Warm Up: Match the euphemism with its
definition.
Character Lines
Short
Bun In The Oven
Dead
Have words with someone
Firing an employee
Between Jobs
Use the bathroom
Three cards short of a full deck
Pregnant
Pushing The Daisies
Wrinkles
Vertically challenged
Get in an argument
Find the little boy's room
Crazy, mentally ill
Letting someone go
Unemployed
People often use euphemisms to soften an expression, be
polite, or sometimes to be purposely impolite.
Partner challenge:
What 2 terms/concepts have
the highest number of
euphemisms???
Remember, people often use euphemisms to
soften an expression, be polite, or sometimes to
be purposely impolite.
DEATH
SEX
Game Plan: Orwell’s “Politics & The
English Language”
Number paragraphs
Vocabulary list
Summarize article & key ideas
Analysis Activities
Vocabulary List
decadent/decadence
archaism
slovenliness
frivolous
vice
idiom
hackneyed
evocative
pretentious
jargon
parody
euphonious
scrupulous
euphemism
obsolete
prefabricated
follies
orthodoxy
Summarize
After reading the article, summarize the key
ideas on an index card. What is Orwell’s main
argument in this essay?
Bad Writing “Tricks”
In your own words, describe the tricks writers
use to “dodge” (or, avoid) expressing a
precise meaning/idea.
1.Dying Metaphors:
2.Operators or verbal false limbs:
3.Pretentious diction:
4.Meaningless words:
List Orwell’s Rules for “good”
writing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Analysis Activities
Metaphors:
Highlight moments in the essay where Orwell
uses metaphors/imagery to convey his
meaning.
Discussion Questions
What do you think of Orwell’s argument that poor
language leads to corrupt thought?
Is there a natural tendency for languages to
degenerate?
The context of this essay is political. Orwell’s
purpose in his essay is to warn us about the
effects of inaccurate and ambiguous language
used by politicians to manipulate the public and
gain power? Do you agree this is a concern? Do
you find this idea relevant today?