Premium Essay

Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief

Submitted By
Words 360
Pages 2
“Irony on Red Chief”
The irony in the “The Ransom of Red Chief “creates humor and develops a theme by helping the readers understand what it happening between Bill and Sam. The type of irony this story has is a Dramatic Irony. It has a Dramatic Irony because the audience is aware of something the characters in the story are not.
The story “The Ransom of Red Chief” uses humor to develop a theme. I think that the humor is between Bill and Red Chief. In paragraph 23 it states,” Just at daybreak, I was awakened by a series of awful screams from Bill”. To me this is funny because you could never think a child could hurt a grown man intentionally. In paragraph 24 it states,” I jumped up to see what the matter was. Red Chief was sitting on Bill’s

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Situational Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief

... We can get bord with normal stories and situations, so when there is irony presented in a story, it can create a great level of humor. O. Henry uses both Situational and verbal irony to create a hurmoustone throughout his story, “The Ransom of Red Chief.” Both situational and verbal irony are used throughout the story to develop humorous tone. Situational irony is used in many instances in the story to create humor. One of the first instances is when the would be kidnappers first carry “Red Chief” to their lair. The reader expects the kidnappers to be ruthless and in control. However, the kidnappers do not behave as the reader would expect, instead they let him go with no restraints and “red Chief” openl threatensthe kidnappers and they do nothing about it. This is clearly shown in the text when it states, “I’m Old Hank, the trapper, Red Chief’s captive, and I’m to be scalped at daybreak.” (O. Henry 2), and, “... and announced that, when his braves returned from the warpath, I was to be broiled at the stake at the rising of the sun.” (O. Henry 2). This creates a...

Words: 770 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Examples Of Irony In Ransom Of Red Chief

...That is what Ransom of Red Chief and home alone have in their theme. Theme is the message or lesson in the story, movie, book etc. It states in Ransom of Red Chief they said hey little boy, do you want some candy and a nice ride is what Sam and Bill said when they tried to take Red Chief. In Home Alone the crooks try to break into the house and steal the family's belongings, but Kevin knew that they were coming and fought them off with stuff around his house because he didn’t know them. Those are both examples of beware of strangers Another example is don't judge a book by it’s cover. In Ransom of Red Chief looked like a calm respectful kid who wouldn't hurt anybody, but it turns out that he is a rowdy kid that doesn’t like to listen to anybody,...

Words: 607 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Examples Of Irony In The Ransom Of Red Chief

...How Red Chief Creates Irony The situation irony in the Ransom of Red Chief creates humor and develops them because when Red Chief was kidnapped it caused a situation in the story. I know it was this irony because of the story is wrote and the situation in it. In the story it shows how irony was created by humor and how irony develop into a theme. In this paragraph I would like to talk about how irony is created by humor in the story. In paragraph #16, sentence #1 it states " I like this fine. I never camped out before; but I had a pet 'possum' once, and I was nine last birthday." What I think this quote means is that even know him got kidnapped he having fun. This story show that there is a problem but he is do things he has never...

Words: 269 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Deez Muts

...Unit 5 Title: The Ransom of Red Chief[1] Suggested Time: 4 days (45 minutes per day) Common Core ELA Standards: RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.4, RL.8.6, RL.8.7, RL.8.9; W.8.2, W.8.4, W.8.9; SL.8.1; L.8.1, L.8.2, L.8.5 Teacher Instructions Preparing for Teaching 1. Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description for teachers about the big ideas and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task. Big Ideas and Key Understandings Writers use irony to fuel the plot of a story. Synopsis Bill and Sam decide that the best way to finance their upcoming land swindle is to kidnap the child of a wealthy citizen and hold him for ransom. The boy they choose, instead of being the docile, frightened child one would expect, is a terror who abuses Bill in every way he can think of, all in the name of fun. The response to their ransom note is not what they would have wished: instead of paying $1500 to get Johnny back, the father demands $250 to take the boy off their hands. In desperation, they agree, and end the story poorer than they began. Read the entire selection, keeping in mind the Big Ideas and Key Understandings. Re-read the text while noting the stopping points for the Text Dependent Questions and teaching Tier II/academic vocabulary. During Teaching 1. Students read the entire selection independently. 2. Teacher reads the text...

Words: 6678 - Pages: 27

Premium Essay

Lolol

...The Ransom of Red Chief The Ransom of Red Chief It is funny how things do not always work out the way we expect them to. No matter how long we plan or how impossible we think something may be, it can still happen. Bill and Sam thought they had an easy job and easy money right in front of them. O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” represents irony as the desperation of two men, a kid’s hellish imagination get the best of them, and the bond between father and son are over estimated. Bill and Sam had only six hundred dollars between the both of them and they needed two thousand more to pull a scheme in Illinois. They had the bright idea to kidnap a kid and get the two thousand as a ransom. They wrote out the ransom note after having held the boy captive over night in a cave and they signed it “two desperate men.” Bill had been going out of his mind dealing with the boy’s wild imagination. He was about to break down and walk away without the money; he had enough. O. Henry: Red Chief was sitting on Bill’s chest, with one hand twined in Bill’s hair. In the other he had the sharp case-knife we used for slicing bacon; and he was industriously and realistically trying to take Bill’s scalp, according to the sentence that had been pronounced upon him the even before (281.) They were no longer desperate for the money but desperate to give the boy back. They lowered the ransom to only fifteen hundred because they realized no one would pay two thousand dollars for the return of “that...

Words: 391 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Ransom of Red Chief

...The Ransom of Red Chief It is funny how things do not always work out the way we expect them to. No matter how long we plan or how impossible we think something may be, it can still happen. Bill and Sam thought they had an easy job and easy money right in front of them. O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” represents irony as the desperation of two men, a kid’s hellish imagination get the best of them, and the bond between father and son are over estimated. Bill and Sam had only six hundred dollars between the both of them and they needed two thousand more to pull a scheme in Illinois. They had the bright idea to kidnap a kid and get the two thousand as a ransom. They wrote out the ransom note after having held the boy captive over night in a cave and they signed it “two desperate men.” Bill had been going out of his mind dealing with the boy’s wild imagination. He was about to break down and walk away without the money; he had enough. O. Henry: Red Chief was sitting on Bill’s chest, with one hand twined in Bill’s hair. In the other he had the sharp case-knife we used for slicing bacon; and he was industriously and realistically trying to take Bill’s scalp, according to the sentence that had been pronounced upon him the even before (281.) They were no longer desperate for the money but desperate to give the boy back. They lowered the ransom to only fifteen hundred because they realized no one would pay two thousand dollars for the return of “that forty-pound chunk of freckled...

Words: 405 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

The Ransom of Red Chief

...«The Ransom Of Red Chief» O.Henry. Analysis. O.Henry was a prolific American short story writer, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. William Sydney Porter was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. When he was three, his mother died, and he was raised by his paternal grandmother and aunt. At the age of fifteen he left school. In 1897 he was convicted of stealing money. In prison he started to write short stories to earn money to support his daughter Margaret. After three of the five years sentence he came out of the prison. In 1901 he changed his name to O. Henry and died of cirrhosis of the liver on June 5 1910 . It is shown by the authors way of writing that the genre of the Ransom Of The Red Chief is a non-fiction because the characters, places, the events and actions in the story seem almost real. O. Henry describes the characters in a very delicate manner. He shows that Red Chief is a very active and mischievous kid . He has made the life of his kidnappers hell. The author uses chronological order to tell the story and to state the events that took place. He starts by introducing the main characters , the setting , then makes his way through by adding some twists and turns. The story finishes with a touch of irony . -They kidnapped Johnny. -They sent a letter to the father with demands. -The father replies the letter by an offer. -They accept the offer. -They return Johnny and pay the father the...

Words: 1384 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Ransom

...“The Ransom of Red chief” O’Henry (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910) The text under analysis is ‘The ransom of red chief’ written by O’Henry, one of the most famous American short story writers of 19th century. O. Henry’s real name was William Sydney Porter and he was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. Let me start from the summary. The story runs about two crooks - Bill Driscoll and Sam. They decided to pull off a "fraudulent town-lot scheme” but for this scheme they needed money. So, they decided to kidnap a little boy of the wealthy man of town of Summit. But they couldn’t imagine what was waiting for them. This story opens with PROLOGUE where the author introduces to us the beginning of the story. And in the prologue two characters are presented to us: the narrator Sam and his friend Bill Driscoll. This text is written in 1st person narration. O’Henry uses it to create the atmosphere of the situation itself and to give us the opportunity to be involved and to feel ourselves as participants. In the very beginning the author keeps us in suspense with the words: but wait till I tell you. The setting of the story is town of Summit in West Illinois. Further go RISING ACTIONS which include selection of the victim, hiding in the cave, games with the boy and writing a letter to the father of the boy Johnny. Here we meet other characters: a little boy of 10 years, who is described directly and his father, Ebenezer Dorset. But Ebenezer is opposed to Bill, Sam and Johnny as...

Words: 678 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Naxalism in Orissa & C-Garh

...IPCS Special Report 25 June 2006 LEFT EXTREMISM IN INDIA NAXAL MOVEMENT IN CHATTISGARH & ORISSA Rajat Kumar Kujur Research Scholar, JNU INTRODUCTION One of the striking features of the Naxal movement is that right from its inception it has remained a point of attention for academicians, journalists and, of course, politicians. However, for some reason or the other, contemporary research on Naxalism has so far been focused on West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and, to some extent, Bihar, at the expense of ot her areas where the movement also has a strong presence. However, as Naxalism or the Naxal movement is a complex problem, it is necessary to look at the problem at specific levels in different regions. It is in this context a primary research on the Naxal Movement in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh and Orissa, where the Naxal movement is placed at two different levels, is of considerable academic interest. This article is an attempt to explain the growth of the Naxal movement in the poor and underdeveloped regions of these two states. The focus of this paper is on I CHATTISGARH THE NAXAL WAR ZONE Chattisgarh, which is a part of the Dandakaranya region, has been a centre of Maoist activities since the early days of the People’s War. It was none other than the founding father of People’s War (PW), K. Seetharamaiah, who envisaged the idea...

Words: 6675 - Pages: 27

Free Essay

Fake Memories of Me

...Fake Memories of Me by Cathyn McKenna Copyright 2016 ===== 1 September, 1853. Our parent's summer estate outside Arkangel'sk. You, 17, freshly returned from your second year at the Tsar's Imperial Riding Academy, your eyes all aglow with the thoughts of your Commission, two years hence, but still completely dominating your thoughts and words. Me, 25, already bored of The Social Circle, as all heirs were obligated to navigate, the slow gyration of palaces, dances, hunting, small talk, and the never ending search for a marital partner only slightly above your level, at least in income, but certainly not prestige. Rumors of war tainting everything. There was that one bright perfect day. In a week you would be back at the Academy. In a week, I'd be heading for Nizhny Novgorod to romance the Count's daughter, the insufferable thing. But on that day, the last good weather before May, we were brothers again. We drank, we danced, we fenced, we talked deep philosophy and shallow gossip, but we were brothers. Brothers again after so long apart, and so soon to be parted. Who could have known that a year later to the day, a fresh-faced Lieutenant of Horse, newly commissioned, and commanding 65 fellows, would lead a charge to silence a platoon of English cannon, those same cannon smashing the Lieutenant and his men to bits instantly, and mothers across Velikaya Rus smashed for the rest of their lives. I sit now at your cenotaph, as I have every year for the last nineteen...

Words: 9554 - Pages: 39

Premium Essay

Canadid

...CANDIDE By VOLTAIRE INTRODUCTION BY PHILIP LITTELL A PENN STATE ELECTRONIC CLASSICS SERIES PUBLICATION Candide by Voltaire, Introduction by Philip Littell is a publication of the Pennsylvania State University. This Portable Document file is furnished free and without any charge of any kind. Any person using this document file, for any purpose, and in any way does so at his or her own risk. Neither the Pennsylvania State University nor Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, nor anyone associated with the Pennsylvania State University assumes any responsibility for the material contained within the document or for the file as an electronic transmission, in any way. Candide by Voltaire, Introduction by Philip Littell, the Pennsylvania State University, Electronic Classics Series, Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, Hazleton, PA 18202-1291 is a Portable Document File produced as part of an ongoing student publication project to bring classical works of literature, in English, to free and easy access of those wishing to make use of them. Cover Design: Jim Manis; Image courtesy Wikipedia: Voltaire at 24 years of age (c. 1718) by Nicolas de Largillière Copyright © 2007 The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity university. Voltaire CANDIDE By VOLTAIRE INTRODUCTION BY PHILIP LITTELL First Published by BONI AND LIVERIGHT, INC. PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Copyright, 1918, by Boni & Liveright, Inc. Printed in the United States...

Words: 35676 - Pages: 143

Free Essay

A Critical Survey of Contemporary South African Poetry

...A CRITICAL SURVEY OF CONTEMPORARY SOUTH AFRICAN POETRY A CRITICAL SURVEY OF CONTEMPORARY SOUTH AFRICAN POETRY: THE LANGUAGE OF CONFLICT AND COMMITMENT By Laura Holland, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University September 1987 MASTER OF Arts (1987) (English) McMASTER UNIVERSITY Hamilton, Ontario TITLE: A Critical Survey of Contemporary South African Poetry: The Language of Conflict and Commitment AUTHOR: Laura Linda Holland, B.A. (University of Alberta) SUPERVISOR: Dr. Alan Bishop NUMBER OF PAGES: v, 134 ii ABSTRACT The thes is concentrates on South African poetry from 1960 to the present. It closely examines a selection of poems by Breyten Breytenbach, Dennis Brutus, Pascal Gwala, Wopko Jensma, Oswald Mtshali, Arthur Nortje, Cosmo Pieterse, Sipho Sepamla, and Wally Serote, among others. The body of the thesis discusses these poets' contributions to poetry about prison, exile, and township life. The thesis focuses on the struggle between various polical, racial, and cultural groups for hegemony over South Africa's poetic development. Such issues as language, ideology, and censorship are explored insofar as they in! .luence t:ne content and structure of the poetry. This body of poems, sadly, is little studied in North America. The thesis presents an introduction to and a survey of the major tendencies in South African poetry and, in part...

Words: 33218 - Pages: 133

Free Essay

The Outline of English Literature

...Министерство образования и науки Республики Казахстан Кокшетауский государственный университет им. Ш. Уалиханова An Outline of British Literature (from tradition to post modernism) Кокшетау 2011 УДК 802.0 – 5:20 ББК 81:432.1-923 № 39 Рекомендовано к печати кафедрой английского языка и МП КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова, Ученым Советом филологического факультета КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова, УМС КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова. Рецензенты: Баяндина С.Ж. доктор филологических наук, профессор, декан филологического факультета КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова Батаева Ф.А. кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры «Переводческое дело» Кокшетауского университета им. А. Мырзахметова Кожанова К.Т. преподаватель английского языка кафедры гуманитарного цикла ИПК и ПРО Акмолинской области An Outline of British Literature from tradition to post modernism (on specialties 050119 – “Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages”, 050205 – “Foreign Philology” and 050207 – “Translation”): Учебное пособие / Сост. Немченко Н.Ф. – Кокшетау: Типография КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова, 2010 – 170 с. ISBN 9965-19-350-9 Пособие представляет собой краткие очерки, характеризующие английскую литературу Великобритании, ее основные направления и тенденции. Все известные направления в литературе иллюстрированы примерами жизни и творчества авторов, вошедших в мировую литературу благодаря...

Words: 82733 - Pages: 331

Free Essay

Frontline

...FRONTLINE JANUA RY 1 3, 2 012 WWW.FRONTLINE.IN INDIA’S NATIONAL MAGAZINE RS.25 WORLD AFFAIRS IRAQ FOOD SECURITY PDS CLIMATE CHANGE DURBAN Exit America 49 What people say 96 Uncertain stand 114 Remembering TAGORE On his 150th birth anniversary VOLUME 28 NUMBER 27 TH E STAT E S Fiery trap in Kolkata 41 SC IE NCE Higgs signal? 44 WOR L D A F F A I R S Iraq: Exit America War crimes in the trash Russia: December Revolution Pakistan: Volatile state India & China: Troubled equations DECEMBER 31, 2011 - JANUARY 13, 2012 C O V ER S T O RY 49 52 ISSN 0970-1710 Timeless Tagore As an activist, thinker, poet and rural reconstructionist, Rabindranath Tagore continues to be relevant. A tribute on the 150th anniversary of his birth. 4 WWW.FRONTLINE.IN Jayati Ghosh: Mess in eurozone R.K. Raghavan: A lost battle? 108 118 BOOKS LE TTE R S 73 127 54 57 61 TR AVE L Jungles of Borneo 64 AR T Achuthan Kudallur’s journey 85 H ISTOR Y Of Quit India, Nehru & Communist split 89 FOOD SEC UR I T Y Understanding the PDS Kerala: Power of literacy Bihar: Coupon fiasco Jharkhand: Strong revival Chhattisgarh: Loud no to cash E CONOM Y Losing momentum Interview: C. Rangarajan, Chairman, PMEAC CL IM A TE C H A N G E Uncertain stand in Durban CONTR OV E R S Y Mullaperiyar dispute: Deep distrust Fallout of fear OBITU A R Y Humble genius: Mario Miranda Korea’s...

Words: 77117 - Pages: 309

Free Essay

Literary Theory

...Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction ‘Jonathan Culler has always been about the best person around at explaining literary theory without oversimplifying it or treating it with polemical bias. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction is an exemplary work in this genre.’ J. Hillis Miller, University of California, Irvine ‘An impressive and engaging feat of condensation . . . the avoidance of the usual plod through schools and approaches allows the reader to get straight to the heart of the crucial issue for many students, which is: why are they studying literary theory in the first place? . . . an engaging and lively book.’ Patricia Waugh, University of Durham Very Short Introductions are for anyone wanting a stimulating and accessible way in to a new subject. They are written by experts, and have been published in 15 languages worldwide. Very Short Introductions available from Oxford Paperbacks: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY Julia Annas THE ANGLO-SAXON AGE John Blair ARCHAEOLOGY Paul Bahn ARISTOTLE Jonathan Barnes Augustine Henry Chadwick THE BIBLE John Riches Buddha Michael Carrithers BUDDHISM Damien Keown CLASSICS Mary Beard and John Henderson Continental Philosophy Simon Critchley Darwin Jonathan Howard DESCARTES Tom Sorell EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY BRITAIN Paul Langford The European Union John Pinder Freud Anthony Storr Galileo Stillman Drake Gandhi Bhikhu Parekh HEIDEGGER Michael Inwood HINDUISM Kim Knott HISTORY John H. Arnold HUME A. J...

Words: 45107 - Pages: 181