This short story, Once Upon a Time, by Nadine Gordimer has irony and symbolism within it. The story does not contain the irony and symbolism just for fun, they all play a part in an underlying theme present in this short story. With the use of irony and symbolism, Nadine Gordimer shows us the dangers of becoming overprotective of something or somebody.
Furthermore, some of the irony is in the end of Once Upon a Time. The child of the husband and wife, in the framed story the author tells, ends up dead. What makes this ironic is not that the child died, but the cause of the his death. This child died from trying to scale the walls that had barb wires installed on it. “ Next day he pretended to be the Prince who braves the terrible thicket of thorns to enter the palace and kiss the sleeping beauty back to life…” (Gordimer,89) “… with the first fixing of its razor-teeth in his knees and hands and head he screamed and struggled deeper into its tangle.”(Gordimer, 89) In other words, the child died from the very thing the child’s parents were using to protect their family.
Moving on th...
In literature, satire allows readers or viewers to recognize how ridiculous things come about. Satire permits a reader or viewer to express a certain feeling. Usually this feeling evolves around hilarity. Within the satire category, exaggeration and irony exist. Exaggeration usually emphasizes something beyond the original intention. Irony expresses the opposite of the original meaning.
Situational irony is used in both O’Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant but the effect of the techniques on the tone of each story is very different. In O’Henry’s story, the protagonist, Red Chief, is being kidnapped by two criminals, Bill and Sam. There are many ironic events that occur in the story. For example, the reader expects Red Chief to want to go back home to his family but instead, he is having the time of his life. As hard as Bill tries, he cannot even send him home. Bill utters to Sam, “‘I showed him the road to Summit and kicked him about eight feet nearer there at one kick’” (6). This is comical because it is using a literary technique known as slapstick comedy. The reader can imagine Bill swinging his leg and kicking Red Chief all the way back to Summit. Another example of situational irony in the story is that the reader would expect that Red Chief to be scared but what is actually happening is that Bill is terrified. While speaking with Sam, Bill complains about Red chief yet again, “‘I’ve stood by you without batting an eye ...
There is an immense amount of irony, because the kidnappers thought they would be in charge of the innocent, red-head boy, but he easily obtains the power. When first putting their plan into action, they are stumped when the boy throws a rock in Bill’s eye, in response to “...would you like to have a bag of candy and a nice ride?”(Henry, pg.2) The author uses this opportunity to implement sarcasm in this ironic moment, when “that boy put up a fight like a welterweight cinnamon bear,”(Henry, pg.2) and the thieves were finally able to place the boy in their buggy, after wrestling like they were in an arena. That little boy sure had a big punch. But, once they reached their cave, the unanticipated had occurred, “that boy seemed to be having the time of his life.”(Henry, pg.2) Sam and Bill planned to punish him and assumed he would be bawling to leave, however he smiled continuously and begged to stay. “I fell into a troubled sleep, and dreamed that I had been kidnapped and chained to a tree by a ferocious pirate with red hair.”(Henry, pg.3) Never would Sam have thought he would be the one fearing his victim, a ten year old boy. Their whole plan was to gain $1,500 from this torturous experience; but paradoxically, they ended up losing $250 to Ebenezer from their prior money, just so they could get rid of the boy.
Irony is used very often by Poe. Irony is when something occurs that is the exact opposite of how it should be or seem. Irony varies in that it may be displayed through someone’s actions or an ironic happening. An example of irony in someone’s action are in the Cask of Amontillado is when Montressor repeatedly seems concerned for Fortunato’s health, even though his real intentions are to kill him. It also may be considered ironic that Poe named the enemy of Monstressor, Fortunato. Being that Fortunato means fortunate or lucky in Italian, it is ironic that he is very unlucky in that he his buried alive in a wall.
In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare throughout the entire play it had portrayed symbolism and foreshadowing. These had influenced the most of the characters to act in a foolish ways. This leads us to a suspense ending that caused loved ones to go against each other. By not realizing what is going on between the characters can cause confusing in the plans of the play. Likewise, by connecting each of the following character made it seem we might have knew something was going to happen at the end. Throughout the play we are able to recognize that the handkerchief is played as an important part with all the characters. This is done by showing how each one of the characters is acting with it being loss. Due to it being misplaced some of the characters will do something they normally wouldn’t have done.
In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” allows one to explore many ironic instances throughout the story, the main one in which a woman unpredictably feels free after her husband’s assumed death. Chopin uses Mrs. Mallard’s bizarre story to illustrate the struggles of reaching personal freedom and trying to be true to yourself to reach self-assertion while being a part of something else, like a marriage. In “The Story of an Hour” the main character, Mrs. Mallard, celebrates the death of her husband, yet Chopin uses several ironic situations and certain symbols to criticize the behavior of Mrs. Mallard during the time of her “loving” husband’s assumed death.
In Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour," there is much irony. The first irony detected is in the way that Louise reacts to the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. Before Louise's reaction is revealed, Chopin alludes to how the widow feels by describing the world according to her perception of it after the "horrible" news.
There is a direct link in Book I and Book IV of the Once and Future King from the animation and adventure that Wart experiences to the fall of King Arthur’s reign. The shift is long and detailed but in the end everything ties together. Although at points the plot is grim, White throws in a little bit of satire throughout every book, for example in Book II when the Orkney environment is harsh but then it is contradicted by the behavior of Sir Pellinore, Sir Grummore, and Sir Palomides. In Book III, it is very descriptive and tedious with a darker tone, but then also is offset by Lancelot’s adventures. It is evident that the tone changes drastically from Book I to Book IV but what I noticed, is that the same themes and ideas are expressed within these two books.
William Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men is novel that explores the political society and its influences. Like several politicians in modern society, several characters have qualities that seem unsuitable to the impression that have made. These ironies in All the King’s Men reveal how the characters have flaws, which can result in critical consequences. Jack Burden, Adam Stanton, Judge Irwin and Willie Stark are characters that with ironic traits.
The symbols and imagery used by Kate Chopin's in “The Story of an Hour” give the reader a sense of Mrs. Mallard’s new life appearing before her through her view of an “open window” (para. 4). Louise Mallard experiences what most individuals long for throughout their lives; freedom and happiness. By spending an hour in a “comfortable, roomy armchair” (para.4) in front of an open window, she undergoes a transformation that makes her understand the importance of her freedom. The author's use of Spring time imagery also creates a sense of renewal that captures the author's idea that Mrs. Mallard was set free after the news of her husband's death.
the play, it seemed that Othello was the only one who didn't know the truth.
Surprise can lead to happiness, or surprise can lead to depression. Situational irony is when somebody expects something to go one way, but it really happens the exact opposite way. Situational irony can also change the reader’s mind in a way they will never believe. In “The Ransom of Red Chief,” O. Henry uses situational irony to amuse the reader. In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant uses a feeling of compassion for the short story. In “The Ransom of Red Chief” and in “The Necklace,” O. Henry, Guy de Maupassant, and any author can use situational irony to affect the reader's emotions.
In Guy de Maupassant’s story, The Necklace, he utilizes situational irony in order to highlight the theme. He displays this irony in order to reveal several themes that can be observed in the story. One of the major themes in this short story is how appearances can be misleading.
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
Several symbols in Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" create a feeling of comfort, wellness, and wonderfulness within the reader's mind. The first symbol I will speak of is the "comfortable chair" which she sinks into after the news of her husbands' death. Then, I will speak of the open window, which she sits in front of through which she sees many symbols of things that are good. Finally, I will speak of the description of Mrs. Mallard herself and her comfortable situation, which will tie together all the symbols that create the feelings of comfort and wellness in the reader.