Question

Read the passage from chapter 5 of Animal Farm. 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 a naïve follower of a corrupt leader. He uses ridicule to make fun of how people are focused on economic gain.

Answer 1

The answer are: He uses parody to show how dictators deflect blame to others;

He uses reversal to show that dictators do not abide by their principles.

The author of Animal Farm, George Orwell, wrote the novel with the intention of criticizing the regime to which Russia was subjected by Stalin. Orwell himself was a democratic-socialist.

The pigs take over the farm where they live with other animals after expelling the human who was its owner. They (the pigs) at first preach and work for equality and the animals are sure their lives will be transformed for the better.

However, the pigs, especially Napoleon, realize how their position as leaders brings them many advantages and, in order to stay in power, grow more controlling and begin to lie to get the other animals to do their bidding.

In the excerpt mentioned in the question, Napoleon got rid of another pig, whose ideas were essentially good and served their original purpose of equality. Napoleon slowly ascends to a position of a dictator, while he has those who work close to him, such as Squealer, manipulate the animals by lying to them. He puts the blame on others and changes his mind (doesn't abide by his principles) whenever it is convenient. For instance, in their society, there used to be 7 commandments to be followed by the animals. But, as the pigs grew more powerful and similar to humans, the commandments are changed to justify their actions:

- No animal shall kill any other animal

                         becomes

- No animal shall kill any other animal without a cause.

Answer 2

 First , Orwell uses parody. Napoleon does not agree with the idea of the windmill at first. But he says that Snowball has stolen it from his own ones , just to justify his change of mind.Second, Orwell uses reversal .Dictators, according to his views , which we see in this book, do not abide by their principles. They act on their convenience only.The problem here is that the other animals have not yet come to conclusions about Napoleon and Squealer ´s real intentions.