Irony, humor and exaggeration--all
stylistic devices--often blend together in a story. Where there
is one, it's likely the others are lurking nearby to add flavor
and depth to the story. In "The Ransom of Red Chief,"
O. Henry uses the three devices as partners, enticing the reader
to laughter at every turn. The story is longer than just a reading
passage; it could even be considered a long joke instead of
a short story! We'll break it into sections, looking closely
at the stylistic devices in each section.
Instruction:
Meet
a pair of kidnappers who get more than they expected when
they nab 10 year old Johnny, alias Red Chief. Read "The
Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry, an author known
to be a master of humor and the surprise ending. We will read
the story in sections. They are marked. Stop to answer a question
or two when directed.
As
a reading strategy, think about what you know about kidnapping.
What is the normal kidnapping process and why are people kidnapped?
If things happen in this story that are different than what
a normal person would expect, you have found irony! Focus your
thoughts to look for irony, exaggeration and humor in the story.
Pay attention to the characters, their thoughts and actions.
Before you read, review these definitions:
Stylistic Devices are other special ways or techniques
of using words to express meaning. You will recognize some of
these techniques, although you might not have know they were
intended styles chosen by the author.
Exaggeration is stretching the truth or overstating
something, often to show strong emotion or to emphasize a feeling
or the quality of an event (very serious, very funny, very dangerous).
Examples:
I thought that dog was going to
bite my leg off!
The mosquito left a Mt. Rainier
of a bite on his nose.
It will take a ton of ice cream
to make my throat feel better.
Irony is using a word or phrase to mean the exact
opposite of its normal meaning. We know the speaker or narrator
is using irony when they say something, but really mean something
else. You can tell what these speakers really mean, although
they say the opposite.
Examples:
Prodding the fried snake with
her fork, she remarked, "Oh, what a lovely lunch!"
My favorite passtime is cleaning
my room.
I'm a real Einstein! I
just failed my math test.
Another type of irony is when there is a difference
between what we expect to happen and what actually happens.
Examples:
Johnny won
all the local spelling bees and went to the State contest,
only to misspell "train."(This
is ironic because Johnny is an excellent speller, but missed
an easy word.)
In a book written 100 years ago,
it was predicted "People
will never set foot on the moon because it would take too
long to get there." (This is ironic, because we
know what actually happened; people landed on the moon.)
Use a piece of notebook paper to take notes as you read and
find examples of exaggeration or irony. Another way to do
this is to print the story and use a highlighter when you
encounter irony or exaggeration. Make notes in the margins
of the printed story.
Exaggeration
Irony
The kidnappers figured Ebenezer would "melt down"
for a ransom. People don't really "melt down"
to nothing, except the witch in Wizard of Oz. It might mean
he could be convinced, he would pay $2,000, he would give in
and pay.
Town named Summit is ironic because ... (there's
a start - fill in the rest)
(another example of exaggeration-
what is exaggerated, who says it, what do they really mean?)
(another example of irony
- what is it, or who says it - why is it ironic?)
(fill in)
(fill in)
(fill in)
(fill in)
(fill in as many examples
as you find, even if you have a question)
(fill in as many examples
as you find, even if you're not positive it is irony)
When the directions ask you to stop reading, complete Question
1. Think carefully. Use your skills of analyzing irony by thinking
of what would be expected in a normal situation, or the opposite
of what happens in the story.
This practice will be a little different than practice items
you have seen before. Each question will refer to a section of
the story. You are asked to tell why this section is ironic. The
first one has been completed for you. Read on! Don't forget to
verify your correct response. Click the Answer button after
you've put your analysis tools to work!
Question
1:
Summit is the name
of the town where the kidnappers decide to find their victim.
It is ironic for a town, flat as a flannel cake (pancake),
to be called Summit because . . . ,
Score your answer: My explanation of
the irony about the town named Summit makes sense! (This
is different from a multiple choice question, but the practice
will prepare you to answer either multiple choice questions
or short answer questions.)
Yes
No,
but I understand now
Direction: Continue reading the story until you reach the
next place to stop and answer Question 2.
Question
2:
Tell what is ironic about Red
Chief's question to Snake-eye.
"Red Chief,"
says I to the kid, "would you like to go home?" "Aw, what for?" says he. "I don't
have any fun at home. I hate to go to school. I like to
camp out. You won't take me back home again, Snake-eye,
Will you?"
Score your answer: My explanation of
the irony of Red Chief's question makes sense! I totally
got it!
Yes
No,
but I understand now
Direction: Continue reading the story until you reach the
next place to stop and answer Question 3.
Question
3:
After one day with Red Chief,
"Snake-Eye" Sam falls into a troubled sleep. He
says, "At last, 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."
Score your answer: My explanation of
the humor and irony of Snake-eye Sam's dream makes sense!
Yes
No,
but I understand now
Directions: Continue reading the story until you reach the next
place to stop and answer Question 4.
Question
4:
Scene: Sam rescues Bill from
a scalping at the hands of Red Chief, dozes off for a
minute when he realizes . . .
"Red Chief had said
I was to be burned at the stake at the rising of the sun.
I wasn't nervous or afraid; but I sat up and lit my pipe
and leaned against a rock."
What is ironic about Sam's reaction
to Red Chief's threat?
Score your answer: I figured out why
Sam's statement is an example of verbal irony! Way to go,
me!
Yes
No,
but I understand now
Directions: Continue reading the story until you reach the next
place to stop and answer Question 5.
Question
5:
In complete irritation after
another Red Chief shenanigan, Sam loses his temper and
threatens the young rascal with a fate worse that kidnapping!
"If you don't behave,"
says I, "I'll take you straight home. Now, are
you going to be good, or not?" "I was only funning," says he, sullenly.
"I didn't mean to hurt Old Hank. But what did
he hit me for? I'll behave, Snake-eye, if you won't send
me home, and if you'll let me play the Black Scout today." "I don't know the game," says I. "That's
for you and Mr. Bill to decide. . . Now you come in and
make friends with him and say you are sorry for hurting
him, or home you go, at once."
What is ironic about Sam's threat,
"Be good or home you go"?
Score your answer: I really aced
this one. And by the way, I think this is an example of
situational irony. The situation is ironic.
Yes
No,
but I understand now
Directions: Continue reading the story until you reach the next
place to stop and answer Question 6.
Question
6:
Just for fun, let's charge up
the prediction skills, because really, we can't resist.
When the kidnappers write a traditional ransom note, we
have to ask: "What is going to happen? Will Ebenezer
Dorset, Esq. pay a ransom to have his son returned? Will
he follow directions? How will it all turn out?"
Predict what will happen to the kidnappers and the
boy as a result of this note to Mr. Dorset.
Support your prediction with evidence from the text.
Score your answer: My prediction
was based on what I know about the characters and their
actions, how they have acted and might act. I gave it
lots of thought and it makes sense.
Yes
No,
but I understand now
P.S. Did you notice
the irony in the signature on the ransom note? It is signed,
"Two Desperate Men." Usually in a ransom note,
"desperate" would mean they might harm their victim.
In this case, it means the kidnappers are "desperate"
to get rid of Red Chief!
Directions: Continue reading the story until you reach the next
place to stop and answer Question 7.
Question
7:
Now that you know the return
proposal Ebenezer Dorset presented to the kidnappers,
describe the irony of the resolution.
Score your answer: I really aced this
one. And by the way, I think this is an example of situational
irony. The situation is ironic.
Yes
No,
but I understand now
How did you do? Out of seven examples of irony in the story, how
many were easy to figure out, how many more difficult? Do you feel
you are skilled at identifying irony, humor and exaggeration from
reading and working with this story? Are you feeling comfortable
with your skills of analyzing irony? Do you need more practice
or help to strengthen this skill? Let your teacher know how you are
doing!
And let's keep going with one more question related to "The
Ransom of Red Chief." All this reading and thinking
you just completed will surely give you lots of ideas for the
next
question.
