Question

How does Orwell include social commentary in Animal Farm? Check all that apply.

He shows how perfect the world would be under communism.
He uses animal characters to point out some of humanity’s faults.
He develops universal ideas that can be applied to other aspects of life.
He criticizes alcoholism and overwork, and tries to find solutions for them.
He draws attention to social, cultural, and political issues that people often ignore.
He bases characters on historical figures and portrays them negatively as a form of criticis

Answer 1

Correct answers: 2, 3, 5, 6.

- He uses animal characters to point out some of humanity’s faults. — Yes. The animals are allegorical, representing human behaviors and social types.
- He develops universal ideas that can be applied to other aspects of life. — Yes. Themes like power, corruption, propaganda, and inequality are broader than the specific Soviet context.
- He draws attention to social, cultural, and political issues that people often ignore. — Yes. The novella critiques totalitarianism, class oppression, and manipulation of truth.
- He bases characters on historical figures and portrays them negatively as a form of criticism. — Yes. Key characters (e.g., Napoleon, Snowball) map to Stalin, Trotsky, etc., as satirical critique.

Not correct:
- He shows how perfect the world would be under communism. — No. Orwell satirizes and exposes the corruption and failure of the revolution, not an idealized communist utopia.
- He criticizes alcoholism and overwork, and tries to find solutions for them. — No. While exploitation/overwork is depicted (e.g., Boxer), the book does not focus on alcoholism nor propose solutions.