1. Why does Orwell write?
Orwell wrote because he was a writer- not only in occupation, but also in heart. Orwell said that when he tried to abandon the idea of becoming a writer he was outraging his “true nature.” He believed that there are four great motives of writing, which are sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose.
2. Why do you write?
Aside from the fact that school assigns students to write on a daily basis, on a plethora of subjects, I suppose mostly write for enjoyment, aesthetic enthusiasm, and historical impulse. I love reading, and I think that it is my love of words that makes writing so enjoyable for me (even though I am not very good at writing, or even very coherent at times).
3. What did you learn about writing?
I learned that even some of the greatest and inspiring writers can still refer to writing a book as a “horrible, exhausting struggle.” I also learned that one cannot fully asses a writer’s motives without knowing about their early development first.
4. What did you find most interesting about the piece?
While I found the whole reading to be incredibly interesting, the general section which I found most interesting was the last paragraph. I especially love how Orwell uses the simile of good prose being like a windowpane. I found it interesting that he claimed the next book he would write was bound to be a failure and that “every book is a failure.”
5. What one sentence would be the best grounds for an argument? Why?
I think that “One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand,” is one sentence that would be the best grounds for an argument. This sentence is referring to the process of writing a book. I do not believe that that would be the only grounds by which one would undergo such a task.
