Re-read Old Major’s speech and analyze his use of language. Why is Old Major so persuasive, considering his use of language (syntax, diction, rhetorical devices)? As well as any other specific syntax (inversions, sentence types, use of phrases, active voice, etc.) and diction (negative or positive connotations, double-meanings, etc.). Use these specific grammatical/rhetorical terms.Make sure that you have a clear claim that you can back up with cited evidence (“cited” means include the page number) and full warrant. Focus on the language in the book, not on the historical figures Old Major may represent.-The directions on the Document are wrong use the ones posted above.
afmajorsspeech.pdf
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Old Major’s Speech
**Circle 10 words that help create the tone**
Animal Farm
#1) Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. But I will
come to the dream later. I have something else to say first. I do not think, comrades, that I shall
be with you for many months longer, and before I die, I feel it my duty to pass on to you such
wisdom as I have acquired. I have had a long life, I have had much time for thought as I lay alone
in my stall, and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any
animal now living. It is about this that I wish to speak to you.
#2) “Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable,
laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our
bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength;
and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous
cruelty. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old.
No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth.
#3) “But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it
cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No, comrades, a thousand times no! The
soil of England is fertile, its climate is good, it is capable of affording food in abundance to an
enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. This single farm of ours would support
a dozen horses, twenty cows, hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity
that are now almost beyond our imagining. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition?
Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. There,
comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word-Man. Man is the
only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and
overwork is abolished for ever.
#4) “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does
not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he
is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will
prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself. Our labour tills the soil, our dung
fertilises it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. You cows that I see
before me, how many thousands of gallons of milk have you given during this last year? And what
has happened to that milk which should have been breeding up sturdy calves? Every drop of it
has gone down the throats of our enemies. And you hens, how many eggs have you laid in this
last year, and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? The rest have all gone to
market to bring in money for Jones and his men. And you, Clover, where are those four foals you
bore, who should have been the support and pleasure of your old age? Each was sold at a year
old-you will never see one of them again. In return for your four confinements and all your labour
in the fields, what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?
#5) “And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span. For myself
I do not grumble, for I am one of the lucky ones. I am twelve years old and have had over four
hundred children. Such is the natural life of a pig. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the
end. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will scream your lives out
at the block within a year. To that horror we all must come-cows, pigs, hens, sheep, everyone.
Even the horses and the dogs have no better fate. You, Boxer, the very day that those great
muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will sell you to the knacker, who will cut your throat and
boil you down for the foxhounds. As for the dogs, when they grow old and toothless, Jones ties a
brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond.
#6) “Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the
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tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own.
A1most overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and
#6 continued) day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to
you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come, it might be in a week or in
a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later
justice will be done. Fix your eyes on that, comrades, throughout the short remainder of your
lives! And above all, pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future
generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious.
#7) “And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you
astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the
prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no
creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in
the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.”
#8) At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. While Major was speaking four large rats had
crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters, listening to him. The dogs had
suddenly caught sight of them, and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved
their lives. Major raised his trotter for silence.
#9) “Comrades,” he said, “here is a point that must be settled. The wild creatures, such as rats
and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. I propose this question
to the meeting: Are rats comrades?”
#10) The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were
comrades. There were only four dissentients, the three dogs and the cat, who was afterwards
discovered to have voted on both sides. Major continued:
#11) “I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards
Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs,
or has wings, is a friend. And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to
resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever
live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch
money, or engage in trade. All the habits of Man are evil. And, above all, no animal must ever
tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal
must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal.
#12) And now, comrades, I will tell you about my dream of last night. I cannot describe that dream
to you. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when Man has vanished. But it reminded me of
something that I had long forgotten. Many years ago, when I was a little pig, my mother and the
other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. I
had known that tune in my infancy, but it had long since passed out of my mind. Last night,
however, it came back to me in my dream. And what is more, the words of the song also came
back-words, I am certain, which were sung by the animals of long ago and have been lost to
memory for generations. I will sing you that song now, comrades. I am old and my voice is
hoarse, but when I have taught you the tune, you can sing it better for yourselves. It is called
Beasts of England.”
#13) Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing. As he had said, his voice was hoarse, but he
sang well enough, and it was a stirring tune, something between Clementine and La Cucaracha.
The words ran:
#14) Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
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FULL NAMES:
HOUR:
In GROUPS of 1-4 write a ONE SENTENCE summary for each two paragraphs.
WRITE NEATLY and proof. ONE sheet needed for the ENTIRE GROUP
Paragraphs 1-2:
Paragraphs 3-4:
Paragraphs 5-6:
Paragraphs 7-8:
Paragraphs 9-10:
Paragraphs 11- 12:
Paragraphs 13-14:
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