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Irony
Sept 19, 2015 22:20:05 GMT
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Post by hopekim on Sept 19, 2015 22:20:05 GMT
Irony is a prevalent literary device used in "Interlopers" by Saki in many ways, whether it is known to the reader immediately or after reading the story.
One example of irony is that Ulrich's most uppermost wish in his thoughts was that he "might come across Georg Znayman, man to man, with none to witness". Moments later, he was face to face with him, his wish coming true. However, a few moments later, they are crushed under a tree, together, man to man, with none to witness (and help), eventually dying. It is ironic because he wished with all his heart to be alone with Georg, and he got his wish, ironically leading to his own death.
Another example of irony is that both Ulrich and Georg are hunters who came into the forest to hunt each other. Ulrich even calls Georg a "game-snatcher," implying that although he steals game, he does in fact know how to hunt game. These experienced hunters ironically are killed by the subjects that they are so accustomed to hunting: animals. Even furthering the irony in this example, it says that both Ulrich and Georg "raised their voices in a prolonged hunting call." Then, when "help" came, their hunting call was the reason they were hunted and killed by wolves.
A final example of irony that I was able to identify in the story was the fact that after three generations of fighting and conflict between the two families in the story, just as the two main characters Ulrich and Georg made up, they were killed. They tried to solve their conflict and were so ecstatic about the peace their resolution would bring, and they were killed on the very forest land that the two families had been fighting over for generations.
These examples of irony prove that irony can help to create a comical mood to the story. It also helps make statements about "being careful about what you wish for" and holding grudges! Do you guys agree/ disagree? Do you guys have other examples of irony in the story?
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Irony
Sept 20, 2015 16:43:06 GMT
Post by Ms. McGettigan on Sept 20, 2015 16:43:06 GMT
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These examples of irony prove that irony can help to create a comical mood to the story. It also helps make statements about "being careful about what you wish for" and holding grudges! Do you guys agree/ disagree?
Great start for the irony discussion, Hope. As some of you respond, think about the effects of the examples Hope pointed out. She said they add a comical mood and add to some of the themes. What else does irony add to a story? Why did Saki use it?
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Irony
Sept 20, 2015 20:44:29 GMT
Post by cnelson on Sept 20, 2015 20:44:29 GMT
Another example of irony is when Georg says "When they drag me out from under these damned branches it won't need much clumsiness on their part to roll this mass of trunk right over on top of you. Your men will find you dead under a fallen breach tree. For form's sake I shall send my condolences to your family" -The fact that George says he'll send Ulrich's family his condolences when he was the one who had him killed in the first place illustrates irony.
Irony is also shown with the fact that both men were telling each other how they were going to kill/leave the other when their men arrive first, and then near the end of the story they're wishing that their men come before the other men so that they could be first to show "honorable attention to the enemy that had become a friend".
-It's pretty ironic that they are no longer competing to be the first to kill the other but are now competing to be the first to show kindness to the other. Saki uses this to show how they had both craved to be the better winner, but this quality actually made them "losers" and eventually lead to their demise.
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Irony
Sept 22, 2015 18:58:48 GMT
Post by nzglinicki on Sept 22, 2015 18:58:48 GMT
ironically leading to his own death. I do agree with you that the end of "The Interlopers" was very ironic, where the hunter are now the hunted, but we weren't told specifically that they were killed by the wolves. There are many endings this story could have. - The wolves smell them until the hunting parties reach them.
- The wolves could be chasing a deer that's on the other side of the men and pass them by.
- Ulrich could have lost his mind and have been mixing hunting dogs up with wolves.
- Etc.
What you said, Hope, would be a very ironic ending, but there are other possibilities.
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Irony
Sept 24, 2015 22:38:07 GMT
Post by rileymcgrath on Sept 24, 2015 22:38:07 GMT
Irony is also used in "A&P". The protagonist Sammy is very critical of the customers in the store, calling them sheep and judging their appearances. The girls are not portrayed in same way, they walk against the flock of sheep. Sammy thinks the girls are different, like he is. He believes that it was bold of them to walk into the store in their bathing suits, and stand up for themselves when they were told they were indecent by the manager. When Sammy quits, the girls pay no mind to his act as “their unsuspected hero”. The irony in this story is the difference in how Sammy sees himself and how the girls see him. The girls never payed attention to Sammy, because to them he is in no way different than the other people in the store. The use of irony in the story helps the reader understand the overall meaning. It may seem like Sammy quits to gain attention from the girls, but the way I see it is that he does not want to be in the same class as the “sheep”. He realized soon after quitting that life is going to be hard, because he must conform no matter his principles.
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Irony
Sept 25, 2015 0:28:52 GMT
Post by Emily Shea on Sept 25, 2015 0:28:52 GMT
A final example of irony that I was able to identify in the story was the fact that after three generations of fighting and conflict between the two families in the story, just as the two main characters Ulrich and Georg made up, they were killed. They tried to solve their conflict and were so ecstatic about the peace their resolution would bring, and they were killed on the very forest land that the two families had been fighting over for generations. I completely agree with this Hope! It is so strange that when there appeared to be a resolution in sight we are left with the possibility of the death of these men caused by it. Even though we don't really now for sure that the wolves mauled the two men to death, I think that is probably the best inference! Also the fact that their whole lives were consumed within that forest, and that is where their lives (could have) ended is pretty crazy.
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Irony
Sept 25, 2015 0:56:18 GMT
Post by katecavallo on Sept 25, 2015 0:56:18 GMT
"He realized soon after quitting that life is going to be hard, because he must conform no matter his principles" I completely agree with this! Something that has been used for centuries in literature is this form of cruel irony. Someone (the protagonist, usually) will spend the entire novel/poem/epic/etc. to stand up for what he or she believes is right, only to have to conform with the opposing view in order to survive. One example of this is in The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Alonso spends his entire life keeping Prospero, rightful duke of Milan, stranded on an island away from his crown. In the end, though, Alonso's son marries Prospero's daughter, giving the crown away anyhow. This concept has been beaten to death by writers everywhere for as long as authors were around to write. We even see this again in The Interlopers. The men in the story were so bent on claiming that land on principle alone (because in reality the land meant nothing). Right when it looked like a peaceful conclusion had been drawn, it looks as if it could very well be the end of our angry protagonists. The classic cliff-hanger ending is just one more spin on an overdone cliche in literature: situational irony.
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