Question

read the excerpt from chapter 10 of animal farm. the farm possessed three horses now besides clover. they were fine upstanding beasts, willing workers and good comrades, but very stupid. none of them proved able to learn the alphabet beyond the letter b. they accepted everything that they were told about the rebellion and the principles of animalism, especially from clover, for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it. which statement best explains how orwell uses dramatic irony in this passage to reveal the theme that knowledge can be lost between generations? the reader knows that the horses were good workers with corrupt ideals. the reader knows that clover gains respect because she could explain the rebellion and animalism. the reader knows clover’s language gives her the ability to abuse her power over the other horses. the reader understands the history of the rebellion, but the new horses do not.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage doesn't mention the horses having corrupt ideals, so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: The question is about knowledge loss between generations, and this option focuses on Clover gaining respect, not knowledge loss, so it's incorrect.
• Option 3: There's no indication Clover abuses power; the passage is about the new horses' lack of understanding, so this is incorrect.
• Option 4: The reader knows the history of the Rebellion (from previous parts of the book), but the new horses (a later generation) do not understand it well (they accept what they're told but don't really understand, and can't learn the alphabet well, showing lack of knowledge). This matches the theme of knowledge being lost between generations via dramatic irony (reader knows more than the new horses).

Answer:

D. The reader understands the history of the rebellion, but the new horses do not.