feedback for qn 7
7. Discuss the theme of propaganda. How is it shown in the book?
Before we go into the examples, certain things have to be established in your essay for such a question. This could be done in your intro.
1. Firstly, what is propaganda? "information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause" (source: www.dictionary.com)
2. In the novel, who or which characters use it?
3. When and for what purpose do they use it? (comment generally at this point, go into more detail as you present your evidence)
Examples of propaganda are : (this part is comprehensive, appropriate examples higlighted by the group)
(pg75) "I do not believe that," he said. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. I saw him myself. Did we not give him 'Animal Hero, first Class,' immediately afterwards?"
"That was our mistake, comrade. For we know now--it is all written down in the secret documents that we have found--that in reality he was trying to lure us to our doom."
(Napoleon and Squealer are in a way re-writing history by changing the truth - they present their version of what happened, so that the animals will only remember what they want them to)
(chapter 4) By the late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms, tell them the story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of 'Beasts of England' (significance of this?)
(pg57) That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation.
Commandments :
-no animals must ever sleep in bed -> no animals must ever sleep in bed WITH SHEETS - " drink alcohol -> " drink alcohol to EXCESS - "four legs good, two legs bad" -> "four legs good, two legs better! " (distorting the truth and thereby, what the animals remember)
(chapter 7) Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known, and he decided to make use of Mr. Whymper to spread a contrary impression...
... a few selected animals, mostly sheep, were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. In addition, Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand, which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins. He was deceived, and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm. (trying to control the thinking of people outside the farm)
(chapter 8) On Sunday mornings Squealer, holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter, would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might be. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. All the same, there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food ( when they actually had less food)
(others ) -at critical moments , the sheep will start bleating "four legs good, two legs bad"
It would be good to cover Moses and how he uses propaganda as well.
Moses also uses propaganda as he is brainwashing the animals into believing that there is sugar candy mountain to go after they die thus they just have to work hard in this life in order to enjoy when they die.
How about a conclusion? E.g. Propaganda is such a central theme in the novel because it is propaganda which keeps the animals ignorant of the truth. It is used by Napoleon (through Squealer most of the time) to maintain his power and position, and make it seem as if whatever he does is for the benefit of the animals. By presenting his version of affairs, he is controlling the way the animals think and the information they receive. Hence, he can ensure that they remain obedient to him.
Before we go into the examples, certain things have to be established in your essay for such a question. This could be done in your intro.
1. Firstly, what is propaganda? "information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause" (source: www.dictionary.com)
2. In the novel, who or which characters use it?
3. When and for what purpose do they use it? (comment generally at this point, go into more detail as you present your evidence)
Examples of propaganda are : (this part is comprehensive, appropriate examples higlighted by the group)
(pg75) "I do not believe that," he said. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. I saw him myself. Did we not give him 'Animal Hero, first Class,' immediately afterwards?"
"That was our mistake, comrade. For we know now--it is all written down in the secret documents that we have found--that in reality he was trying to lure us to our doom."
(Napoleon and Squealer are in a way re-writing history by changing the truth - they present their version of what happened, so that the animals will only remember what they want them to)
(chapter 4) By the late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms, tell them the story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of 'Beasts of England' (significance of this?)
(pg57) That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation.
Commandments :
-no animals must ever sleep in bed -> no animals must ever sleep in bed WITH SHEETS - " drink alcohol -> " drink alcohol to EXCESS - "four legs good, two legs bad" -> "four legs good, two legs better! " (distorting the truth and thereby, what the animals remember)
(chapter 7) Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known, and he decided to make use of Mr. Whymper to spread a contrary impression...
... a few selected animals, mostly sheep, were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. In addition, Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand, which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins. He was deceived, and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm. (trying to control the thinking of people outside the farm)
(chapter 8) On Sunday mornings Squealer, holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter, would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might be. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. All the same, there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food ( when they actually had less food)
(others ) -at critical moments , the sheep will start bleating "four legs good, two legs bad"
It would be good to cover Moses and how he uses propaganda as well.
Moses also uses propaganda as he is brainwashing the animals into believing that there is sugar candy mountain to go after they die thus they just have to work hard in this life in order to enjoy when they die.
How about a conclusion? E.g. Propaganda is such a central theme in the novel because it is propaganda which keeps the animals ignorant of the truth. It is used by Napoleon (through Squealer most of the time) to maintain his power and position, and make it seem as if whatever he does is for the benefit of the animals. By presenting his version of affairs, he is controlling the way the animals think and the information they receive. Hence, he can ensure that they remain obedient to him.
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