#183, Orwell
“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.”
George Orwell is one of the most celebrated writers of the 21st century. His writing appeals to readers of all ages—a rare trait for such a literary giant. The barrier to entry for his works is merely a desire for a good story. Yet, his books contain great depth that require more than a surface reading to uncover. Animal Farm is a story about an arrogant boar and a drunk farmer. Beneath its simple veneer, it is also a commentary on Soviet communism and two of its most prominent figures: Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Stories don’t need to be overly complex nor academic to be considered great. Mr. Orwell’s works are proof positive.
In his 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language, Mr. Orwell provides five tips for effective writing.
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
The task this week is a creative writing response. Let Mr. Orwell’s tips guide your prose. To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Choose one of the writing prompts below and write a story based upon it.
You are a powerful dragon that lived next to a small kingdom. For centuries you ignored humanity and lived alone in a cave, and the humans avoided you. As the kingdom fell to invaders, a dying soldier approaches you with the infant princess, begging you to take care of her.
It's 3 AM. An official phone alert wakes you up. It says "DO NOT LOOK AT THE MOON". You have hundreds of notifications. Hundreds of random numbers are sending "It's a beautiful night tonight. Look outside."
At the age of 16 everyone gets teleported into a small room. In front of you is a table with all kinds of meals from apples to gourmet meats. Whatever you take a bite of will determine what superpower you'll get. You are the first person to take a bite of the table itself.
At the age of 18, everyone gains a Familiar, an animal suddenly enchanted to be intelligent and bonded to them. You wake up on your 18th birthday to find a wolf in your room, urging you to wake up in fluent English.
From birth, your parents have done everything they could to stop you from going out during a full moon. At the age of 16, curiosity overwhelms you and you sneak out of the house during a full moon. You take a peek at the moon, and suddenly you turn into a log cabin. You are a werehouse. (i.e., you turn into a house on a full moon)
Comment on a peer's response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher