For the essay “Politics and the English Language” I really had to look a bunch of words up. I found the essay quite confusing especially when he was talking about the 5 passages that were examples of how not to write. I feel like this essay should be in a dictionary, I mean what exactly is, “verbal false limbs?” However, when Kate told us to look up images today from World War II, I understand a little bit better on where Orwell is coming from. He was writing after the rise and fall of Nazi Germany and I think that Orwell was concerned on how Hitler used words to “start a revolution.” I think Orwell was trying to open Americans minds about how politicians use language to spark revolutions and he hoped to prevent what happened to Germany from happening to America. Remember what Kate said in class ask yourself when you hear a speech from a politician, “Why do you agree with what someone is saying? Why do you like what you are hearing?”
I thought Orwell’s essay was quite confusing too, I found myself going to the start and rereading it. After class on Tuesday though, Kate really brought out the whole meaning of his essay. I believe that almost all politicians use this form of writing, to cover up the real truth. I think Orwell is just saying, as a reader really think about what the writer is trying to say.
ReplyDelete-Ryan Adair
The point was made in class how Orwell was certain about what he was writing!!!! I think just as history repeats itself......warning comes before destruction. So since Orwell has warned us we should now act on it and ask questions so that we know exactly what the speaker is saying and their exact intentions so we are not bamboozled!!!
ReplyDeleteBrittany
I agree with you, Jenny, that Kate brought up a very good question, “Why do you agree with what someone is saying? Why do you like what you are hearing?”
ReplyDeleteIt really is an excellent question to ask yourself. And I think if most people were going to answer it would be based on what the politician believes...It's like the politician is speaking for you and sharing your voice,and I think that is how a speaker wins an audience.
-Sarah