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.