Situational Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief
There are two different ways to develop tone. In the fictional story, “The Ransom of Red Chief,” by O. Henry, the use of irony helps form the tone to be humorous. Many writers use irony in different ways as to what it means, the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. Therefore, creating either the suspense or humorous tone it develops. Both situational and verbal irony are used throughout the story is used in many instances in the story to create humor. One of the first instances of situational irony is when the “would be” kidnappers first carry little “Red Chief” off to their lair. The reader expects the kidnappers to want to keep the child. We would …show more content…
They would be sneaky and smart, considering to be fearless and not afraid. However, the kidnappers do not behave as the reader would expect, instead they are stupid and actually kind to the kid. They want to get rid of him because they are scared of him. They make it all into a game since they are being nice to him. Instead of the kid being afraid of them, they are frightened of the child. This is clearly explained in the text when it states, “When I got to the cave I found Bill backed up against the side of it, breathing hard, and the boy threatening to smash him with a rock half as big as a cocoanut.” (Henry 3) This creates a humorous tone because you would have thought the boy would be scared of the kidnappers, but it is surprisingly the other way around. Another instance of situational irony is when “Red Chief” begins to speak with the kidnappers. One would expect that a child who has been kidnapped would be shy and say very little. He would be possibly confused of his surroundings and act timid. Also he would be obedient, do what he is told, so that …show more content…
‘I don’t have any fun at home. I hate to go to school. I like to camp out. You won’t take me back home again, Snake-eye, will you?’ ‘Not right away,’ says I. ‘We’ll stay here in the cave a while.’ ‘All right! Says he. ‘That’ll be fine. I never had such fun in all my life.’ (Henry 2) This helps develop a humorous tone because instead of begging to go home, he begs to stay because he has a better time there than home. A final example of situational irony is when “Red Chief’s” father responds to the ransom note. The reader expects that the father will be willing to pay anything to get his son back. We would think that he is worried, anxious, and upset for his child. Also, he would feel angry at the kidnappers for stealing his son. Again, the father does not react as expected, instead he is not worried one bit. In fact he knows how hard it is to live with him and knows that the kidnappers will not be able to deal with him for so long, that they will eventually bring him back home. This is clearly described in the text when it portrays, “You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands.” (Henry 8) This is the ultimate tool in creating a humorous tone because one would expect that the
Situational And Verbal Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief
425 Words | 2 PagesIn “The Ransom of Red Chief,” both situational and verbal irony is used many times through the story to create a humorous tone. Verbal irony is used in “The Ransom of Red Chief” when Bill says to Sam “I was rode, the ninety miles to the stockade, not barring an inch. Then, when the settlers was rescued, I was given oats. Sand ain’t a palatable substitute. ”(The Ransom of Red Cheif pg. 77) Bill is telling Sam how awful Red chief is to him and creates a humorous tone by using verbal irony.
'Dramatic Irony In Harris And Me'
850 Words | 4 PagesIn “Harris and Me,” the humor contains more Low Comedy as a result of jocose situations and circumstances. He includes quotes that are full of wit. He has farcical physical comedy involving body parts, and electrocution. He has clever, hidden ideas that may be hard to analyze, but subconsciously, put a smile on your face, making you laugh, even though sometimes you don’t know why. Let’s go ahead and bring out the big point right away.
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Examples Of Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief
725 Words | 3 PagesAin’t it awful, Sam?’” (pg 3). Although Bill and Sam are technically in control of the situation, they are really slaves to the “chief” of the cave. Once they kidnap Red Chief, their sanity is in his hands instead of their own. When the kidnappers ultimately choose their sanity over making money, their entire plan
Examples Of Situational Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief
441 Words | 2 PagesSituational irony is a very strange thing. In the story “The Ransom of Red Chief,” by O. henry makes situational irony with a funny humor. For instance the boy, John, is happy to be kidnapped by Bill and Sam. When asked if he would like to go home he replys “Aw what for?, I don't have any fun at home.”
Situational Irony In Short Story
660 Words | 3 PagesIn “Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, there is situational irony when brother comes back for Doodle to find him dead. This added greatly to make the plot more complex. Lastly, situational irony is used in “Gift of the Magi” when Della and
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533 Words | 3 PagesThe literary analysis irony is used in The Book Thief many times throughout the book. The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel, a young girl who is taken to a new home because her mother can't afford to take care of her. This story is told by Death, who becomes an important part in the book. The Book Thief is set in Nazi, Germany, at the start of World War ll.
Examples Of Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief
728 Words | 3 PagesO Henry has a very unique writing style. One of his writing styles is irony/plot twists, which is when something happens that is the exact opposite of what was expected. The Ransom of Red Chief is a story where the main characters kidnapped a kid to get money. In this part of The Ransom of Red Chief Ebenezer Dorset tells them how to give his kid back to him. When on page 6 Ebenezer Dorset says, "You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands.
How Is Irony Used In The Pardoner's Tale
567 Words | 3 PagesJust like in comedy, irony plays a prevalent role in literature; in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, irony is not only used several times to poke fun at character and the narrator, but also gives them more life and a greater depth. In its multiple uses it is especially noticeable in The Prologue, The Pardoner's Tale, and The Wife of Bath. In the stories irony helped to show the reader the relevance of the story, but also the importance of its message. In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, irony was used multiple times to introduce the characters.
Comparing Situational Irony In The Necklace And The Ransom Of
701 Words | 3 PagesAlso, in “The Ransom of Redchief,” O. Henry creates a humorous feeling to the reader by using situational irony. By reading these two short story it is clear that both authors use situational irony to make the reader feel a different emotion than surprise. In Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” he creates situational irony that makes the reader
Situational Irony In 'Ransom Of Red Chief'
881 Words | 4 PagesBy viewing the two short stories it it clear that both authors easily use situational irony to impact the reader's emotion. The short story “Ransom of Red chief” by O.Henry has many examples of situational irony that gives the reader a feeling of amusement. For example Johnny is ecstatic when he is kidnapped, but when someone’s kidnapped, he or she is terrified and scared and wants to go home. Johnny was thrilled to be captured and even begged the kidnappers not to take him home.
Situational Irony In O Henry's The Pearl
841 Words | 4 PagesBill was counting out two hundred and fifty dollars into Dorset 's hand. " Situational irony is seen when the father of the kidnapped child asks for money to take the boy back instead of him paying the kidnappers to bring back the boy. This is considered situational irony because readers would
What Is The Theme Of Irony In My Brother Sam Is Dead
462 Words | 2 PagesThe use of irony helped move the plot along, and it made the story easy to read and follow along with. Irony helped show that in times of war, sides don’t exactly matter. You could be a patriot, but then be killed by your own friends, or you could be a loyalist and be killed at the hands of the British. During war, everyone must care for
Use Of Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief
663 Words | 3 PagesMany different authors have different styles of writing that they use. Styles can vary to an evil, dark story, to a very humorous and funny story. O.Henry's style is very humorous and he is a master of picking when to use irony inside of his short stories. O.Henry's use of irony to entertain the reader, has humorous statements throughout the story, and his use of descriptive language and imagery to better understand the plot line is excellent in The Ransom of Red Chief.
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516 Words | 3 PagesHenry uses situational irony to convey his theme in the story “The Ransom of Red Chief”. Two thieves change from wanting to hold a kidnapped boy for ransom to instead giving the boy back to his father, along with $250.00. They quickly realize that the boy, nicknamed “Red Chief”, is not who they expect him to be, and their whole kidnapping scheme consequently does not go as planned. Eventually, Bill Driscoll, one of the thieves, begs to let the boy go back home even though they have to pay the boy’s father $250.00. Bill says, “You ain’t going to let this chance go, are you?”
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