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English Literature / Unit 17   ENL 1609 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Orwell's Essays

Captions available

The idea

In "Shooting an Elephant," of nineteen thirty-six, a police officer in Burma shoots an elephant to avoid looking foolish, exposing imperialism. "Politics and the English Language," of nineteen forty-six, argues that vague language hides the truth and urges concreteness and clarity.

In practice

Empire's pressure; plain language.

Where people slip

Essay details here rest on one reference source.

Your place on the trail

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