Read the passage from chapter 5 of 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.

How does Orwell use satire to achieve his purpose in this passage? Select two options.

He uses parody to show how dictators deflect blame to others.
He uses the three dogs to parody the idea that loyalty will be rewarded.
He uses reversal to show that dictators do not abide by their principles.
He uses Squealer's character to parody an indifferent follower of a corrupt leader.
He uses ridicule to make fun of how people are focused on economic gain.

Answer 1

In this passage from "Animal Farm," Orwell uses satire to achieve his purpose in the following ways:

1. He uses parody to show how dictators deflect blame to others. - Squealer’s explanations and the way he characterizes Napoleon's actions illustrate the tendency of dictators to manipulate the truth and shift blame onto others, thus portraying a distorted version of reality that serves their interests.

2. He uses Squealer's character to parody an indifferent follower of a corrupt leader. - Squealer embodies the role of a propagandist who twists facts and uses persuasive language to justify Napoleon’s decisions, highlighting how such figures often neglect ethics or reality in favor of supporting their leaders, regardless of the truth.

These elements underscore Orwell's commentary on the nature of totalitarian regimes and the mechanisms used to maintain control and manipulate the perceptions of the populace.