Read the passage from Animal Farm.

Question

On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. The plans, however, had all been prepared, down to the last detail. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. The building of the windmill, with various other improvements, was expected to take two years.

That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions.

Which examples of propaganda are found in this passage? Select two options.

Snowball is used as a scapegoat.
Napoleon talks to the animals through Squealer.
Squealer targets his message to emphasize plain folks.
Squealer uses glittering generalities to describe Napoleon’s tactics.
Napoleon uses name-calling to differentiate the pigs from the other animals.

Answer 1

The two examples of propaganda found in the passage are:

1. Snowball is used as a scapegoat. - Squealer positions Snowball as a dangerous character and a bad influence, suggesting that Napoleon's opposition to the windmill was a tactic to eliminate him from the farm. This blame-shifting serves to unite the other animals against Snowball.

2. Napoleon talks to the animals through Squealer. - Squealer acts as a mouthpiece for Napoleon, communicating his ideas and decisions to the other animals. This manipulation allows Napoleon to elude direct accountability for his actions while maintaining control over the narrative.

These examples illustrate how propaganda is utilized to manipulate and control the perception of the animals on the farm.