One passage that really stuck with me was on page 10. William Deresiewicz powerfully described the compulsive overachievement of today's elite students. Deresiewicz explains two main reasons why elite students are in a constant state of stress and anguish. One is that students seem to think that they can never slow down and that they just need to keep piling on their workload. The second is their resistance to vulnerability. Elite students have a fear of being looked at as that one person who can't handle the pressure, they always want to be at the top of the pyramid. Failing isn't an option. The irony is that every student feels that they are the only ones suffering, so nobody speaks out which in turn causes everybody to suffer! “Everyone …show more content…
Elite students, even though they are clearly highly intelligent, seem to have a lack of confidence and always are doubtful. It’s interesting how we are constantly worried about what others think of us. Instead of focusing on their own needs, students are in worried about how they compare to those around them. That only results in more and more stress on everyone. I would think that in college this would be the time to learn how to be more independent. It’s a fresh start and you are apart of a whole new community. It isn't like you have to be better then everyone at your highschool, that why I find it interesting that the competitive drive is still at an all time high, yet in a negative way. Don't get me wrong, being motivated and driven is an essential quality for a student. However, we need to use those qualities in a positive way, not in a way that forces loads of pressure on you in order to be the best student in the whole university. It honestly made me quite sad how students think of themselves as a fraud and believe everyone is better than them. These students managed to get into some of the hardest schools in the country. Its very rare to do that, and in order to even be accepted you have to be a very bright individual. People need to be reminding students that they have brilliant minds. I am certain that a bit of self confidence will wash some of the stress away. On the flip side they also need to
“Irony trumps everything”. Thomas C. Foster made this argument in “How to Read Literature like a Professor”, explaining that when an author uses irony in their literary work, standard conventions on interpreting themes are temporarily disregarded (Foster 252). This effect on the reader allows for a different interpretation of the text to occur because the novel's events are contradictory to what one expects. The proficient use of irony in the novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood to show the inner desires of Offred, Serena Joy, and the Commander.
In the essay “College Pressures” by William Zinsser, Zinsser speaks about the pressures and anxiety that plague college students, all the while wishing that they had “a chance to savor each segment of their education as an experience in itself and not as a grim preparation for the next step.” Referring to the 1979 generation of college students as “panicky to succeed”, he lists four of the following stressors for college students.
I agree with you when explain how that Mark Twain uses a little of verbal irony in " The Damned Human Race, because Mark Twain, rejecting "Darwins's Theory of Evolution, proves that man is"the lowest animals" due to his cruel, violent and warlike nature. Also during that time, when you used the example of "Humans being greedy" he hit it on the head. Comparing Humans with bees and squirrels, he tells that Human are more greedy and hating to spend money or give things than animals. Man's desire to collect wealth is unlimited. You point out they major point of the story, great
Have you ever been lead to expect one outcome, but then had the situation turn out in a completely different way? The Interlopers ending is ironic and surprising since the author, Saki, leads the reader to believe the story will end opposite of how it actually ends. In the short story, Ulrich’s and Georg’s families previous feud over hunting land causes tension and suspense. Their feud builds the story and specific details based on the action guides the audience to the unexpected resolution. Irony also helps to develop an unpredictable, surprising conclusion in The Interlopers.
In the novel Lord of the flies by William Golding, he applies two different types of irony. He applies verbal irony, which is when the author says or writes one thing but means something else. He also applies situational irony, which is when the situation involves actions that have an effect that is opposite from what was intended.
What is the most effective literary device used in the writing of short stories? As taken from dictionary.com; irony is a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated. In “An Ounce of Cure” by Alice Munro, irony is used to demonstrate the unfortunate outcomes that can come about as a result of underage alcohol abuse. The story has irony because the narrator’s parents rarely drink alcohol and are strongly against the thought of alcohol. Alistair MacLeod uses irony in his short story “The Boat” to unfortunate events can happen even though the characters do not make it clear that they are soon to happen. In this short story the narrator’s father suffers a tragic death that is not expected by the reader. In the short story “The Doctor” by Andre Dubus, irony is used to create false hope and sadness in the presence of an unfortunate event. In this story it is ironic that an obstetrician who usually brings life into the world cannot save a young boy’s life. In the three central texts mentioned previously it is evident to the reader that irony is used to surprise the reader and provide an unexpected outcome in the presence of an unfortunate event. It is often expected that authors will use irony to demonstrate different visions in their writing.
By definition, irony is the expression of one’s meaning that typically signifies the opposite. Authors have scribed irony in their literature since before pen and paper existed because even ancient bards such as Homer discovered the power irony can bring to a good story. Khaled Hosseini, the author of the novel The Kite Runner, masterfully weaves intricate and delicate examples of irony to enrich the story. Irony plays a pivotal role in the novel to develop the plot, by creating suspense, the themes, by informing the reader, and the characters, by showing their personalities and unconscious motives.
Contemplating on characteristics of Post Modernism Irony is the most compelling alternative. In Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain”, the rich amount of sarcasm and irony invites readers on a journey that’s exceptionally written. The dialect that is used in this short story does not have any moderation to what is being portrayed as a real life event. Just reading the title alone “Bullet in the Brain”, causes one to imagine a horrific event with the conclusion of someone being gunned down unfairly. To already know the ending of a story just by reading the title, one has to be very crafty in their presentation. As a result, the main characters actions have led to a consequence which sets up the theme of the story to be classified as: a tragic irony. Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain” exemplifies irony and applies sarcasm in a literary form.
"[W]hen thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" counsels the Bible, thus setting the precedent for all well-meaning members of western society concerning their charitable intentions (Matt. 6.3). Humanity's motivation to aid others, regardless of the outcome, is oft times spotted by the subtle struggle between selflessness and selfishness. Flannery O'Connor captures this classic conflict between good and evil in Southern Grotesque fashion through her characters, the protagonist Sheppard and his foil, Rufus Johnson, in [comment2] "The Lame Shall Enter First".[comment3] Challenging the literal paradigm of light and darkness, O'Connor weaves together well crafted characterization, cryptic dialogue, and both biblical and literary allusion in this paradoxical plot and, by way of Sheppard and the antithetical Rufus, blends the black and white of Christian dogma into an ironic grey.
Numerous college students today feel as if they are not adequate enough. So much is put on their plate, and above it all, in order to maintain moving forward academically towards a career, they must showcase themselves. This idea is explored in “College Pressures” by William Zinsser. He discusses why students are driven to try so vigorously in order to earn a step ahead, yet the reasoning is arguable.
Creating Situational Irony in Poetry Poetry often tells a brief story which encapsulates the entire life of a character in a few verse paragraphs. A skilled poet can generate an infinite variety of emotional responses from the reader, depending upon whether he or she intends the general tone of the work to be happy, sad, comedic, or ironic. In particular, situational irony can be difficult to create unless the correct words are chosen to direct the reader to the intended ironic conclusion. In his poem, "Mr. Z", (848) M. Carl Holman tells the ironic story of the title character and his struggle to live in a racially biased society while trying to remain racially neutral in all aspects of his life.
Have you ever read the story of a princess kissing a frog, having it turn into a prince? Well, what if it didn’t become a prince, but she turned into a frog herself! This is called irony, something we would not expect to happen. In the story of the princess we would not expect that to happen. In the story “The Lottery,” written by Shirley Jackson, we see this situation in another form. She uses irony to bring out the point in her story. “The Lottery,” offers an “ironic twist of fate” that causes wonder and makes one sympathize with the characters.
Revenge, a feeling that can consume the soul of a person till they no longer know themselves. Edgar Allan Poe is well known for writing poetry and short stories around the genres of mystery, horror, and insanity. “The Cask of Amontillado” is one of his short stories in which he demonstrates a feeling of vengeance. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, revenge is prevalent and is conveyed through irony within the story’s plot.
In general, the discrepancy between appearances and reality is ironic. Irony is encountered throughout our daily activities and comes in many forms; verbal, situational. and the cosmic. Verbal irony is the most familiar kind, this occurs when we understand that.
Although the passage argues that students are to blame for the mediocrity, but a deeper analysis is required. If all things are equal, children are a reflection of their parents so if they taught them to just get by, then the child will not have the motivation to go beyond the already lacking education system. Therefore when the student gets to high school his ways are deeply engraved in their character making visible change difficult. Sooner or later they watch their peers get by with doing the minimum intellectual work and getting the most from their other activities. After all, the student does not understand that minimum wage pays for a couple of things, but does not provide for a family. Although they may witness the other kids get by with the least amount of work and may wish to join them; their character discourages them from following. But any weak links in his work ethic will cause said student to give in and follow the crowd. As a result, when the new students come in, they will now witness his laziness and follow his example. An illustration is when a young man is trying to get fit and if people who are in the opposite mindset are consistently surrounding him, then he will also give in and not complete his