"These notes refer to the Cambridge GCE O Level Examination held in November in Singapore. However, they are of general interest to anyone preparing to answer essay questions on Anumal Farm, in any exam."
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"The exam offers a choice of essay topics (Traditionally, three on each set text). The candidate may answer TWO essay questions, but no more, on any text."
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"There is a 20% mark allocation for the essay, so about 30 minutes should be allowed for answering this question."
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"*Notes on approved essay techniques follow."
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"You are advised to follow these steps in writing your answer."
"*1. "
"Quickly select the topic which seems best suited to the study and preparation you have done. Usually this will be obvious."
"If you have trouble choosing, jot down rough notes about each topic and see which one is easier to give information on."
"*2. "
"Check the question carefully, underlining key words. Be 100% sure that you know exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Many essays are failed because they are off the topic, although the candidate has shown wide knowledge of the text."
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"*3. "
"Now, plan your essay. It may seem that time is very short, but a well-planned essay will be written much more easily than one where you are struggling to think of ideas as you write."
"Any essay topic should fall naturally into some kind of logical form or order. Try to allot one paragraph for each major point you want to make."
"For instance, if you are asked to compare Snowball and Napoleon, a possible arrangement would be:"
"*-at first, both seen as equals"
"*-Snowball is idealistic, Napoleon more practical"
"*-Napoleon is shrewd, ruthless, ambitious"
"*-Snowball is naive, an easy victim"
"*-final analysis; Snowball is too weak to withstand N's force."
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"*4. "
"As you plan, try to think of quotations that are relevant to your topic. Jot them down also. It doesn't matter if it is not a long or complete quote, but it should be fully relevant."
"You won't get marks for writng down all the quotations from the text that you have learnt - only those you use to back up some point that you are making."
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"Almost as good as a quotation is a precise example from the text. The body of your essay should fall into the pattern of:"
"*Point - Evidence - Point - Evidence etc."
"If you can help it, never make an unsupported statement."
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"Now let's try a sample essay topic."
" "
"I have made up one that deals with one of the major ideas of the play."
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"*Briefly describe the character of Squealer, and show what you think Orwell was trying to achieve by creating this character."
"*PARA. 5 Conclusion - Orwell's purpose was to show the harmful and degrading effects of propaganda."
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"* MODEL ANSWER"
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"Squealer was a small fat pig, with round cheeks, twinkling eyes and very persuasive habits. The others said of him that:"
"*he could turn black into white."
"Along with Snowball and Napoleon, Squealer helped to form the principles of Animalism. After the expulsion of Snowball, he became Napoleon's chief helper."
"His main purpose is as a kind of Public Relations Officer. He uses all the powers at his disposal to persuade the other animals that the pigs' actions are correct, and that Animal Farm is prospering."
"Later, he spends most of his time justifying Napoleon's more outrageous actions."
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"Clearly, with the character of Squealer, Orwell reveals the many aspects of propaganda and its extraordinary power to influence people's beliefs and actions."
"One side of this is shown by Squealer's sheer persuasiveness. He was a brilliant talker, and his way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail helped to convince the animals."
"For example, he justifies the fact that the pigs receive all the milk and windfall apples, by claiming that they only did it for the sake of the other animals."
"Ingeniously he adds the convincing detail that he himself actually dislikes milk and apples, and is really suffering for their good."
"Orwell shows how subtle propaganda can change the way we think."
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"A more disturbing aspect of Squealer's persuasion is soon revealed. He uses fear as a tool to convert them to his point of view."
"One example of this tactic is when he threatens them with the return of Jones. By exposing them to this fear, he convinces them to trust the pigs, and the animals quickly conform."
"As well as the vague threat of the return of Jones, Squealer is not above causing physical fear."
"For instance, the animals dare not raise their doubts about Napoleon's sudden change of heart about the windmill, because the three large dogs who accompany Squealer 'growled so threateningly.'"
"Orwell uses these incidents to show how a totalitarian government can control its citizens through fear."
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"Another method used by experts in the art of propaganda is known as 'misinformation'. This is the use of falsehood and rumour to achieve ones ends."
"For example, Snowball and Frederick are both the subject of vicious rumour. Snowball is blamed for destroying the windmill and is accused of being in league with Jones and many other 'crimes'."
"Frederick is said to practise all kinds of cruelties upon his animals. These false or exaggerated stories give the animals another source of fear, forcing them to rely more on the pigs, and also direct their minds away from what is happening on their own farm."
"Once again, Squealer's methods are shown by Orwell to parallel those used in Russia and other totalitarian states."
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"Yet another example of Squealer's misinformation is the use of misleading statistics."
"Even as their rations are being reduced, or 'readjusted'in Squealer's misleading terms, he convinces them that actually food production is up and they are better off than they were before."
"Perhaps the most blatant form of propaganda is that of revising history. Past events, such as the Battle of the Cowshed, become distorted in the animals' memory, allowing Squealer to reveal new versions."
"For instance, Snowball is declared to have been a coward although Boxer thought he could remember his bravery."
"Even worse, the Seven Commandments are gradually perverted or have conditions altered."
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"While we may laugh at the animals' innocence (for example, they don't realise what is happening to the Commandments, even when they catch Squealer virtually in the act of changing them), Orwell is serious in showing how events and documents can be altered to suit the purposes of a government."
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"So, we have seen the important function of Squealer in the novel."
"The little pig with the twinkling eyes and the golden tongue, reveals clearly the evils of propaganda in all its forms."
"It is just one more of the disastrous side-effects that Orwell saw as inevitable in a totalitarian state."
