Question

Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he
knew how to write.’ What does this line tell us about the norm amongst
such farmers, then?

Answer 1

Answer:

An ox of a man means a very strong man. Lencho was a hard working farmer. ... So the author compared him to an ox. This is a literary device used called metaphor

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation: the author wants to convey that lencho is industrious and devoted to his work. lencho was an ox of a man working like an animal on the streets still he knew how to write. this conveys that lencho hails from an educated background also, since letter writing was a crucial skill  at the time , probably why he knows letter writing.