Question

how does orwell use irony in this excerpt?
by using humor to demonstrate how few animals remember the rebellion
by showing that readers know more about the rebellion than most of the animals
by building suspense about what the current animals know about the rebellion
by illustrating that the news of the rebellion was exaggerated for dramatic effect
excerpt text (partially visible):
ns came and went, the short animal lives
n there was no one who remembered the old
n, except clover, benjamin, moses the raven,
.
ll, jessie, and pincher were dead. jones too
in an inebriates’ home in another part of the
orgotten. boxer was forgotten, except by the
. clover was an old stout mare now, stiff in the
icy to rheumy eyes. she was two years past
act no animal had ever actually retired. the
omer of the pasture for superannuated animals
opped. napoleon was now a mature boar of
ealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see
d benjamin was much the same as ever,
geyer about the muzzle, and, since boxer’s
d taciturn than ever.
e creatures on the farm now, though the
reat as had been expected in earlier years.
en born to whom the rebellion was only a dim
and others had been bought

Explanation:

To determine how Orwell uses irony, we analyze each option:

• The first option focuses on humor and animal memory, not irony.
• The second option: Readers, having knowledge of the rebellion from the story, contrast with most animals’ forgetfulness. This creates dramatic irony (readers know more than characters), which is a form of irony.
• The third option describes building suspense, not irony.
• The fourth option talks about exaggeration for drama, not irony.

So the correct option is the one about readers knowing more than most animals.

Answer:

B. by showing that readers know more about the rebellion than most of the animals