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.
(Note: The last part is already incorporated.)
ReplyDeleteQuote: “It was believed after that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.”
Opposing Idea or Concept: This opposes the man’s sanity because there was no sense in the things he said and it also reveals the truth of our human experience that people are judged for their actions and words.
Quote: “When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory..”
Opposing Idea or Concept: This shows that the positive things prayed for could be opposed by things that come after the victory that are not positive or bring things that weren’t expected. What this shows of humans is that they often expect the best and they don’t always get what they wished for.
Quote: “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.”
Opposing Idea or Concept: This shows that some things are opposed because while they are needed by some, they are hurting others. In human nature, this shows that sometimes we have things that we don’t need and others could easily make good use of and need for themselves.