Scribd
Upload
83 views1 page

Student response 6

Uploaded by

Nicky Robertson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
83 views1 page

Student response 6

Uploaded by

Nicky Robertson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

The text written by George Orwell takes an autobiographical form which can be inferred

through the first person perspective, with the likely purpose to entertain the reader. Through
the author’s reference of “at that age,” it can be hypothesised that the narrator is reflecting
on a significant event that happened many years ago. <~ context

At the beginning of the text, an apprehensive tone is created by the writer’s use of the modal
form “ought,” “could'' and “would” and is further strengthened by the use of “say, 25 yards”.
Along with the use of multiple “if” clauses, this suggests that the character was very
uncertain about his course of action and may have been preparing himself for every
eventuality. The writer then goes on to describe the elephant as “suddenly stricken,
shrunken.” The use of sibilance creates a sinister atmosphere which may be used to
foreshadow the suffering of both man and beast, as well as the tragic tone that the latter part
of the text takes on. The writer’s use of lexical devices, most notably, a semantic field of
money by using the words “worth”, “pounds” and “value” at the beginning of the text, as well
as a lexical field of adjectives created by his choices of “sagging”, “drooping” and “toppling”
could be further employed to contrast between the writer’s initial and final attitude towards
the elephant as he may have originally seen it as an inanimate object with a monetary value
but this presumption was terminated when he experienced the pain and suffering that the
beast experienced when it had been shot.

Figurative language is effectively used to create imagery, most recognisably, the author’s
reference to having as much chance “as a toad under a steam-roller.” This simile effectively
adds a humorous twist to the text which contrasts with the terrible danger that Orwell may
have got himself into. It may also be used to emphasise the difference in power between the
man and elephant. The writer goes on to describe his rational course of action as “perfectly
clear” which suggests that in theory he knew exactly what to do. This adverbial phrase
creates an image of apparent crystalline clarity, which may be used to persuade the reader
to believe that the character was in total control of the situation. The writer then goes on to
describe the elephant’s “caverns of pale pink” throat. This imagery may be used to liken the
elephant to an innocent baby or child and could be employed as a symbol of the elephant’s
helplessness.

The writer’s use of the structural device of a short, simple sentence, “I got up.” changes the
focus of the text from the elephant’s suffering and pain to Orwell’s own emotional distress
and turmoil. In doing this, the writer’s voice seems to change from a philosophical one to a
strained one which indicates that he may be regretting his actions. This is confirmed in the
last paragraph of the text, “In the end I could not stand it any longer and went away.” The
technique of using a single sentence paragraph may be deployed to create high impact and
place a heavy emphasis on the point that he was unable to cope with the burden of the
situation. Furthermore the writer’s repetition of the words “powerless” and “dreadful” show
the reader that the situation was futile and possible worthless and could even have been
avoided.

You might also like