David Sedaris Verbal Irony Analysis

The irony the author A.C.H Smith values as a literary device in Labyrinth is using it to create suspense. To start, there are examples of verbal irony. Verbal irony is a figure of speech in which the speaker says the exact opposite of what she or he means. Here are some examples of verbal irony. To begin with, Hoggle says to Jareth “I am taking her to the beginning of the Labyrinth.” When really he wasn’t. Another example of verbal irony is when Sarah says “The maze is a piece of cake.” But really the labyrinth was really hard for her. Lastly, when Hoggle says “I’m not interested in friends,” he actually did want friends. This is creating suspense because we are curious on what will happen next and we want to see what will eventually happen. Another way the author A.C.H Smith uses irony to establish surprise is from dramatic irony. Dramatic irony

Irony is the most powerful literary device used in the short story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. First, a good example of irony in the story is “They were burdened with sashweights sand bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.” (P,2 Line, 11-13) This quote is Ironic as it tells how this system was designed to hide beauty, yet beauty was still shown by the amount of restraints on the person. Second, another good example of irony is, “The spectacles were intended to make him not only half-blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.”(P,11 Line,4) This is an example of how gifted people’s lives were harder than

In his memoir, “All Over but the Shoutin’,” Bragg uses a metaphor. He states, “When you don’t see someone for eight, nine years, when you see that person’s life red on their lips and know that you will never see them beyond this day, you listen close, even if what you want most of all is to run away.” This metaphor shows how it was not only mentally/emotionally hard to meet and talk again, but how it was also physically challenging because of the state his father was currently in. Talking was a hard thing to fulfil, as he was very sick. Rick tells us how all he wanted to do was leave, but he built up courage to face his fear. Sedaris uses irony in his memoir “Us and Them”. As the Tomkeys go out of town during Halloween, they leave a bowl of candy outside their door with a note that says “don’t be greedy” (852). Later, Sedaris explains to us his bag of candy that is labeled “My candy. Keep out” (852). This is ironic because Tomkeys were kind enough to share with others even while they were gone but David could not. Sedaris shows immaturity through this example of a literary device because it shows of selfish he was to a family that was willing enough to share with them when they weren’t even in town. Sedaris was so self-centered, that he didn’t want anyone else touching his candy or even eating the kind that made him feel

1. David Sedaris Titles his essay “Us and Them.” Whom does this title refer to? Whom are we meant to sympathize with- “us” or “them”? How do you know?

Irony may appear in difference ways within literature. Irony changes our expectations of what might happen. It can create the unexpected twist at the end of a story or anecdote that gets people laughing or crying. Verbal irony is intended to be a humorous type of irony. Situational irony can be either funny or tragic. Dramatic irony is usually an over the top, tragic form of irony. Both Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” are great examples of an ironic situation. Every expresses the common theme in their own way. Although both of these literally pieces provide us with the theme of irony, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" gives the reader a sense of suspense with the irony that proves to be more effective.

Ray Bradbury utilizes characterization to solidify relationships between particular characters in Fahrenheit 451. Guy Montage serves as this books protagonist. His actions effect everyone in the book. His first words in the story are “It was a pleasure to burn” (Bradbury 1). Being a fireman affects everyone in the book. From the people that are storing books illegally, to his wife Mildred, to his boss Beaty, he impacts everyone in the book. But, for every protagonist, there must be an antagonist. Beatty proves to be the antagonist to Montag by continuously creating turmoil for Montag. Beatty expresses to Montag that fire is a “real beauty is that it destroys responsibility and consequences. Now, Montag, you’re a burden” (Bradbury 109). Bradbury

“You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me of the babe.” These were David Bowie's famous words and conversation between a goblin in the movie Labyrinth. Jim Henson uses three different types of irony, which is a commonly used literary device, in the Labyrinth to convey the feeling of surprise in the viewer. How is surprise created in a motion picture? The author uses the literary device of irony. The three main types of irony are verbal, dramatic, and situational irony. Verbal irony is when a character says something but does the opposite. Dramatic irony is when the viewer/reader knows something that the characters don’t. Situational irony is when there is a

Imagine, being accused of a crime you didn’t commit by your neighbors and friends out of jealousy, and desire. This is what many people in the town of Salem had to go through during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. People's motives such as: gaining and maintaining power, and aspirations for what other people had caused them to make irrational, and atrocious decisions. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, desire and power drive characters to create chaos in the community.

Miller uses irony to demonstrate the flaws, the corruption, within the court’s justice system. In this case, it’s emphasized when Giles is found guilty; even though, he did have evidence to prove his accusation. He states, “if Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeits up his property that's law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece”( Miller 89). In addition, he has a witness that heard Putnam thanking his daughter after she cried out on Jacobs. With these reasonings and an eyewitness that proved his accusation, wouldn’t they give Jacobs a fair trial instead of hanging him with the only evidence being a child’s yelling “witch” on someone? Sadly, it’s a situational irony where the event that occurs is the completely opposite.

In the short story ,”Cask of Amontillado,” there are many examples of irony used by Poe throughout the story. In the story, the Narrator’s biggest challenge is to get revenge on Fortunato for “one thousand injuries,” but he has to plan how he’s going to do it successfully without getting caught. When the Narrator randomly runs into Fortunato, the author states that, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.” (Poe 59). This is an example of verbal irony because the Narrator didn’t mean it was lucky for Fortunato because he was just telling us how he vowed revenge on him. The Narrator invites him to his vaults to have some wine. When the Narrator is taking Fortunato back to his vaults to trap him, he tells him, “Enough, the coughs a mere nothing;

Irony is often used in literature to illustrate certain situations to the audience. In some pieces of literature that might be pointing out an unjust system, in others that might be to add a comedic effect, but whatever situation the author wants to illustrate, irony is very beneficial. Through small and witty, one-liners, or a bigger dramatic irony situation contrasting two very different situations, irony can be very beneficial for the reader to understand the story. Both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins have a corrupt dystopian society. Through the use of irony, the author can portray the corruptness to the audience. Transition!!! Irony is used in both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger

In many stories and poems; such as the Tell Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Raven, Annabel Lee, The House of Usher, and so many more timeless works, Edgar Allan Poe has been captivating his audiences with spine tingling thrillers through the words and style of his own twisted ways. The only way to describe where Poe’s writing belongs in history, would be classified as gothic genre. From the start of the 1800’s to present day and the future of literature, through irony, repetition, imagery, and symbolism Poe has been bewitching readers with his gore and insane writings.

Irony is a technique that involves surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions or contrasts ( Glossary...Pg 1). The greatest example of irony happens when it turns out Armand is the one that comes from black heritage. He learns this when he “finds a letter from his mom to his father explaining how he is black” turning the main plot of this story around (Chopin...Pg 5) Throughout the discovery of his son not being white, he blames Desiree for being the cause of the problem. He won’t speak out of the discovery of him being the one with black heritage because it is unacceptable to his family. He is insensitive and would rather harm his own family (Gradesaver.com...1) Another example of irony occurs in the way that Madame Valmonde didn 't have a child of herself and one day while her husband was riding he comes upon a child just asleep next to a stone pillar (Chopin...Pg. 1) The family adopted the girl that had no family. “Madame Valmonde abandoned every speculation but the one that Desiree had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection” (Chopin...Pg. 1)

Albee first introduces such an interesting thesis by throwing in two versions of irony into the mix. Throughout the play, the characters utilize verbal irony very frequently, whether conversing or arguing, they cannot go a slight second without cracking a joke to create a sense of sarcasm. For example, George is conversing with Nick about Martha when he says: “You are being accorded an honor, and you must not forget that Martha is

Irony is used by New Criticism as a literary device to give the literature a sense of complexity and deviation. As seen in Texts and Contexts, one of the main characteristics that instills effective work in New Criticism is the ability to be complex, even when seeming simple (Lynn 55). In New Criticism, irony is used as a figure of speech where the speaker 's implication is partially said and partially not said, almost making the reading subjective. The two statements that the speaker have said, and not said are usually in contrast of eachother. New Criticism as a whole emphasizes understanding the text