Chapter 6

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Chapter 6Symbol and Irony

• Perrines Structure, Sound and Sense
• Coach Adams
• Fall 2006

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Chapter 6

• What is a writers goal?
• To say as much as possible as briefly as
  possible to do this, they must master two tasks
• 1. never waste space
• 2. never waste a word

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Chapter 6

• Why do they use the words they do? Words that
  describe the story and characters and reveal
  insight simultaneously are the words they are
  after
• Two tools they use symbol and irony

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symbol

• Has a literal meaning within the story (it
  exists), but suggests or represents other,
  external meanings as well (it stands for___)
• Symbols can reinforce a meaning otherwise
  expressed (like the apple in The Destructors)
• Symbols can carry the meaning alone (like the
  railroad in Hills Like White Elephants)

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assignment

• Identify the ways in which symbolism contributes
  to the theme of one of the books or stories weve
  read so far
• Get a grading rubric before you leave.

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4 hints for locating symbols

1. Stories typically give some detail that
   identifies the symbol as important. Does it have
   some special repetition or prominence?
2. Symbols must have a physical meaning within the
   story?. Does it literally exist?

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4 hints for locating symbols

• Symbols suggest a different interpretation than
  the literal one.
• a. A symbol of should never be synonymous
  with is or is an example of
• 4. A symbol can have multiple meanings or be
  interpreted with shades of difference this is
  not to say that interpretation can be wide open.

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irony

• Defined an incongruity or discrepancy between
  expectation and reality. In your language
  getting something other than what you expected.

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Three types of irony

• Verbala difference between what is said and what
  is meant. (The townsman in The Child by Tiger
  who tells the story of his own heroic
  accomplishments.)

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Three types of irony

• Dramatica difference between what a character
  says and a reader (or audience) knows.
• All of Miss Brill is rife with dramatic irony,
  because the audience, unlike Miss Brill, sees her
  misery.

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Three types of irony

• Situational ironya difference between
• a. Appearance and reality
• b. Expectation and fulfillment
• Defender of the FaithMarx defends his faith
  by punishing a Jewish soldiernot what wed expect

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Remember the authors motivation

• Symbolism and irony allow authors to suggest and
  express meaning without explicitly stating it.
  They make literature sort of like a little puzzle
  for us to discover the answer to.

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The stories

• Select one of the following
• The Guest, p. 202
• Questions 1, 3-7, 9
• Greenleaf, p. 212
• Questions 2-4, 6-9
• The following is required
• Flannery OConnor, Good Country People
• http//www.geocities.com/cyber_explorer99/oconnorg
  oodcountry.html
• Essay Analyze the use of symbolism and / or
  irony as a means of expressing the storys theme.