Question

How does Orwell use satire in this excerpt?

to expose Napoleon’s denouncement of the teachings as foolish
to exaggerate how Napoleon defines animalism
to criticize the corruption of the pigs so they look ridiculous
to show that the changes made are the opposite of what was promised

Answer 1

Best choice: "to criticize the corruption of the pigs so they look ridiculous."

Explanation: Orwell’s satire targets the pigs’ hypocrisy and moral corruption by making their behaviour and justifications absurd. He uses irony and exaggeration (e.g., rewriting the rules, stretching definitions of "animalism," Squealer’s speeches) so the pigs’ actions become ludicrous rather than noble. That technique also produces the effects named in 2 and 4 — the definitions of animalism are exaggerated and the outcomes turn out opposite to the promises — but the central satirical aim in the excerpt is to ridicule the pigs’ corruption and show how their self‑serving rationalizations destroy the original ideals. Option 1 is weaker: Orwell isn’t merely calling Napoleon’s denunciations “foolish,” he exposes them as cynical manipulations.