The Orwell Youth Prize takes its inspiration from the author, journalist and essayist George Orwell. Orwell wrote from his own experiences, putting himself in difficult and often dangerous situations. He did this to gain first-hand knowledge, enabling him to describe the conditions and people he came across accurately and honestly. He worked as a colonial policeman in Myanmar (formerly Burma), fought fascists in the Spanish Civil War and slept rough in Paris and London.
Orwell also wrote in language that was clear, concise and compelling for his audience. We encourage you to follow George Orwell’s example: to write about something that matters to you, and that you want to draw to the attention of others.
Here we’ve put together some prompts inspired by Orwell’s writing and different kinds of courage, to help you start thinking about the theme. When you’re ready to start researching, head to our Research page to browse reading, or watch and listening about courage in today’s world.
COURAGE AND CONFORMITY
‘There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.’ – Nineteen Eighty-Four
‘Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.’ – Nineteen Eighty-Four
‘Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull.’ – Nineteen Eighty-Four
‘Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.’ – Nineteen Eighty-Four
‘Four legs good, two legs bad!’ – Animal Farm
Questions:
- What does it mean to hold on to your own view when everyone around you disagrees?
- When might staying quiet be brave, and when is it just easier?
- What’s the difference between not having an opinion and being too afraid to share one?
- Think of a time you went along with something you didn’t quite believe. What would it have taken to do something different?
COURAGE AND FEAR
‘He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it.’ – Shooting an Elephant
‘I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.’ – Shooting an Elephant
‘When the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.’ – Shooting an Elephant
‘Till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man.’ – A Hanging
‘If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever.’ – Nineteen Eighty-Four
Questions:
- Is it possible to do something that looks courageous for a cowardly reason? What might that look like in real life?
- Why might the fear of embarrassment feel bigger, in the moment, than the fear of doing something wrong?
- What does it take to notice that something is wrong, when everyone else is carrying on as if it’s normal?
- Does courage look different depending on how much power you have?
COURAGE IN ORDINARY LIFE
‘If there is hope, it lies in the proles.’ – Nineteen Eighty-Four
‘He had done his job at the front with faultless courage and willingness.’ – Homage to Catalonia
On the Spanish working class, who exhibit: ‘…a real largeness of spirit, which I have met with again and again in the most unpromising circumstances.’ – Homage to Catalonia
‘It is only because miners sweat their guts out that superior persons can remain superior.’ – The Road to Wigan Pier
‘I will work harder!’ – Boxer’s motto, Animal Farm
Questions:
- Whose courage tends to go unnoticed or unrewarded?
- Is loyalty always a form of courage? When might it become the opposite?
- Is there a difference between courage and endurance?
- Orwell believed hope came from ordinary people rather than the powerful. Do you agree?
- Who is the bravest person in your own life and would they describe themselves that way?
Feeling inspired? Head on to the Research page for some tips on researching your entry – and to explore how writers and journalists are tackling our theme today.