In this edited extract from The Road to Wigan Pier (1937) George Orwell writes of Britain in the inter-war years - Leaving Cert History - Question A - 2011
Question A
In this edited extract from The Road to Wigan Pier (1937) George Orwell writes of Britain in the inter-war years. Study it and answer the questions which follow.
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Worked Solution & Example Answer:In this edited extract from The Road to Wigan Pier (1937) George Orwell writes of Britain in the inter-war years - Leaving Cert History - Question A - 2011
Step 1
What ‘horrified and amazed’ the writer?
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Answer
The writer was horrified and amazed to discover that many of the unemployed were ashamed of being unemployed. This reveals a deep-seated social stigma associated with joblessness during that time.
Step 2
What was one criticism made of the unemployed?
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Answer
One criticism made of the unemployed was that they were viewed as ‘lazy idle loafers on the dole’, suggesting that society perceived them as unwilling to work, irrespective of the actual circumstances they faced.
Step 3
What did the writer originally think of tramps and beggars?
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The writer initially regarded tramps and beggars as cynical parasites who did not contribute to society, indicating a prejudiced view that he held before mingling with them.
Step 4
What did the writer discover about tramps and beggars?
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Upon mingling with tramps and beggars, the writer discovered that many of them were actually decent people, including young miners and cotton workers who fell into desperation due to economic conditions.
Step 5
What did the organisers of the Jarrow March, October 1936, hope to achieve?
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The organisers of the Jarrow March aimed to bring attention to the plight of the unemployed and to secure work for those affected by the economic hardships in the region, highlighting the urgent need for social reform.
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