Using the concept of irony as defined below, examine characters from three different stories in Half Mammals of Dixie by George Singleton who take action out of a sense of principle only to then act contrary to that principle.
Irony - “The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning (as when expressions of praise are used where blame is meant). Also, this mode of expression as a literary style or form. Verbal irony arises from a sophisticated or resigned awareness of contrast between what is and what ought to be.” “Irony.” Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature. Literature Research Center. 25 Apr. 2017. Web.
Dramatic Irony - “A plot device; a type of IRONY that is produced when the audience's or reader's knowledge of events or individuals surpasses that of the characters. The words and actions of the characters therefore take on a different meaning for the audience or reader than they have for the play's characters. This may happen when, for example, a character reacts in an inappropriate or foolish way or when a character lacks self-awareness and thus acts under false assumptions.” “Dramatic Irony.” Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature. Literature Research Center. 25 Apr. 2017. Web.
Singleton, George. The Half Mammals of Dixie. Harvets, 2004. Print.
Requirements
- Length: Your essay must be a minimum of 750 words.
- Documentation Format: You must include an MLA formatted Works Cited page that includes correctly formatted internal citations for the stories and the additional resources.
- Sources: You are restricted to stories from Half Mammals of Dixie by George Singleton. Your response is based on your own close reading of the works and selection of relevant evidence in support from each work.
- Format: The essay must be in MSWord format (.doc or .docx). Create one body paragraph for each story. The paragraphs should appear in the same order as the works listed in the thesis.
Students must use MLA style documentation. Internal citations should identify the author and page number for the stories and author for the article. Students must also include an MLA Works Cited page.Students should proofread carefully their final drafts for spelling, grammar, and punctuation as well as clarity, conciseness, and completeness. The final draft should be typed, double spaced, with one inch margins, in Times New Roman 12 pt. The essay should be a minimum of 800 words.
The essay will be evaluated based on how well students develop their arguments with significant support from the story (thesis, topic sentences, supporting details from the story); clarity, cohesion, and conciseness; correct use of MLA format; and grammar and spelling.For this essay, students may use a dictionary to help with words with which they are not familiar but should not refer to the dictionary definitions in the essay. Students must use MLA style documentation. Internal citations should identify the author and line number for the poems and author or authors for any articles or other resources. Students must also include an MLA Works Cited page.
Students should proofread carefully their final drafts for spelling, grammar, and punctuation as well as clarity, conciseness, and completeness. The final draft should be typed, double spaced, with one inch margins, in Times New Roman 12 pt. The essay should be a minimum of 900 words.The essay will be evaluated based on how well students develop their arguments with significant support from the poems (thesis, topic sentences, supporting details from the poems); clarity, cohesion, and conciseness; correct use of MLA format; and grammar and spelling.
