Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. There are three kinds of irony:
1. verbal irony: is when an author says one thing and means something else.
2. dramatic irony: is when an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know.
3. irony of situation: is a discrepency between the expected result and actual results.
Irony exists in my life in many examples. An example of irony in my life is how I always carry my umbrella everywhere I go. Then the one day I forgot my umbrella and it started raining. I got caught in the rain. Another example of irony in my life is how I attended all my global classes and studied for the global regents and when I took the test I failed it.
The poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, is an example of irony. This poem is an example of irony because the author makes "Richard Cory" look like he has the perfect life, someone who seems to have everything they could ever ask for. The second stanza says,"and he was always quietly arrayed,and he was always human when he talked; but still he fluttered pulses when he said,"good-morning." That's how we know he dresses in rich clothing and seems very respectful towards other but also seemed to be in a rush. At the end of the third stanza it says,"in fine, we thought he was everything to make us wish that we were in his place." We now know people of the town envy "Richard Cory"because they portrayed him to have it all. In the fourth stanza it says,"and Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head." In the end "Richard Cory" kills himself. This is an example of irony because we wouldn't expect someone who is rich and living well to just give that all up by putting a bullet through his head.
The short story " The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, is an example of irony. In the beginning two hunters are talking, Whitney and Rainsford. Rainsford don't care about how a prey feels. Later on in the story, Rainsford is forced to play a game,on which he is no longer the hunter but the prey. That's when he realizes how a prey must feel. And after winning the game it became General Zaroff's turn to become the new prey. That's an example of irony because the hunter Rainsford at first didn't care at the thought of how a prey feels but then ironically he was put in a prey's situation and then the same thing happened to General Zaroff.
There is irony in "The House that Slaves Built" by Gardiner Harris. And the irony is that The White House was built by African-Americans some were slaves others were free and for years it was consider a taboo to allow blacks inside The White House. And now Barack Obama and his family have moved inside The White House. This is an example of irony because African-Americans weren't invited inside The White House and if they were who ever invited them were criticized but now our President is Barack Obama and he comes from African descent.
After reading the article"Is it ironic that so many don't understand irony?" I agree that a lot of people get confused with the meaning of irony. I actually get confused myself but after writing this paper explaining irony and finding examples of irony in poems and stories. I have gotten to understand what is ironic and what is not. One example that is stated in this article is "Is it ironic that someone steps into a puddle and we make fun of them and the next thing you know, I step in one." I agree that this is irony because if someone falls into a puddle and we make fun of them, we are not expecting to also fall and then out of nowhere we fall into a puddle to. In this LINK, there are examples of irony and we get to vote if something is ironic or not. I voted that "if I have a phobia of longs words I have to tell people that I have Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia?" is ironic because if someone has a phobia of something that means they have a fear of that. So if someone has a phobia of long words it is ironic for them to say such a long word like hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. I also voted yes for irony in the example of "there is a song about the phobia of music?"because like I said earlier phobia is a fear so if there is a song about the phobia of music that is very ironic.
The cartoon is about an author who wrote a book popularity and no one showed up to his book signing. This is ironic because he wrote a book on popularity and he finds himself all alone clearly he isn't popular, so that is kind of ironic for someone to write about such topic.
The lyrics of Alanis Morissette's "Ironic," are ironic. One example of the lyrics that shows irony"An old man turned ninety-eight he won the lottery and died the next day." That is an example of irony because a man that was ninety-eight years old won the lottery, since he is already old there really isn't much he can do to enjoy the money he just won. But then he dies so the money he just won, wasn't spend by him. Another example of irony from the lyrics is "A traffic jam when you're already late." This is an example because that person was already running late before they got stuck in traffic and now there running extra late.
The social network video is an example of irony because the daughter is explaining how old people become more anti-social but her parents are actually very social. They go out and interact with others. On the other hand, she who is younger and has 687 friends on Facebook is actually more anti-social than her parents because she is at home doing nothing while her parents are out bike riding with their friends.
Irony is difficult to understand at first, I have to really study the definition of irony to understand what irony really is. Some people say unusual things and they start to infer that it is ironic. But in reality there is much more to irony I have to understand examples of irony and the definition as well. And also remember that there are three different types of irony which are verbal irony, dramatic irony and irony of situation. Now that I am aware of what irony is, I'm more aware of what is ironic in my life and what is not.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Metaphor
A metaphor is the comparison of two unlike things. An example of a metaphor is " her home was a prison ." We know that a prison is a building where people are trapped inside so then this will tell us that she isn't able to leave her house.
There are many other forms of metaphors another example is a simile, personification, anthropomorphism, hyperbole, parable, fable and analogy.
A simile is a figure of speech where two unlike things are compared, generally by using the word like or as. An example of a simile is " they fought like cats and dogs." We know that cats and dogs don't get along and its saying that "they"are fighting and can't see eye to eye with each other.
Personification is giving human qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics to a non-living thing. An example of personification is "fear grab me as I heard footsteps behind me." We know that fear is a feeling and feelings can not grab people.
Anthropomorphism is giving gods or non-living things, human characteristics and qualities. An example of anthropomorphism is " the devil wears Prada." We know that the devil is not a human but more of an evil spirit so it is not possible for the devil to wear Prada.
A hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration, not meant to be taken seriously. An example of hyperbole is "she waited in line for centuries." We know that one century is 100 years and that is a long time so that means she waited in line for a very long time.
A parable is a story, usually short and simple, that illustrates a lesson. An example of a parable is the Adam and Eve story. This is because Adam and Eve were told not to eat the apple by God. But a snake told Eve that it wouldn't do her no harm and Eve and Adam disobeyed God by eating the apple. Now they had to make a living for themselves nothing was easily given to them without hard work.
A fable is a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral. An example of a fable is "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". We know that the boy cried wolf twice when there wasn't a wolf and when the boy really saw the wolf and cried wolf no one believed him. And the moral of the story is that no one believes a liar even when they are telling the truth.
An analogy is a comparison between two things that have some features that are the same and others which are different. An example of an analogy is "she was as quiet as a mouse." We know that it is hard to hear a mouse, so that means she was very quiet.
In class we have been studying metaphor and I'm going to use two poems that have metaphors in them. The poems are " Creativity" and "Joy."
Creativity
In the poem " Creativity" the metaphor that is being used is personification. In the first stanza we figure out what the what is and its the "branch outside." As the poem continues it says that the "branch outside" is moving and "dancing." Yes branches can move because of the wind outside but branches can not dance, only people dance. This is an example of personification because it gave a human characteristic to a branch.
Joy
The second poem "Joy" the metaphor that is being used is a hyperbole. In the first stanza the what is "winter" and it also say that "winter would be here forever."Winter is a season and after winter comes spring which means winter can't stay forever because forever is everlasting. This is an example of a hyperbole because "winter would be here forever" is an exaggeration, not meant to be taken seriously, we know winter is a season it comes and goes every year.
There are 5 men around a elephant, they are blind but are using their senses. One men is saying that "an elephant is like a disconnected phone line." We know that an elephant tail isn't connected to anything and a disconnected phone line is also not connected. Another men is saying that " an elephant is like an empty oil pipeline." We know that an elephant trunk isn't holding things inside the trunk is also long, and so is an empty oil pipeline.These blind men are using simile,they compare the unknown which is the elephant with things they know.
The use of personification can be used anywhere, and in the poem " Dinnertime Chorus" there is plenty examples of personification.
Dinnertime Chorus
The teapot sang as the water boiled
The ice cubes cackled in their glass
the teacups chattered to one another.
While the chairs were passing gas
The gravy gurgled merrily
As the oil danced in a pan.
Oh my dinnertime chorus
What a lovely, lovely clan!
In the first line of the poem it states that "the teapot sang as the water boiled." We know that it is impossible for a teapot to "sing" because a teapot is not a human and humans sing. The second line states that "the ice cubes cackled in their glass." We know that ice cubes can't make a harsh sound resembling a cry when laughing and that is what cackled means. Another example of personification in this poem is in line six "as the oil dance in a pan" this is an example because oil can not dance. This poem gives human characteristic to objects that can not do none of those things in the real world and that's why it is an example of personification.
In the fable " The Fox and the Goat" a fox is was trapped inside a deep well which he couldn't get out of. A goat passed by and he trick the goat into jumping inside the deep well so he could set himself free. The metaphor of this fable which is also the moral is that you should never trust the advice of someone in difficulties. The fox was in need of setting himself free but he couldn't do it on his own he eventually became selfish and didn't care for anyone else.
Emily Dickinson wrote poems in which she used metaphors a lot, two poems she wrote were "The Mountain" and "I Took My Power in My Hand."These poems have metaphors.
The Mountain
The mountain sat upon the plain
In his eternal chair,
His observation omnifold,
His inquest everywhere.
The seasons prayed around his knees,
Like children round a sire:
Grandfather of the days is he,
Of dawn the ancestor.
In the poem "The Mountain" on the first stanza, the first and second line states that "the mountain sat upon the plain in his eternal chair."Another example of a metaphor in this poem is on the second stanza "the seasons prayed around his knees." Both of these are examples personification because a mountain can not sit on a chair and seasons can not pray. People are the ones who sit on chairs and pray.
I Took My Power in My Hand
I took my power in my hand
And went against the world;
'T was not so much as David had,
But I was twice as bold.
I aimed my pebble, but myself
Was all the one that fell.
Was it Goliath was too large,
Or only I too small?
In the poem "I Took My Power in My Hand" in the first stanza it say " I took my power in my hand and went against the world." The metaphor that is being used is hyperbole because we know that one person can not go against the world. This hyperbole could mean that the person fought for something they strongly believe in and they would go to all extremes to defend or protect that "thing" they were fighting for.
l(a
le
af
fa
ll
s)
one
l
iness
This poem "l(a" by e e Cummings means loneliness (a leaf falls) and this is an example of a metaphor because we know that when someone is alone no one is there with them and we also know that when a leaf falls down it falls alone on its own, no other leaf falls with that one leaf at the same time.
Metaphors are use in our everyday life, whether we use them without noticing or being of aware of the use of metaphor. Metaphor works in my life in the sense that I over exaggerate things which is the use of hyperbole, I always compare unlike and alike things which is the use of simile and analogy. The metaphor that applies to me is "the courtroom" because I believe that everyone should be treated equally, we are all entitle to the same rights and no group should have more rights than the other one.
There are many other forms of metaphors another example is a simile, personification, anthropomorphism, hyperbole, parable, fable and analogy.
A simile is a figure of speech where two unlike things are compared, generally by using the word like or as. An example of a simile is " they fought like cats and dogs." We know that cats and dogs don't get along and its saying that "they"are fighting and can't see eye to eye with each other.
Personification is giving human qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics to a non-living thing. An example of personification is "fear grab me as I heard footsteps behind me." We know that fear is a feeling and feelings can not grab people.
Anthropomorphism is giving gods or non-living things, human characteristics and qualities. An example of anthropomorphism is " the devil wears Prada." We know that the devil is not a human but more of an evil spirit so it is not possible for the devil to wear Prada.
A hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration, not meant to be taken seriously. An example of hyperbole is "she waited in line for centuries." We know that one century is 100 years and that is a long time so that means she waited in line for a very long time.
A parable is a story, usually short and simple, that illustrates a lesson. An example of a parable is the Adam and Eve story. This is because Adam and Eve were told not to eat the apple by God. But a snake told Eve that it wouldn't do her no harm and Eve and Adam disobeyed God by eating the apple. Now they had to make a living for themselves nothing was easily given to them without hard work.
A fable is a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral. An example of a fable is "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". We know that the boy cried wolf twice when there wasn't a wolf and when the boy really saw the wolf and cried wolf no one believed him. And the moral of the story is that no one believes a liar even when they are telling the truth.
An analogy is a comparison between two things that have some features that are the same and others which are different. An example of an analogy is "she was as quiet as a mouse." We know that it is hard to hear a mouse, so that means she was very quiet.
In class we have been studying metaphor and I'm going to use two poems that have metaphors in them. The poems are " Creativity" and "Joy."
Creativity
On the wall, there is a shadow of a branch outside.
It moves and it is dancing.
It writes its story and the ink is living light.
In the poem " Creativity" the metaphor that is being used is personification. In the first stanza we figure out what the what is and its the "branch outside." As the poem continues it says that the "branch outside" is moving and "dancing." Yes branches can move because of the wind outside but branches can not dance, only people dance. This is an example of personification because it gave a human characteristic to a branch.
Joy
Just when you thought that winter would be here forever, that it could never end, you saw: Amidst the frozen white, a tiny tip of green, first blade of grass, the messenger of spring.
The second poem "Joy" the metaphor that is being used is a hyperbole. In the first stanza the what is "winter" and it also say that "winter would be here forever."Winter is a season and after winter comes spring which means winter can't stay forever because forever is everlasting. This is an example of a hyperbole because "winter would be here forever" is an exaggeration, not meant to be taken seriously, we know winter is a season it comes and goes every year.
There are 5 men around a elephant, they are blind but are using their senses. One men is saying that "an elephant is like a disconnected phone line." We know that an elephant tail isn't connected to anything and a disconnected phone line is also not connected. Another men is saying that " an elephant is like an empty oil pipeline." We know that an elephant trunk isn't holding things inside the trunk is also long, and so is an empty oil pipeline.These blind men are using simile,they compare the unknown which is the elephant with things they know.
The use of personification can be used anywhere, and in the poem " Dinnertime Chorus" there is plenty examples of personification.
Dinnertime Chorus
The teapot sang as the water boiled
The ice cubes cackled in their glass
the teacups chattered to one another.
While the chairs were passing gas
The gravy gurgled merrily
As the oil danced in a pan.
Oh my dinnertime chorus
What a lovely, lovely clan!
In the first line of the poem it states that "the teapot sang as the water boiled." We know that it is impossible for a teapot to "sing" because a teapot is not a human and humans sing. The second line states that "the ice cubes cackled in their glass." We know that ice cubes can't make a harsh sound resembling a cry when laughing and that is what cackled means. Another example of personification in this poem is in line six "as the oil dance in a pan" this is an example because oil can not dance. This poem gives human characteristic to objects that can not do none of those things in the real world and that's why it is an example of personification.
In the fable " The Fox and the Goat" a fox is was trapped inside a deep well which he couldn't get out of. A goat passed by and he trick the goat into jumping inside the deep well so he could set himself free. The metaphor of this fable which is also the moral is that you should never trust the advice of someone in difficulties. The fox was in need of setting himself free but he couldn't do it on his own he eventually became selfish and didn't care for anyone else.
Emily Dickinson wrote poems in which she used metaphors a lot, two poems she wrote were "The Mountain" and "I Took My Power in My Hand."These poems have metaphors.
The Mountain
The mountain sat upon the plain
In his eternal chair,
His observation omnifold,
His inquest everywhere.
The seasons prayed around his knees,
Like children round a sire:
Grandfather of the days is he,
Of dawn the ancestor.
In the poem "The Mountain" on the first stanza, the first and second line states that "the mountain sat upon the plain in his eternal chair."Another example of a metaphor in this poem is on the second stanza "the seasons prayed around his knees." Both of these are examples personification because a mountain can not sit on a chair and seasons can not pray. People are the ones who sit on chairs and pray.
I Took My Power in My Hand
I took my power in my hand
And went against the world;
'T was not so much as David had,
But I was twice as bold.
I aimed my pebble, but myself
Was all the one that fell.
Was it Goliath was too large,
Or only I too small?
In the poem "I Took My Power in My Hand" in the first stanza it say " I took my power in my hand and went against the world." The metaphor that is being used is hyperbole because we know that one person can not go against the world. This hyperbole could mean that the person fought for something they strongly believe in and they would go to all extremes to defend or protect that "thing" they were fighting for.
l(a
le
af
fa
ll
s)
one
l
iness
This poem "l(a" by e e Cummings means loneliness (a leaf falls) and this is an example of a metaphor because we know that when someone is alone no one is there with them and we also know that when a leaf falls down it falls alone on its own, no other leaf falls with that one leaf at the same time.
Metaphors are use in our everyday life, whether we use them without noticing or being of aware of the use of metaphor. Metaphor works in my life in the sense that I over exaggerate things which is the use of hyperbole, I always compare unlike and alike things which is the use of simile and analogy. The metaphor that applies to me is "the courtroom" because I believe that everyone should be treated equally, we are all entitle to the same rights and no group should have more rights than the other one.
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