... trickery to seal the fate of the old woman and her daughter. In developing the character of the old woman, Mrs. Lucynell Crater Sr., Flannery O"Connor establishes a fatalistic flaw in this character due to her goodwill and trustworthiness. Through the use of symbolism, O"Connor is able to use the ... over turn the weak, helpless, and innocent due to their trustworthiness and lack of good judgment. In introducing the character of Mr. Shiflet, Flannery O"Connor uses a great deal of symbolism to portray him as someone that the old woman and her daughter should not be afraid of. O" ... as ...

• Word Count: 1041
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ethical codes rather than the ones which have been imposed on them by generations of established social behaviour. Throughout the novel, Wharton employs irony to show the differences between the characters' overt behaviour and their underlying motivations: the innocence of the title is, she demonstrates, a fazade ... be perfectly acceptable, it is clear that in this culture, such a meeting would be unheard-of. In chapter five, there is considerable irony in the discussion on freedom which takes place between the characters. Newland has already expressed some vague disapproval of Ellen's ...

• Word Count: 2957
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... sobbing in its dreams ironically and subtly shows that Mrs. Mallard is crying because one of her dreams has been fulfilled. All of these elements of irony show how Mrs. Mallard really felt about her husband's death, and give an understanding to the story's theme of ironic fate. Throughout the story, ... there are ironic inferences. In the end, every inch of her body would be relaxed in death. These ironic statements contribute to the theme of the irony of fate, because they give an understanding to what could happen to Mrs. Mallard and why. Chopin uses many ironic symbols, through Mrs....

• Word Count: 4614
• Approx Pages: 18
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... us "ironic treatment alone would enable me to say all I felt I would have to say in scorn as well as pity" (Conrad: p41). The use of irony often takes the form of a narration that has the tone of as a "tolerantly patronizing man of the world" (Berthoud: p5) For example, on Mr Verloc's ... yet paradoxically makes the scene more vivid in it's presentation of a emotional contrast to the preceding violent description of the murder. In this case Conrad's irony serves to "make very large the distance between the way things appear to the persons in the story and the way they appear to the reader...

• Word Count: 1949
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... illustrates through extremes how the progression of a small incident can lead to disaster. Making use of literary styles like comedy, satire, exaggeration and irony, Piercy addresses how society has distorted the characteristics a girl should possess. Piercy carefully constructs the idea of a girl child establishing that this ... the magic of puberty, a classmate said: / You have a great big nose and fat legs." (6-7 pg. 814) Utilizing the literary technique of irony Piercy demonstrates to the reader a deeper understanding of the severity of the comments made. Puberty obviously isn't magi...

• Word Count: 1163
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

... he has done. In a deeper look of the poem, the author is satirizing the government and its treatment of the people. W. H. uses symbolism, irony, tone, and diction to convey the themes of conformity of individuals in a society and the threat of government control. "The Unknown Citizen" is ... Statistics" and the monument being dedicated to the citizen are symbols that are also very ironic. Literary critic Bruce Meyer states, "The irony comes when the reader realizes that this is not someone else he is reading about, but himself. To this end, this citizen 'known but ... government is un...

• Word Count: 1252
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

... that love can conquer all evils. Patrick uses symbolism in "The Curious Savage, to explain how each character represents a certain group in society, while using irony and characterization to describe the qualities and peculiarities of the environment in "A Bad Year for Tomatoes- and "The Teahouse of the August Moon."" In " ... saying "the real nuts are outside."" 3 In "The Teahouse of the August Moon,"" Patrick presents the theme by using an almost abnormal situation. Irony is the key element which we see repeated throughout the play. The theme becomes relevant as early as the rising acti...

• Word Count: 1387
• Approx Pages: 6

... the traditions that all people have and re-examining where those traditions come from. In this story there are three main focuses that Jackson has, they are ignorance, symbolism, and irony. One of the largest tools that Jackson uses in this story is ignorance; it is based around a very ignorant and outdated tradition. In one of Raglands critiques she states, "The ... what the lottery is used for. Everyone else in town just goes along with out questioning the practice of the lottery. This story also contains loads irony; many situations throughout the book have small hidden irony. One of...

• Word Count: 750
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... his death. The motif of the story is the isolation of Bartleby from society. Three literary devices support the motif: symbolism, descriptive passages, and irony.  The walls symbolize Bartleby's isolation from society; descriptive passages convey his loneliness; irony further expounds upon the motif.                   Symbolism supports the motif of Bartleby being isolated from society.   The symbolism is in this ... narrator secludes Bartleby from society.   Even his window, usually a form of escape, results in Bartleby being trapped behind another wall,  thus reinforcing...

• Word Count: 751
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... in her time. In writing her stories through her point of view it is obvious that Chopin identifies with her characters. Chopin uses her own unique style, tone and irony to reflect the inner conflict within Mrs. Baroda in "A Respectable Woman." The style and diction Chopin uses in the story emulate an educated person behind the words as ... she imagined. Her attraction to him confuses her greatly, "She had never known her thoughts or her intentions to be so confused" (Chopin 375). This use of irony gives identity to Mrs. Baroda. Surely many women of this time can relate to having confusi...

• Word Count: 514
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... valued in the household. There was once a time in America when families could feel safe in their homes and communities. This time was soon to be "gone with the wind." Flannery O"Connor tells a tale of a family experiencing the changes in American culture during this time period. Her story, A Good Man Is Hard To Find illustrates how society was beginning to drastically ... ...

• Word Count: 664
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... or integrated into his society. These tragic or comic narratives can further be classified into one of five Fictive Modes: Myth and Romance (Heaven), High and Low Mimetic (Earth), and Irony (Hell). The Fictive Modes can be identified by determining who the hero of the story is and their power of action in his/her society. Applying Frye's Fictive Modes to ... chart to Pecola's mother Pauline will shed light on the use of films and imagination to escape and transcend her circumstances. In The Bluest Eye there are components of sexual irony. Sexual irony can be described as a destructive p...

• Word Count: 3660
• Approx Pages: 15
• Has Bibliography

... out justice allows them to deny their responsibility for the madness it creates, however it does not make them any less accountable for ignorance. There is a vast extent of dramatic irony used that intensifies emotions of suspense for the reader. Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, is called to witness on the allegations that he had an affair with Abigail. Miller revealed to us ... or not, intensified when she makes the seemingly terrible decision to "protect" him. Essentially it encourages our curiosity to investigate as to the fate of Proctor. This dramatic irony serves two purposes. Miller is...

• Word Count: 1145
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... as it gives a comparison between how each is affected by their social conditions. In Heartbreak House there is misogyny throughout. It seems the women are in control which adds further irony. It is important to see how women are treated in each text and to evaluate the mistreatment of women. Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are brought up under the ... ! Even the hair that ensnared him false! Everything false!" (P. 110.) Women are also presented as adulterous and seducers: "Why do women always want other women's husbands?" (P. 125.) There is heavy irony throughout of men's "sl...

• Word Count: 2690
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 's true nature. This is certainly true for both Arthur Miller's drama, The Crucible, and Emily Dickinson's "Much Madness is Divinest Sense." Both works use elements such as theme, metaphor, and irony to convey their meanings, and to point out humanity's flaws. In The Crucible, Miller uses his theme to reveal the adverse aspects of human nature. The Crucible is set in ... expression of intolerance; the trials brand all social deviants with the taint of devil-worship and thus necessitate their elimination from the community. It is also through the use of irony that Miller suggests the evil...

• Word Count: 542
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... in comparison to objects of consumerism. "one economy sized mum, one Anthony Squires Coolstream Summerweight Dad- followed by "along with two other kids straight off the Junior Department rack. The irony of the word "kids" is ironic enough knowing that this is family being described; the newborn's brothers and sisters, shows just how petty and trivial children is in consumerism's eyes ... . That adds to the greater irony; the fact that family warmth and model families has always been used as a tool by advertising. Consumer society has entered this child's life without so much as knocking...

• Word Count: 923
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... as it gives a comparison between how each is affected by their social conditions. In Heartbreak House there is misogyny throughout. It seems the women are in control which adds further irony. It is important to see how women are treated in each text and to evaluate the mistreatment of women. Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are brought up under the ... ! Even the hair that ensnared him false! Everything false!" (P. 110.) Women are also presented as adulterous and seducers: "Why do women always want other women's husbands?" (P. 125.) There is heavy irony throughout of men's "sl...

• Word Count: 2609
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... themes such as truth and error, self realisation, money and status that may be overlooked. An awareness in the different social context and the change in style and humour from irony to visual and witty verbal hint that the film is actually a witty satire of the superficiality of the American pop' culture that portray how society expectations dictate the ways things ... viewer, in comparing the film with novel can see the situational humour more vividly after knowing the plot and outcome of the novel. In Emma, humour is based mostly on irony and situational humour such as Harriet's trust...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , the reader recognizes a deeper meaning behind them. More importantly, insight is gained on why these ironic symbols work so well in the novel. The symbols that show a large amount of irony in The Handmaid's Tale vary from setting, to clothing, to spoken language. The location of the novel, set in what used to be Harvard University, along with the Handmaid's given ... though the Handmaids are being teased by being given such a sensuous colour that they may not be comfortable in. Having the colour-code of the Handmaids be red shows extreme irony in the sense that Handmaids are strictly f...

• Word Count: 797
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... a virtuous society. Laclos goes further in this vein; religion becomes an instrument through which our two protagonists carry out their designs on those characters that respect the institution. Furthermore, this irony is further exacerbated in Laclos' pursuit of Mme de Tourvel. Writing to Father Anselme, her confessor for help, it is a complete scorn of the religious order that he replies to ... which includes the words "la situation où je suis en vous écrivant me fait connaitre, plus que jamais, a puissance irrésistible de l'amour," a point of dramatic irony, as it is also revealed ...

• Word Count: 1961
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . The concept of living mindlessly into a routine deemed acceptable by society is associated with his ironic references that suggest the pitiful tendencies of society. Joyce explores themes such as the irony in the guidelines of the catholic church with aspects of lust, and subconscious immorality that exists behind the reason for certain restrictions. His repetitive use of literary devices to evoke ... imagery while maintaining this irony can be seen in this description the narrators crush on his friend Mangon's sister in "Araby", "But my body was like a harp, and her words and gestures...

• Word Count: 3767
• Approx Pages: 15
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... him on to the beach only to find a ships captain and crew waiting there to rescue them, because he saw the smoke. The novel is packed full of symbolism and irony. Golding also communicates his message quite well. "The title refers to Beelzebub, most stinking and depraved of all the devils: it is he, and not the God of Christians, who ... basic structure of society, identity. If a person does not know who he is then he can never function properly in society. The other tool that Golding uses very well is irony. It is very ironic that the group of boys finally get rescued because they acci...

• Word Count: 1092
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... between men and women were different due to the sense of adjusted "power". This change was due to an increased independence for women, causing a cultural revolution. Within Regeneration Barker employs irony to increase the horror of the war, which adds the feeling of sorrow for the characters. In the novel patients are expected to share with their doctor, calmly, their memories ... terrors over tea and sandwiches, just as it is out of place for Prior to describe the horror of walking into machine guns while he and Rivers sit safely. Such irony heightens the terrible descriptions of war,...

• Word Count: 856
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... bonds-. Tess is the victim of Alec and the religious society of the 19th Century. The ultimate hypocrisy is that Tess is hanged for Alec's death; Hardy states with bitter irony that "Justice was done-. The fact that Hardy calls Tess a pure woman and justifies her actions blaming Victorian society for her victimisation, caused controversy when the novel was published as ... mother's claims that her daughter "made her ill, made the house ill-, and "brought evil into the church-, so Jeanette is forced to cope and support herself. Winterson highlights the irony of this, and the reader sees ...

• Word Count: 3072
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to fly. No matter how hard Edna strives for her own freedom, even when moving out on her own, she is still trapped within a male-dominated world. One point of irony in the story is that of Edna's suicide. She drowns herself in the seas, which represented her freedom and rebirth, and metaphorically in her own sorrow, caused by her want ... 's suffrage had left her cold, and suicide was inevitable and she was not defeated, nor were any of the women fighting the battle for their rights. I believe that the major irony of the story plays well hand in hand with the theme. Edna's husband cannot...

• Word Count: 1694
• Approx Pages: 7