus making the guards seem brutal. Word choices- rifles, fixed bayonets, handcuffed him, lashed his arms, tight to his sides. The many weapons seem unnecessarily violent as the man is not resisting the officers. Lashing his arms sounds painful and seems brutal especially after the prisoner had been described as weak and innocent.
10. Explain how Orwell makes the expression careful, caressing grip memorable. You should refer to two techniques. Alliteration- Careful, caressing the harsh consonant sound of Ca makes clear the force used by the officers as they gripped the prisoner. Word Choice- caressing this is an unusual word to describe how the guards held the prisoner. Normally caressing has loving or romantic connotations suggesting that the guards did in fact show some compassion and respect to the prisoner as they led him to the gallows.
11. Analyse the imagery it was like men handling a fish water For effectiveness. This image is effective as it suggests how nervous the guards were in handling the prisoner. They believe that he could escape at any given moment and handle him in an awkward manner, despite him not resisting. This imagage, therefore, suggests that the prisoners felt uncomfortable in taking this prisoner to his death.
12. Analyse two examples of word choice from the end of the paragraph to explain the prisoner s attitude to what was happening. unresisting - the prisoner has lost all fight and determination to live. limply - the prisoner is too weak to resist the guards. hardly noticed - the prisoner no longer cares what happens to him. The conditions of the jail are so horrific that death perhaps seems like the only escape.
Summarising our Learning The pathetic fallacy is important in the story because The writer uses first person narrative to suggest The writer writes in vivid detail to
Lesson 2 We will read paragraphs 3-6: Establishing Key Characters In this section you will learn how Orwell: Establishes the character of the superintendent. Establishes the character of Francis, the Head jailer. Introduces the role of the dog. Uses incongruity to create black humour.
1. Analyse the word choice desolately. What is unexpected about using this word to describe a bugle call ? Desolately suggests that the bugle call is weak, lonely and lacking in any hope. This is very unusual as normally bugle calls are loud, proud and can be heard all around This suggests that even the bugle call was depressing and miserable, as though it is aware of the horrors taking place in the jail. This foreshadows the miserable events in the story.
2. Referring closely to the text in paragraph 3, comment on how Orwell uses word choice to describe the behaviour and character of the Superintendent. moodily prodding the gravel this suggests he is unhappy/ uncomfortable with the job he is about to do. army doctor - doctors take an oath to protect life so it is ironic that he should be responsible for taking a life. grey toothbrush moustache and a gruff voice. - he seems harsh and rugged, a contrast to the sensitive look of the prisoner. he said irritably - he seems very keen to get on with the hanging. This may be because he is morally against what he is doing, and cannot relax until the hanging has been performed.
3. What do you think is Orwells attitude towards the Superintendent? Refer to at least on example of word choice to support your answer. Orwell may believe that the Superintendent is a pessimistic and short tempered man- moodily irritably for God s sake hurry up These all suggest that the Superintendent is irritable and keen to perform the hanging.
4. What do you think is Orwells attitude towards Francis, the head jailer? Explain and support your answer with reference to the text. Orwell may believe that the head jailer, Francis, is eccentric or weird- in a white drill suit and gold spectacles he bubbled. waved his black hand These all suggest that Francis is not just racially different to Orwell, but also acts in an unusual and different manner. Despite their obvious differences, the man bond over the shared experience of the hanging.
5. Explain how Orwell uses sentence structure to draw attention to the arrival of the dog as a turning point in the story. A dreadful thing had happened- a dog, come goodness knows whence, had appeared in the yard. A Dreadful thing happened - by placing this at the opening of the sentence the writer creates suspense regarding what had happened. Parenthesis- come goodness knows whence provides us with additional information regarding the shock/ unexpected nature of the dog s arrival.
6. Explain why all of the following descriptions of the behaviour of the dog are inappropriate to a hanging. A) bounding amongst us leapt round us - suggests happiness & excitement. B) loud volley of barks - suggests how unmissable the dogs presence was. C) Wild with glee - suggests extreme happiness as a particularly depressing time. D) pranced around us - suggests the joy of the animal. E) dash for the prisoner tried to lick his face - suggests that the dog does not discriminate thus showing up the men.
7. Explain in your own words the reaction of the people in the crowd in the last sentence. Everyone stood aghast, too taken aback even to grab at the dog The crowd are stunned to the point where they cannot do anything to restrain the dog, and watch on in shock.
Summarising our Learning The Superintendent is important to the story because Francis the Head Jailer is important to the story because The dog is important to the story because
Lesson 3 Paragraphs 7-10: The moment of realisation In this section we will learn how Orwell: Uses the behaviour of the dog to draw our attention to the situation of the prisoner. Uses a retelling of a vivid detail to draw attention to his point of view. Has an epiphany- a moment of realising the truth/ a turning point/ seeing a mystery revealed.
1. Explain in your own words the Superintendents attitude towards the dog in paragraph 7. The Superintendent is horrified by the presence of the dog at the hanging. He desperately wants the dog to be removed as quickly as possible.
2. The happy behaviour of the dog is continued through word choice. Explain how context helps you understand the meaning of the word gambolled . it danced and gambolled just out of his reach, taking everything as part of the game. Gambolled means- to jump around in a playful manner. danced and game helped me to work this out as they both suggest the fun and playful nature of the dogs movements.
3. Explain how the following two things take away from the formality of the hanging : A) the language of the superintendent (paragraph 7). "Who let that bloody brute in here?" said the superintendent angrily. "Catch it, someone!" The Superintendent is supposed to be in control of this situation, but the presence of the dog surprises him and leaves him seeming flustered and pleading to anyone to help remove the dog. B) the actions of the dog. it danced and gambolled just out of his reach, taking everything as part of the game The behaviour of the dog contrasts the sombre atmosphere of the hanging. It is uncomfortable to watch the dog being so playful when a man is about to lose his life.
4. Explain what Orwell does to begin getting personally involved with the incident of the hanging. Orwell helps to restrain the dog by using his handkerchief to keep the dog back.
5. In what way is the situation of the dog similar to that of the prisoner? Just like the prisoner, the dog is being held against his will. He is being restrained and not allowed his full freedom- just like the man who is about to be hanged.
6. How do the actions of the dog at the end of paragraph 8 form a contrast to the behaviour of the prisoner? dog still straining and whimpering. The dog attempts to resist his restraints and is vocal about his dissatisfaction with being bound, yet the prisoner remains silent and does not resist the men.
7. How does Orwell draw attention to the prisoner as a being, full of life, in paragraph 9? At each step his muscles slid neatly into place, the lock of hair on his scalp danced up and down, his feet printed themselves on the wet gravel. Orwell uses a list of all of the bodily functions of the prisoner that were working perfectly at that moment in time. This suggests that he is in perfect physical condition yet he is about to have his life ended.
8. He stepped slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path A) What technique does Orwell use (twice) to suggest this detail was memorable? Orwell uses alliteration to suggest that this moment was engraved in his mind. B) Why do you think Orwell would remember this seemingly minor incident? This was his moment of realisation where he really understood that this mans life was about to be over despite the fact that he was still very much alive.
9. Re write the first sentence in paragraph 10 using as many of your own words as possible. It is curious, but till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. Until that point in time, I hadn't given much thought to the bizarre nature of killing a person in peak physical condition.
10. Explain how this sentence forms a link (or turning point) in the structure of the essay. It is curious, but till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. till that moment links back to the previous paragraph where he did not show massive concern for the welfare of the prisoner or seem to get emotionally involved. healthy conscious man suggests the writer is about to talk about all of the ways in which the prisoner was healthy, which he does in the next paragraph.
11. Explain in your own words the mystery Orwell saw . The mystery was that when you are actually there in the flesh, it seems so wrong and unnecessary to end the life of a healthy and fully functioning human being. Our brain still reasons, even moment before we are destroyed.
12. Analyse the image of cutting a life short when it is in full tide for effectiveness. Cutting a life short - just as cutting someone would be violent and painful, Orwell struggles with the painful realisation that he is embroidered in the violent hanging of the prisoner. full tide - just as waves would be strong and powerful at full tide, the prisoner is strong and seems indestructible, however in mere minutes his life will be destroyed.
13. Explain how the word puddle is developed in paragraph 10. Extended metaphor- From puddle to tide This suggests that this man is just one life, however the loss of this one life contributes to the greater issue that man killing man is fundamentally wrong.
14. Explain how Orwell uses three features of sentence structure to draw attention to how the prisoner was alive . All the organs of his body were working --bowels digesting food, skin renewing itself, nails growing, tissues forming--all toiling away in solemn foolery. List- suggests the quantity of bodily functions that were working properly. Parenthesis- adds additional information about the physical adequacy of the prisoner. Anti climax- Solemn foolery despite all of these, the mans life will still be ended.
15. In what way is Orwell and his group and the prisoner a party of men walking together ? They were sharing the same experience, seeing the same setting and living together in the same world at that point in time.
16. Analyse the expression a sudden snap for effectiveness. Alliteration of the letter s suggest the quickness of the hanging, that it would be over in seconds and the prisoner would be gone forever. Onomatopoeia- Snap
Summarising our learning The incident with the puddle is important because The mystery which Orwell sees is Cutting a life short when it is in full tide is an important metaphor because it explains
Homework- Disgust at the hanging Complete questions 1-11 that relate to Orwell s disgust at the hanging. Due- Thursday 19/03/15
