Euphemism, Understatement In The History Teacher, By Billy Collins

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In the poem “The History Teacher,” Billy Collins uses euphemism, understatement, and diction to illustrate a teacher’s dedication to keeping his student’s naiveté sheltered by not exposing them to the cruelness of the world, thus “[protecting] [the children’s] innocence.”

Collins employs strong examples of euphemism to establish the inner beliefs of the teacher. The teacher transitions many history lessons from grim and harsh realities into lighthearted, fictional stories. This example of euphony allows the reader to make the conclusion that the teacher would rather the children learn false information then learn the truth about the world, instating a sudden diminish of hope for each child. The teacher’s alterations to historical moments in

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