“Comrades,” [Napoleon] said quietly, “do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!” he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder. “Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion, this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. Comrades, here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball.”

Question

–Animal Farm,
George Orwell

Which statement best summarizes the use of propaganda in this passage?

Napoleon uses card-stacking to show that Snowball is responsible for all of the farm’s troubles.
Napoleon uses glittering generalities to show how great Snowball has become since he left the farm.
Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat by blaming him for all of the troubles on the farm.
Napoleon uses name-calling to make Snowball look bad to the other animals because he is jealous of Snowball.

Answer 1

The statement that best summarizes the use of propaganda in this passage is:

Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat by blaming him for all of the troubles on the farm.

In this excerpt, Napoleon attributes the destruction of the windmill solely to Snowball, framing him as the enemy responsible for the farm's misfortunes. This tactic serves to shift blame away from himself and unify the other animals against a common adversary.