Read the excerpt from chapter 10 of Animal Farm.

Question

The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. They were fine upstanding beasts, willing workers and good comrades, but very stupid. None of them proved able to learn the alphabet beyond the letter B. They accepted everything that they were told about the Rebellion and the principles of Animalism, especially from Clover, for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it.

Which statement best explains how Orwell uses dramatic irony in this passage to reveal the theme that knowledge can be lost between generations?

The reader knows that the horses were good workers with corrupt ideals.
The reader knows that Clover gains respect because she could explain the rebellion and animalism.
The reader knows Clover’s language gives her the ability to abuse her power over the other horses.
The reader understands the history of the rebellion, but the new horses do not.

Answer 1

The statement that best explains how Orwell uses dramatic irony in this passage to reveal the theme that knowledge can be lost between generations is:

The reader understands the history of the rebellion, but the new horses do not.

This choice highlights the disparity between the reader’s awareness of the historical context (the Rebellion and the principles of Animalism) and the lack of understanding among the new horses, illustrating how knowledge and critical awareness can be diminished or lost over time, particularly between generations of animals on the farm.