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“Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest.”(Henry 108). This is one of the quotes from O. Henry’s short story, “The Gift of the Magi.” “The Gift of the Magi,” by O. Henry, is short about two adults making a sacrifice for one another. “The Gift of the Magi,” by O. Henry, is about sacrificing something for someone else which is revealed by the author’s irony, descriptive language, and dialogue. In this story, “The Gift of the Magi,” the author uses different situations throughout the story to show irony. “For there lay the combs- the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshiped for long in a Broadway window.”(108). In these words, the author is describing what Della had wanted for a very long time, but no longer has her long hair. …show more content…
Henry uses dialogue to show the character’s reactions to different situations throughout the story. The text states,” ‘Will you buy my hair?’ asked Della. ‘I buy hair,’ said Madame. ‘Take yer hat off and let’s have a sight at the looks of it.’ Down rippled the brown cascade.’Twenty dollars,’ said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand.’Give it to me quick,’ said Della.”(105). This represents dialogue because Della and Madame are having a conversation during the story. This reveals how Della is desperately in need of money to buy Jim a present through dialogue.The text also states,”I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn’t have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It’ll grow again- you won’t mind will you?”(106). This reveals dialogue because Della is showing her feelings towards Jim, hoping that he would not be mad at her by talking and explaining to him why she cut her hair. The author also states,”I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on.”(108). This dialogue is showing how Jim gave up his most valuable possession to buy Della a Christmas present, which is now useless because Della sold her to buy Jim a
As I read Flannery O’Connor’s short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, I find myself being completely consumed by the rich tale that the author weaves; a tragic and ironic tale that concisely and precisely utilizes irony and foreshadowing with expert skill. As the story progresses, it is readily apparent that the story will end in a tragic and predictable state due to the devices which O’Connor expertly employs and thusly, I find that I cannot stop reading it; the plot grows thicker with every sentence and by doing so, the characters within the story are infinitely real in my mind’s eye. As I consider these factors, the story focuses on two main characters; that of the grandmother, who comes across as self-centered and self-serving and The Misfit, a man, who quite ingeniously, also appears to be self-centered and self-serving. It is the story behind the grandmother, however, that evidence appears to demonstrate the extreme differences between her superficial self and the true character of her persona; as the story unfolds, and proof of my thought process becomes apparently clear.
mentioned in a class discussion about the parable of talents. This one phrase that stood out to
In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” Geoffrey Chaucer masterfully frames an informal homily. Through the use of verbal and situational irony, Chaucer is able to accentuate the moral characteristics of the Pardoner. The essence of the story is exemplified by the blatant discrepancy between the character of the storyteller and the message of his story. By analyzing this contrast, the reader can place himself in the mind of the Pardoner in order to account for his psychology.
O. Henry is a very inspirational person, in “The Gift of the Magi,” he makes the story go a lot deeper than the words on the page, with a little something called symbolism. One thing he really specializes in is symbolism, certainly with adolescence, worriness, and timelessness in this story. Symbolism plays a huge role in the narrative, a role so big that without it, the story would be quite dull. Without symbolism, this story would not have half the meaning it does now, when you dig into the story, you discover how much Della and Jim really love one
Even before this story begins, irony is brewing and continues throughout the pages. The creative author is using this enticing technique as a backbone for his play, and also as a key component in foreshadowing the tragic plot. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is filled with many different ironies, so much so, that this reoccurring element tremendously affects the outcome of the story.
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.
In the play "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles, the author presents us with several instances of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play. Dramatic irony plays an important part in "Oedipus the King", because it is used to describe Oedipus' character as arrogant and blind toward the truth. The audience is expected to understand Oedipus' history well before he does. In the first three episodes, Oedipus uses a lot of dramatic irony in his speeches.
This paper is to explain the use of irony of a phrase from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The story is set during the time of the French Revolution and the phrase was the slogan of the revolutionaries: “The Republic One and the Indivisible of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death.” Each term of this phrase will be defined and once defined one will be able to see the extreme irony of it.
In "The Gift of the Magi" O' Henry used symbolism in reference to the Three Magi. They come bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The gold is a symbol of love, the frankincense and myrrh were used to burn and had a sweet smell. They were also ingredients used in developin medicines. These gifts were not only practical, but precious.
The “Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry, is a short story that unfolds in an unanticipated and remarkable way that gently tugs the reader in which makes them want to continue reading. The story is about two characters named Della and Jim. For Christmas, Della cuts her hair to sell for money to buy Jim a chain for his watch while Jim sells his watch to buy Della some fancy combs. They both couldn’t use each other's gifts properly by reason of them sacrificing what they loved likewise finding delight in giving - what is foolish in the head, may be wise for the heart.
The plot of Oedipus Rex uses dramatic irony as a key narrative element. From beginning to the end, Sophocles expose the audience to irony. The result is both shocking and devastating for multiple main characters. Oedipus, for example, states the weight of the punishment Laius’ killer will face. This builds irony because Oedipus is Laius’ killer, but he does not realize it yet. As realization of Oedipus’ crime against the Greek gods begins to set in, so does the climax and resolution of the irony. Overall, Sophocles’ use of dramatic irony is integral to both the progress of the play and to its climax.
The irony of the stories ending is even though their gifts was not wise because they both cannot use them but they sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house, which is their true love for each other, making it the wisest. They are the Magi.
The playwright Sophocles wrote one hundred and twenty-three plays throughout his lifetime, his most famous being “Oedipus Rex” also known by other titles such as “Oedipus Tyrannus” or “Oedipus The King”. Sophocles ' plays often involve the downfall of the protagonist, and this is no exception. The play tells the tale of King Oedipus of Thebes, a man prophesied as doomed by the gods. His name alone is a hint at his fate, translating to “swollen foot” as his feet were bound and broken at birth when his father left him to die. Though he survived and lived the life of a prince by another royal family, he is distraught when informed that he is not their son. Upon visiting an oracle of Apollo to determine
It is a known fact of life that true love is hard to find in this day and age; one could say it is more plausible to find a needle in a haystack. True, sincere love, when found, is a real test to humanity. O.Henry, the author of the short story “The Gift of The Magi”, has written a masterpiece about a young couple who give everything they have for each other in order to show the great magnitude of their love. Della and James Young live in a poor suburb of New York where the young couple resides in a shabby apartment. They do not have much to give; however, it is Christmas Eve, so both are searching for a gift for the other. Both Della and James sacrifice their most valued gifts in order to please the other. O.Henry
Chaucer's Irony - The Canterbury Tales Chaucer's Irony Irony is a vitally important part of The Canterbury Tales, and Chaucer's ingenious use of this literary device does a lot to provide this book with the classic status it enjoys even today. Chaucer has mastered the techniques required to skilfully put his points across and subtle irony and satire is particularly effective in making a point. The Canterbury Tales are well-known as an attack on the Church and its rôle in fourteenth century society. With the ambiguity introduced by the naïve and ignorant "Chaucer the pilgrim", the writer is able to make ironic attacks on characters and what they represent from a whole new angle. The differences in opinion of Chaucer the pilgrim and Chaucer the writer are much more than nuances - the two personas are very often diametrically opposed so as to cause effectual irony.