Outdistanced And The History Teacher
The use of irony in the two poems “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins and “Outdistanced” by Larry Rubin punctuated the shared theme that a willful lack of self-awareness can quickly lead to greater societal ignorance of what should shape humanity. Both poems present irony in the actions of the teacher and the young man and the effects that those ignorant actions have. For example, in “The History Teacher”, the teacher decides that in order to preserve the children’s innocence, he needs to keep them in the dark about the horrific events in history. He instead teaches them that, “The War of Roses took place in a garden” (11). This is ironic because the children's innocence is already gone as evidenced because they “torment the weak/ and the
How To Read Literature Like A Professor By Nadine Gordimer
408 Words | 2 PagesCountless children's stories and fairytales begin with the infamous phrase, “Once Upon a Time.” Nadine Gordimer stylistically chose to employ this phrase as her title for her thematic short fiction tale to ironically explore controversial subjects. This strategic choice utilized the “childish elements” of young literature, such as the, “wicked witch,” to convey underlying messages of fear and racism. In Thomas Foster’s, “How to Read Literature like a Professor,” the strategy of “stealing” ideas and elements from four main literary sources, children’s literature included, was discussed. Gordimer pulled from these stories, shown explicitly in the title, to create irony by conveying modern, political ideas and issues in our society through “innocent” plot elements.
Rhetorical Analysis Of To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
937 Words | 4 PagesAn example of irony can be seen in one of Miss Gates' lessons about democracy and dictatorship. She says "Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Pre-ju-dice,". It is ironic that she can recognize the persecution of the jews, yet cannot recognize the persecution that happens in her own country- the persecution of the African-Americans.
Similarities Between A Barred Owl And The History Teacher
330 Words | 2 PagesIn the next poem by Billy Collins “The History Teacher” the first line says “trying to protect his students innocence” and goes to explain how he teaches the history in correctly so that the children can be spared from knowing the scary truth. Both poems towards the end show a sense of irony. They both have a dark and twisted ending. The bird in the first
Billy Collins The History Teacher Analysis
298 Words | 2 PagesThe poem “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins has a greater lie than “The Death of Santa Claus”, in its intention to save the innocence of students. It is necessary to tell the truth when the lie is destroying students future and breeding ignorance. To begin, in this poem the history teacher is trying to protect the innocence of his students by simplifying most historic allusions to make them sound friendly and less important. For example Collins writes, “The Spanish Inquisition was nothing more than an outbreak of questions...” (Collins 7-8).
Dumpster Diving Eighner Analysis
1159 Words | 5 PagesAn example of irony in the essay is when Eighner mentions the students who throw out all their food at the end of a semester. Despite being educated, the students do not know if their food “has spoiled or will spoil before they return” (Eighner 111) and foolishly discard all of it. On the other hand, Eighner, who is homeless man and may be presumed to be uneducated, knows that items such as “nonorganic peanut butter does not require refrigeration and is unlikely to spoil in any reasonable time” (Eighner 111). While one may assume that the college student would have more knowledge about perishable and nonperishable food, the college student proves to be less informed than the homeless man. Another example of irony is when Eighner mentions the students who “throw out canned goods and staples at the end of semesters when they give up college at midterm” (Eighner 111).
Examples Of Irony In Harrison Bergeron
233 Words | 1 PagesIrony 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.
Harrison Bergeron Literary Analysis Essay
923 Words | 4 PagesKurt Vonnegut, the author, uses irony to help the reader understand the way the United States could take a horrifying turn by 2081 if worldwide equality was implemented. One example of irony that the author uses is the education and IQ level of the people, which is lower than the government. The government can then control human beings with higher IQ and stronger built by giving them handicaps. Hazel and George are two representations of the two types of people in
Dramatic Irony In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron
343 Words | 2 PagesKurt Vonnegut uses dramatic irony in ridiculous ways in “Harrison Bergeron”. Dramatic irony is when the characters in the story do not know what is going on but the reader does know. In almost every part of the story, the characters are unaware of what is really happening because of everyone being equal. The characters have accepted and embraced the idea that it is good for everyone in society to be equal in intelligence, appearance, strength and speed. George doesn’t even care that his intelligence is being controlled by the radio in his ears.
Literary Analysis Essay On The Crucible
630 Words | 3 PagesIn the text, Irony is used to really create a lot of the conflicts in the
Dumpster Diving Rhetorical Analysis
816 Words | 4 PagesAn example of irony in the section about the students is the idea of what is good or bad. As its states, “Students throw out many good things, including food” (Eighner 110). Presumably, food is thrown out because it is bad and is unfavorable to the student, however; Eighner finds that the student throwing out food is a good thing because it is favorable thing to him and others. Another example of irony is the food’s value. As its states, “The students does not know that, and since it is Daddy’s money, the student decides not to take a chance” (Eighner 111).
Long-Long After School Analysis
743 Words | 3 PagesIn “Long Long After School” Buckler writes in a recount with mysteriousness and in a depressing way. Buckler uses many literary terms to illustrate or depict a particular message. In reference to the short story Buckler makes an ironic statement that may reveal or imply that Wes may like Miss. Tretheway. “She was so beautiful” (Buckler, pg.49). The use of irony is obvious because the reader later realizes that what Wes meant was the opposite of what the reader may have thought.
The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara Analysis
728 Words | 3 PagesThe use of irony portrays how the trip ended up teaching Sylvia, the protagonist of the story, more than she
Question About Angels By Billy Collins Analysis
1180 Words | 5 PagesThere are fundamental questions that are posed in everyone’s life. The most asked, as well as the most daunting one is perhaps what happens when we die, and what is heaven like? Billy Collins in his poem “Question About Angels”, attempts to pose and answer such questions. As the poem is a statement on the outlook of how religion in interpreted, and how angels are perceived through the use of repetition, symbolism, and irony. Billy Collins attempts to show the reader a sense of mystery and unfamiliarity that leads to chaos when he is trying to describe how angels are perceived.
Two Dead Boys Poem Analysis
254 Words | 2 PagesThese two poems were found from the internet. The first poem is ‘Two Dead Boys’ by Tyler Rager. The second is called ‘Don’t Change on my Account’ by Shel Silverstien. The first poem is full of contradiction and irony.
Use Of Irony In The Hunger Games And The Lottery
1446 Words | 6 PagesIrony 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.
More about Outdistanced And The History Teacher
How To Read Literature Like A Professor By Nadine Gordimer
408 Words | 2 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
937 Words | 4 PagesSimilarities Between A Barred Owl And The History Teacher
330 Words | 2 PagesBilly Collins The History Teacher Analysis
298 Words | 2 PagesDumpster Diving Eighner Analysis
1159 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Irony In Harrison Bergeron
233 Words | 1 PagesHarrison Bergeron Literary Analysis Essay
923 Words | 4 PagesDramatic Irony In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron
343 Words | 2 PagesLiterary Analysis Essay On The Crucible
630 Words | 3 PagesDumpster Diving Rhetorical Analysis
816 Words | 4 PagesLong-Long After School Analysis
743 Words | 3 PagesThe Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara Analysis
728 Words | 3 PagesQuestion About Angels By Billy Collins Analysis
1180 Words | 5 PagesTwo Dead Boys Poem Analysis
254 Words | 2 PagesUse Of Irony In The Hunger Games And The Lottery
1446 Words | 6 Pages