[Trailerpark Badass]

Perhaps your right, and I mischaracterized the poster's intent. I just never assumed that something I read in 8th grade would lend itself to "in-depth analysis."

[Trailerpark Badass]

Not only that,but the notion that mid-century totalitarian governments used sophisticated rhetorical tropes to subjugate the populace is absurd. Brute force, unrelenting, combined with enforced starvation of an illiterate population is what was perpetrated.

Orwell is, at best, an amusing distraction.

[Republicanus_Tyrannus]

My recommendation? Re-read it - and compare it while you're reading it to current university "speech codes".

Orwell wrote better than you probably remember. I am sure you will enjoy it on another read-through.

[Lurker]

I read Orwell in the 8th grade also. But the one that really got to me was "Anthem" by Rand. Pardon the analogy, but while Orwell could be considered a nice wine, Rand was a shot of 100 proof single malt for a 12 year old.

I kind of enjoyed this guys analysis. Orwell wrote a truly masterful book IMO. It hasn't aged all that well, I'll agree. But, he did accurately lay out the 'logic' necessary to run a truly monstrous totalitarian state. Judging from recent events, one could call Orwell a truly prescient individual.

Lucky for us that the tyrants he envisioned have, at least recently, been consigned to the relative backwaters of the planet. In that regard, we have been very lucky. If it weren't for the US, the entire world would be living under various guises of Saddam, Il Jong, Pol Pot, et al.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading this well researched bit of work on a book which I too read in High School.

The fact that it isn't still required reading in most High Schools is more than just a little disturbing to me.

Regards,

L

[Publius6961]

Perhaps your [sic] right, and I mischaracterized the poster's intent. I just never assumed that something I read in 8th grade would lend itself to "in-depth analysis."

Perhaps you should have paid more attention in class; both literary tools and devices and spelling... Got a dictionary? Try "pompousness" and "sophistry".