Read the passage from Animal Farm.

Question

"You have heard then, comrades," he said, "that we pigs now sleep in the beds of the farmhouse? And why not? You did not suppose, surely, that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed, properly regarded. The rule was against sheets, which are a human invention. We have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds, and sleep between blankets. And very comfortable beds they are too! But not more comfortable than we need, I can tell you, comrades, with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?"

Which statement best describes how propaganda reinforces one of the themes of Animal Farm in this passage?

It demonstrates that loyalty is rewarded in totalitarian governments.
It demonstrates that corruption is at the center of totalitarian governments.
It demonstrates that revolution is a constant threat to totalitarian governments.
It demonstrates that written law is the best way to protect against totalitarian governments.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes how propaganda reinforces one of the themes of Animal Farm in this passage is:

It demonstrates that corruption is at the center of totalitarian governments.

In this passage, the pigs rationalize their behavior of sleeping in beds, which contradicts the original commandments of Animalism. Their manipulation of language and reinterpretation of rules to suit their needs highlights the corruption of the leadership and the ways in which those in power manipulate truth to maintain control, a central theme of the novel.