Literary Analysis: The War Prayer
Literary Analysis
The War Prayer was written by Mark Twain in the nineteenth century Imperialism. Twain uses satire to exploit the stupidity of war. In his prose, Twain explains the ghastliness of war and how people are praying to God for safety of their troops but they do not care if the opposing sides troops die. Twain uses satire in The War Prayer to make fun of the people praying for their side to win the war and the glorification of war.
“It was a time of great and exalting excitement (Twain).” Twain sets the scene for“proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them on.” They are cheering them on to war. Kris are in the streets wishing their patriots good luck and God’s aid from the steps of there oratory. These battalions with “gathering momentum, rushing charge, flashing sabers and the flight of the foe, (Twain),” charging a battery inside them to win at all costs. After the huge parade of good luck through the streets, came the “long” prayer. Twain uses satire in this paragraph because the battalions were out in the streets minutes before ready to kill the foe and now they are reciting a “long” prayer for safety and comfort during war. In the “long” prayer,
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This text is related to many things happening in this world today. As the saying goes, “history repeats itself.” An example of history repeating itself in Today's society is some candidates running for president. Hillary Clinton is running for president and is very hypocritical in what she says. She once said that “students going to public college don't deserve to have student loans.” Saying that is irony because she will not be able to make every student eliminate their student loans. Her statement is hypocritical and false, much like The War Prayer. History sure does repeat
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The War Prayer Rhetorical Analysis
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How Does Mark Twain Use Satire In The War Prayer
523 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the short story, “The War Prayer,” Mark Twain depicts how one copes with the notion of war. Specifically, this community dealt with the depressing news that their country would go to war through prayer. In this case, prayer was their one defense mechanism and source of therapy during times of trouble. Throughout the short story, the reader is able to understand the harsh consequences that come with war and the thought process that one many go through prior to entering a war. Mark Twain utilizes, tone, satire and logos in order to efficiently portray the immense sense of distress that everyone was experiencing during this difficult instant in time.
Analysis Of Mark Twain's The War Prayer
715 Words | 3 Pages“It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half-dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such stern and angry warning” (para. 1). c. “The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside—which the startled minister did—and took his place” (para. 4). Link to Argument: Twain is using situational irony in these quotes because there is a contradiction between expectations and reality. Delineated through the joy that is associated with war even though war is a solemn event without a show of jubilance; exhibited with the austere, judgmental reactions from religious people towards those against war when it is Biblically taught to love everyone no matter what; and demonstrated with the deliberate interruption of the minister where stillness and silence are the expectations during a prayer show the effectiveness of Twain’s situational irony towards his argument.
How Does Mark Twain Use Satire In The War Prayer
473 Words | 2 PagesLike when saying “ if you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it”(Twain). He's explaining how when you pray for something for yourself you can be hurting someone else environment/living. Also when they pray the mention “drown the thunder of guns with the shrieks of there wounded” and “go forth from the sweet beloved firesides to smite the for”. This is saying to show compassion toward the enemy but yet they are in a sacred place where hate is not shown. This shows satire as well because the people are praying in a church for the soldiers to win a war which is something destructive.
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