Read the excerpt from chapter 10 of Animal Farm.

Question

Clover was an old stout mare now, stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. She was two years past the retiring age, but in fact no animal had ever actually retired. The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped.

Which phrase from this passage best shows situational irony?

"Clover was an old stout mare now"
"She was two years past the retiring age"
"no animal had ever actually retired"
"setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals"

Answer 1

The phrase that best shows situational irony is "no animal had ever actually retired." This is ironic because, despite the concept of retirement being introduced, the animals have never had the opportunity to actually retire, highlighting a discrepancy between the ideal and the reality of their situation.