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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The War Prayer: For E Block Only.

Class work for November 4th:



English 10
Mr. Telles
Irony in Twain’s “The War Prayer.”

Explanation: The recipe for irony calls for meanings or signifiers to be in opposition – two opposing meanings or concepts fused together in language or a situation.  However, it is also important to remember that the best irony also reveals some truth about our human experience.

Directions: Read Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer,” which is a fairly concentrated example of his kind of irony.  Then, in double sided note fashion, choose three significant quotes and write them on the left side of your paper, and then write what is literally happening or being expressed under each quote.  Then, on the right side of the paper, write down the opposing idea or concept that Twain is expecting you to think about at the same time you are reading what is literally expressed.  In other words, the left side is what is literally expressed, and the right side is what is suggested under the surface.

Then (and this is crucial), when you think about all of the opposing meanings that you’ve listed, what do you think Twain is trying to reveal about human nature?  Write this in two or three sentences at the bottom of the page.  You are not expected to agree with him, of course, but you should demonstrate that you can infer what the story’s deeper meaning is.