“Comrades!” cried Squealer, making little nervous skips, “a most terrible thing has been discovered. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, who is even now plotting to attack us and take our farm away from us! Snowball is to act as his guide when the attack begins. But there is worse than that. We had thought that Snowball’s rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. But we were wrong, comrades. Do you know what the real reason was? Snowball was in league with Jones from the very start! He was Jones’s secret agent all the time. It has all been proved by documents which he left behind him and which we have only just discovered. . . .”

Question

. . . But it was some minutes before [the animals] could fully take it in. They all remembered, or thought they remembered, how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed, how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn, and how he had not paused for an instant even when the pellets from Jones’s gun had wounded his back. . . . Even Boxer, who seldom asked questions, was puzzled. . . .

“I do not believe that,” he said. “Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. I saw him myself. Did we not give him ‘Animal Hero, First Class,’ immediately afterwards?”

–Animal Farm,
George Orwell

Which statement best describes how Boxer’s response supports the author’s purpose?

Boxer’s defiance shows how the working class often fights back against authority.
Boxer’s agreement shows that the working class will always respect authority figures.
Boxer’s actions show that the working class may question authority in spite of propaganda.
Boxer’s acceptance shows that propaganda is effective in manipulating the working class.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes how Boxer’s response supports the author’s purpose is:

Boxer’s actions show that the working class may question authority in spite of propaganda.

This choice highlights Boxer’s internal conflict and skepticism about the claims made by Squealer, despite the pervasive propaganda. It illustrates that even among the working class, there can be moments of doubt and questioning regarding authority, especially when personal experiences contradict the narrative being presented. This element aligns with Orwell's critique of how propaganda can influence perception, but also acknowledges the capacity for critical thought in the working class.