Preview

Old Major’s Speech in George Orwell's Animal Farm

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1004 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Old Major’s Speech in George Orwell's Animal Farm
George Orwell, Animal Farm - “Old Major’s Speech”

1. Who is Old Major? Why does his address the animals?

In the story Old Major is a meritorious hog, thanks to all the prizes he got on several exhibitions other animals hold him in high esteem, as he is clever, smart and calm. His age gives him a supremacy in experience over his companions. He calls a meeting to discuss a strange dream he had and as a kind of authority elucidates how unfairly, cruelly and sorely all animals are treated by the human beings. Old Major was the first one to call them by the name “comrades” and this act of dubbing was in fact the beginning of a craving for freedom and sowing the grain of rebellion. To take the notion further, Old Major addresses the animals because he acts with some noble inducements to show them the trust in solidarity and strong belief in prosperous future if they federate. As a result, the hog might be perceived as a representation of a philosopher propagating the value of social justice, even naïve, however still hoping to inspire the people to aim for progress and put an end to being set in a treadmill.

2. One of the stylistic devices Orwell uses in the speech is rhetorical questions. Access Six Minutes. Speaking and Presentation Skills: http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/rhetorical-questions/ read A.Dlugan's "How many ways can you use rhetorical questions in your speech?" and then explain what purpose rhetorical questions serve in the Old Major's speech:

To start with, Old Major employs a series of rhetorical questions to persuade the animals to consider, really think about what he is talking about and allows them to relate to it easier. The protagonist structures his speech with two rhetorical questions together or in parallel close to each other to emphasize the essence of them. Secondly, the hog wants to influence his receivers and to be considered as a credible, persona, as the animals will have no doubt that he would ever tell them

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    2. Keeping in mind the Russian Revolution, whom do the animals collectively represent? Thinking of the allegory, what person does Old Major represent?…

    • 2049 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is an allegory because it represents Stalin's rise to power in Russia. His dictatorship to the people of Russia is how Napoleon treated the animals on the farm. Napoleon the pig represents Joseph Stalin, the dictating leader of the Soviet Union. Napoleon tricked the other animals into believing he was the only one that wanted the best for them. He slowly brought the farm from a more equal state to a state where he was considered and treated as a king. He also murdered any of the animals who opposed him or stood in his way, without trial. Stalin did the same by consolidating power and expanding the limits of his role. He eliminated anyone who tried to oppose him. He organized a massive purge where "enemies" were imprisoned,…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    animal farm chaper 2

    • 1487 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Old Major dies three nights after the meeting that united the animals. Over the next three months, the more intelligent animals begin to approach life differently. They now anticipate the Rebellion, for which they assume the task of preparing. The pigs take on the task of organizing and teaching the other animals because they are “generally recognized as being the cleverest of the animals” (35).…

    • 1487 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm” displays a society in a farm transforming from a utopian society into a dystopian society. Old Majors vision of a utopian society was successful after a win against their leader, however this perfect utopian society changes because of Napoleons gain in power, the inequality and human characteristics that the pigs had, these are excellent reasons on how Old Majors vision of a utopian society quickly becomes destroyed into a dystopian society. George Orwell fascinates the reader on…

    • 84 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Societal corruption can be shown through Animalistic Behaviors. Thesis: In the classic novel Animal Farm, the author, George Orwell shows how societal corruption can occur through propaganda, pride, and hypocrisy. The book opens with a rebellion being led by the cows on the farm as they fought for their rights and better treatment. This rebellion began with secret meetings being held with all the animals on the farm. Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer, who led the secret meetings, used the term “Animalism” as a reference to the teachings of Old Major. Old Major was a pig who dreamt of a rebellion against the farmers, which would leave the animals in charge. These early meetings led by three pigs (Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer), were the early stages of using propaganda to rally and organize the animals of the farm. The use of the term “Animalism” provided a simple and direct message to support the propaganda.…

    • 830 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The primary issue that Old Major has with the principle of working for man is that the animals do the work for no benefit, while Mr. Jones lives a life of excess. Old major is disgruntled by the fact that the man barks orders at his animals, and the animals remain malnourished and neglected even though they do the bulk of the man’s work. Soon after Napoleon and Snowball seize control of Animal Farm, as the animals work tenaciously in the fields, the pigs “…did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others” (50). The pigs’ integrity continues to decline as the story unfolds; the reader sees that they become more akin to the parasitic man which they had sought to be liberated from than diligent leaders they portrayed themselves to be. The pigs, who have taken the place of man at the farm, now begin to reap the benefits of the other animals’ work.…

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The story that this essay is all about is Animal Farm by George Orwell. I believe that the premise of the story is quite interesting. It is basically the retelling of a dream where world where all animals live free from the tyranny of their human masters. There are many great examples of all kinds of literary elements but the element of allegory is the most prominent in my opinion.…

    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Certainly the ramifications of oppression and absolute authority are outrage and this is conveyed throughout Animal Farm. Old Major tries to convince them that the reason behind their servitude and despair is Man, because Major believes that "Man is the only real enemy [they] have" (Orwell 7). Through expressing his anger, Major criticizes the fact that Man does not lay eggs or give milk, "yet he is the lord of all animals" (Orwell 8). It is clear-cut that the animals are affected by Major's speech which urges them to obtain their freedom. Major's point of view is that "all men are enemies. All animals are comrades" (Orwell 10). From here, the reader can deduce that Old Major represents V. I. Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevic Party that seized…

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the past, the Russian Revolution is falling into action throughout these events in Animal Farm. George Orwell, the author of the novel, writes on how he feels about the October and February Revolutions. He uses characters to portray the history in the people and events during the revolution. These characters allow readers to know how George reflected the purpose of the historic event. Three major characters used are Boxer, Squealer, and the sheep. Orwell critiques society through Boxer, Squealer, and the sheep with their actions, characterization, and dialogue in the novel.…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    [(essay date 1998) In the following essay, originally published in 1984, Patai provides a feminist interpretation of Animal Farm.] Although Animal Farm is mentioned in scores of studies of Orwell, no critic has thought it worth a comment that the pigs who betray the revolution, like the pig who starts it, are not just pigs but boars, that is, uncastrated male pigs kept for breeding purposes. Old Major, the "prize Middle White boar" who has called a meeting to tell the other animals about his dream, is initially described in terms that establish him as patriarch of this world: "He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but he was still a majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut." In contrasting his life with those of the less fortunate animals on the farm, Major says: "I am one of the lucky ones. I am twelve years old and have had…

    • 4166 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Old Major, a prize-winning boar, gathers the animals of the Manor Farm for a meeting in the big barn. He tells them of a dream he has had in which all animals live together with no human beings to oppress or control them. He tells the animals that they must work toward such a paradise and teaches them a song called “Beasts of England,” in which his dream vision is lyrically described. The animals greet Major’s vision with great enthusiasm. When he dies only three nights after the meeting, three younger pigs, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer formulate his main principles into a philosophy called Animalism. Late one night, the animals manage to defeat the farmer Mr. Jones in a battle, running him off the land. They rename the property Animal Farm and dedicate themselves to achieving Major’s dream. The cart-horse Boxer devotes himself to the cause with particular zeal, committing his great strength to the prosperity of the farm and adopting as a personal maxim the affirmation “I will work harder.”…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How does Orwell explore the problem of rhetoric in Animal Farm? Paying particular attention to the character of Squealer, how is language used as instrument of social control?…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whale Rider Relationships

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Orwell uses the themes of peer pressure and group mentality, to show how the relations between the animals effect how they behave. At the beginning of the novel, it is Old Major's speech that initially brings the animals together in order to start and uprising against the humans, but it is when Napoleon takes over, that his relationships with the animals cause a negative impact on their view on the world. It is him, with help from Squealer, that convinces the animals that "Four legs good, two legs bad." which would eventually become "Four legs good, two legs better." He manipulates the animals into doing his bidding, and it's because of this that the animals begin to think that this is what the real world it like. They begin to think that all humans are terrible people, and that Napoleon is always right. George Orwell is trying to show how sometimes, relationships can have a negative impact on how we see the world around us, which contrasts with The Fault in our Stars and Life of Crime, which show a much more positive impact. Orwell wants the reader to understand that not all relationships will have a positive impact on you, and that you may have to be careful what you…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Animal Farm by George Orwell there are two key chapters that can be compared. In chapter two it is the morning after the rebellion and the animals are overjoyed. “They woke at dawn” shows the beginning of a new day, this creates a sense of hope and represents the start of their new life without humans. However in chapter seven it is the night of the slaughters and the reader can see the caparison between the time of day when Orwell says “gilded by the level rays of the sun” This shows the sun is setting on Animals Farm and represents the end of their hopes and dreams. There is also a difference between Orwell’s word choice in both chapters, in chapter two the animals “raced” “rushed” and “hurled” portraying their excitement, enthusiasm and…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the tale the pig’s convince the others animals to act and think a certain way as a result of the propaganda that occurs through the entirety of the tale. Old Major brings together the animals and protests the human leadership the animals are under. The pigs take advantage of Old Major’s death and use his speech as the first building block in their series of propaganda. The Pigs then use the song “Beasts of England” their rally cry and later destroy this ritual because it is no longer necessary. Squealer successfully uses his body language to put on a performance that convinces the animals to act in favor of the pigs. The first major piece of propaganda to be implemented is the commandments written by the pigs, which are eventually all broken. The ideas of Old Major are simplified once again with a motto the pigs create which moves the animals away from the desired results of the revolution. Napoleon then drives Snowball off of the farm and turns him into a scapegoat. After this event takes place Napoleon is able to establish himself as a heroic leader. The motto the sheep’s chant is used to drown out any chance of protest. The donkey Benjamin notices afterwards one of the commandments on the wall has been changed. Life on the farm continues in the same terrible way with no sign of hope for the animals. The strong presence of deliberate tactics to assist a leader…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics