Alanis Morissette and Misconceptions of the English Language David J. Downs, November 2002

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Alanis Morissette and Misconceptions of the English Language David J. Downs, November 2002"

Transcription

1 Alanis Morissette and Misconceptions of the English Language David J. Downs, November 2002 Prelude Okay. I know that some of you are undoubtedly tired of hearing about this topic. I mean, it's probable you've already heard rants and raves about Alanis Morissette's mistaken interpretation of the word "irony" and its usage. If not, welcome aboard. Many other publications and essays have addressed the fact that her song "Ironic" contains a listing of situations that, while sad or perhaps even tragic, are not ironic in the true sense of the word. However, another important fact rears its ugly head as you study these essays, rants, and even most dictionary definitions. Part of the problem, it seems, is a semantic one: plenty of people apparently have no idea as to what "irony" actually is, including professors of English and lexicographers. Perhaps we can

2 shed some light on the subject for them. Irony: What It Is Not Some writers claim that the Morissette song does describe ironic situations. Supposed experts college English professors, for example throw around terms like "verbal irony," "situational irony," "dramatic irony," and even "Socratic irony" to defend the lyrics of the song. Such authors undoubtedly rely on interpretations of the word proffered by lexicographers, textbooks, or their own professors. Western civilization is rife with closed-minded sheep purporting to be "experts" these days, adhering to the status quo under pretence of superiority, who wouldn't know an actual insight if it bit them. Perhaps these authors do not know what irony actually is because they have simply never experienced it or are unable to grasp the concept. It is true that a certain level of abstract cognitive function and intellect is required to "get it." I'm sure you've met plenty

3 of college professor types with 120 IQs who posture themselves as intellectuals without the benefit of knowing what true intelligence feels like; Lord knows I have. Or maybe the stereotype is mostly true: Americans have no sense for the ironic. I read one definition claiming irony was best defined as "a type of humor based on using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning." One example of such humor can be found in the Morissette song; as a plane plummets toward the earth, one passenger thinks to himself, "Well, isn't this nice?" Of course, it was not nice. It was horrible and terrifying and tragic. I'd suggest, however, that this sort of statement is more precisely and correctly identified as "sarcasm," rather than "irony." Some of those same English professors may tell me that I am incorrect, or that sarcasm is indeed a form of "verbal irony." I tend to be of the opinion, however, that one should choose a single term the best word to describe a

4 concept, thereby refusing to add to the confusion of our already chaotic world by referring to a known concept with words that have other better meanings in other contexts. In other words, the word "irony" should be reserved for use in describing ironic situations, not sarcastic ones, and vice-versa. One website I recently visited purports to offer lesson plans relating music to other content areas. As an educator, I would prefer that such plans contain material that was useful and accurate. One plan suggested a lesson might refer to Swift's "A Modest Proposal" as an example of irony. While Swift's piece certainly contains elements of irony, sarcasm, and other critical wit, it is most accurately described as "satire." Why? Swift's objective in writing "A Modest Proposal" was not to demonstrate an ironic situation, but to ridicule a specific political situation through the absurd. Satire hopes to serve as a catalyst for change; irony does not. Again, when one word fits perfectly, we should refrain from

5 convoluting the issue further through vocabulary. Another lesson on the same site is just flatout incorrect in its definition of irony. Said lesson plan describes irony as "the contrasts between reality and people's perceptions" and "between the way people view themselves and how they are seen by others." Life is subjective; it's true. It's also true that our own self-concept is rarely based on how we are seen by others. Neither of these, however, have anything to do with irony. As an aside, the fact that such misinform-mation made it to publication on the site taints every other lesson plan presented there. How could I ever trust that any of them are factually correct? Irony: What It Is The best definitions of irony that I've found are similar, yet still miss the mark. Essentially, most good definitions note the key aspect to irony: incongruity between what might normally be expected and what actually

6 occurred or what actually is. Without such incongruity, the situation is not ironic. What all of these definitions still miss, however, is the most subtle and therefore most difficult aspect of irony. That subtle difference is the humor aspect, of course. Even though ironic situations are often tragic, those with a highly-developed wit recognize that they are also funny, because the incongruity of an ironic situation must be in some sense absurd or even laughable. Fred was walking home from the store. As he crossed Broad Avenue, he was hit by a speeding truck full of cabbage. He died instantly. A person being run down and killed by a truck is tragic, not funny. Contrast the above with this example: Moonbeam was walking back to the commune from the organic market. She had purchased a relatively small batch of sprouts and carrots for her evening meal. She winced as she passed the hotdog stand, her stomach

7 turning as she opined the fate of the poor animals who had so suffered for such a deadly and disturbing product. She lamented the masses who would die from the terminal illnesses caused by their consumption of the carcinogenic agents and saturated fats found in animals. Meat so deadly and so cruel. As she crossed Broad Avenue, she gave herself a warm inner-hug for being so enlightened in her vegan lifestyle. She was still smiling when the speeding vegetable truck ran the red light. She died instantly. Still tragic? Of course, but also hilarious and dripping with irony. Why is one an example of irony and one not? First, we must subject them to the incongruity test. When we cross the street, do we normally expect to be killed by a truck? Certainly not. Millions of people cross millions of streets all over the world every day, and rarely is anyone mowed down by a vegetable truck. So, both situations meet the test of what is expected versus what actually occurs.

8 Fred dies. Moonbeam dies. Both are hit on the same street by the same truck, but Moonbeam's death is ironic because she has made certain life choices about diet that Fred did not. "Huh?" Moonbeam chose to avoid meat and eat only vegetables based on the belief that this choice will prolong her life. She compliments herself in her "enlightened" perspective, and pities those who have doomed themselves to early deaths by not following her example. This absolute certainty that meat can only harm her, while vegetables will keep her safe and healthy is contrasted sharply by the absurdity of her being killed by a truck filled with her own personal "savior." Had the truck been filled with oil or curtain rods, we are back to tragic again. This demonstrates the problems with even the relatively good definitions of "irony." Without the aspect of absurdity that sharp contrast which can be so laughable the

9 potentially ironic simply reverts to tragedy. Summary: Why "Ironic" Isn't Most of the examples in "Ironic" don't even stand on the initial incongruity test. Morissette sings of flies in wine, rain on wedding days, and traffic that impedes your progress when things are already behind schedule. Sure, dying the day after you won the lottery would certainly suck, but dying at the age of ninety-eight is not especially unexpected. On the contrary, I would maintain that every morning a 98-yearold wakes up alive is more unexpected than the other. A situation is not ironic simply because it's a "bummer"; true irony is much more specific, much more dramatic, and to those with a sardonic wit such as mine much more amusing. The most straightforward account I've discovered as to why this song is not ironic is online. Scott provides a brief, yet accurate description as to why the song lyrics do not describe ironic situations. Scott is a bit lenient,

10 in my opinion, when he suggests that the song's plane crash vignette is an accurate depiction of irony. A person fearing airplanes who dies when his first flight crashes is not irony, in the true sense of the word. Remember, to be truly ironic, the situation must be profoundly absurd or even laughable. A man who fears flight and then dies when a plane crashes into his car would be an example of irony. The amazingly humorous thing about the song, of course, is that it is itself a form of irony. Writing a song about irony one which attempts to demonstrate irony that, instead, provides not one true example of irony is most ironic. And damned funny, if you ask me. Some have argued that this was intentional, that Morissette had this in mind all along as she wrote the song. While I will admit that she seems more intelligent than the average bear, Alanis has never struck me as an intellectual of any depth. I believe such a profound statement far beyond her capabilities.

11 Unless otherwise indicated, all content David J. Downs. All rights reserved.

Thinking Involving Very Large and Very Small Quantities

Thinking Involving Very Large and Very Small Quantities Thinking Involving Very Large and Very Small Quantities For most of human existence, we lived in small groups and were unaware of things that happened outside of our own villages and a few nearby ones.

More information

#031: ENCHANTED NEW YEAR NEW ENGLISH COURSE

#031: ENCHANTED NEW YEAR NEW ENGLISH COURSE #031: ENCHANTED NEW YEAR NEW ENGLISH COURSE Hi, everyone! I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help YOU to speak English fluently and confidently. In today's episode: I'll

More information

THE 'ZERO' CONDITIONAL

THE 'ZERO' CONDITIONAL 17 THE 'ZERO' CONDITIONAL 1. Form In 'zero' conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present: 'IF' CLAUSE (CONDITION) MAIN CLAUSE (RESULT) If + simple present If you

More information

The Ultimate Book Of Quotations PDF

The Ultimate Book Of Quotations PDF The Ultimate Book Of Quotations PDF The Ultimate Book Of Quotations is an invaluable tool for writers, public speakers, coaches, business leaders or anyone who wishes to improve communications. This book

More information

Hearing Loss and Sarcasm: The Problem is Conceptual NOT Perceptual

Hearing Loss and Sarcasm: The Problem is Conceptual NOT Perceptual Hearing Loss and Sarcasm: The Problem is Conceptual NOT Perceptual Individuals with hearing loss often have difficulty detecting and/or interpreting sarcasm. These difficulties can be as severe as they

More information

And all that glitters is gold Only shooting stars break the mold. Gonna Be

And all that glitters is gold Only shooting stars break the mold. Gonna Be Allstar Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb In the shape of an "L" on her forehead Well the

More information

Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words whenever possible (maximum 50 words,).

Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words whenever possible (maximum 50 words,). 1. Writing a Summary. Exercise Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words whenever possible (maximum 50 words,). As today's bride and groom celebrate

More information

Section I. Quotations

Section I. Quotations Hour 8: The Thing Explainer! Those of you who are fans of xkcd s Randall Munroe may be aware of his book Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words, in which he describes a variety of things using

More information

Test Review - Romeo & Juliet

Test Review - Romeo & Juliet Test Review - Romeo & Juliet Your test will come from the quizzes and class discussions over the plot of the play and information from this review sheet. Use your reading guide, vocabulary lists, quizzes,

More information

Do supplements work? part 2

Do supplements work? part 2 Do supplements work? part 2 Erik Eng: Check... one, two. Yeah, didn't feel much at all actually. The taste of it was maybe the most impactful. Didn't taste great... yeah. Kim Gajraj: As the keto diet gets

More information

Imagining. 2. Choose endings: Next, students must drag and drop the correct endings into each square.

Imagining. 2. Choose endings: Next, students must drag and drop the correct endings into each square. Imagining Level: 1º de Bachillerato. Grammar: Conditions type I, II and III. Phrasal verb to come Functions: Talking about imaginary situations and concepts. Vocabulary: Vocabulary related to human behaviour,

More information

Language Grammar Vocabulary

Language Grammar Vocabulary Language Grammar Vocabulary Page 4, exercise a): Page 4, exercise b): present progressive to express negative emotion:. My parents are always telling me reading can be fun. 2. Why are you always asking

More information

Escape these Hardships. Literary works like This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, Matryona s Home,

Escape these Hardships. Literary works like This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, Matryona s Home, ********* Critical Analysis 2 EN 2760 Escape these Hardships Literary works like This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, Matryona s Home, and Candide all create a wide variety of emotion to the reader.

More information

Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Unit Focus Understanding Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a satire, as an allegory, as an epic, and as a bildungsroman. Understanding

More information

Candice Bergen Transcript 7/18/06

Candice Bergen Transcript 7/18/06 Candice Bergen Transcript 7/18/06 Candice, thank you for coming here. A pleasure. And I'm gonna start at the end, 'cause I'm gonna tell you I'm gonna start at the end. And I may even look tired. And the

More information

LearnEnglish Elementary Podcast Series 02 Episode 08

LearnEnglish Elementary Podcast Series 02 Episode 08 Support materials Download the LearnEnglish Elementary podcast. You ll find all the details on this page: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/elementarypodcasts/series-02-episode-08 While you listen

More information

Three Intents of the Satirist

Three Intents of the Satirist Satire The use of mockery, irony, humor, and/or wit to attack or ridicule something such as a person, habit, idea, institution, society, or custom that is, or is considered to be foolish, flawed or wrong.

More information

STUCK. written by. Steve Meredith

STUCK. written by. Steve Meredith STUCK written by Steve Meredith StevenEMeredith@gmail.com Scripped scripped.com January 22, 2011 Copyright (c) 2011 Steve Meredith All Rights Reserved INT-OFFICE BUILDING-DAY A man and a woman wait for

More information

Famous Quotations from Alice in Wonderland

Famous Quotations from Alice in Wonderland Famous Quotations from in Wonderland 1. Quotes by What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations? Curiouser and curiouser! I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I

More information

2-People speak Arabic in many countries, thus it can be said that Arabic... in many countries. 1. could speak 2. can speak 3. speaks 4.

2-People speak Arabic in many countries, thus it can be said that Arabic... in many countries. 1. could speak 2. can speak 3. speaks 4. WWW.20FILE.ORG 1-The boy is... by Mary. 1. going to be helped 3. to be help going to help going to be help 2-People speak Arabic in many countries, thus it can be said that Arabic... in many countries.

More information

All you ever wanted to know about literary terms and MORE!!!

All you ever wanted to know about literary terms and MORE!!! All you ever wanted to know about literary terms and MORE!!! Literary Terms We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. There WILL BE literary terms used on your EOC at the end of

More information

THE BENCH PRODUCTION HISTORY

THE BENCH PRODUCTION HISTORY THE BENCH CONTACT INFORMATION Paula Fell (310) 497-6684 paulafell@cox.net 3520 Fifth Avenue Corona del Mar, CA 92625 BIOGRAPHY My experience in the theatre includes playwriting, acting, and producing.

More information

Lesson 1: Idioms from Food

Lesson 1: Idioms from Food Lesson 1: Idioms from Food Introductory Quiz Guess the correct meaning of each idiom from the context. It's OK if you get a lot of answers incorrect - the important part is to do your best in trying to

More information

Prejudice and Perspective. they write about the same events but often through different lenses. Real news is

Prejudice and Perspective. they write about the same events but often through different lenses. Real news is Zhao 1 Michael Zhao Mary Hays Rhet 105 2/12/2017 Word Count: 1274 Prejudice and Perspective Satire news and real news are often considered two sides of the same coin because they write about the same events

More information

Another helpful way to learn the words is to evaluate them as positive or negative. Think about degrees of feeling and put the words in categories.

Another helpful way to learn the words is to evaluate them as positive or negative. Think about degrees of feeling and put the words in categories. REFERENCE LIST OF TONE ADJECTIVES (p.30) One way to review words on this list is to fold the list so that the word is on one side and the definition is on the other. Then you can test yourself by looking

More information

It is an artistic form in which individual or human vices, abuses, or shortcomings are criticized using certain characteristics or methods.

It is an artistic form in which individual or human vices, abuses, or shortcomings are criticized using certain characteristics or methods. It is an artistic form in which individual or human vices, abuses, or shortcomings are criticized using certain characteristics or methods. Usually found in dramas and literature, but it is popping up

More information

...so you don't just sit! POB Ames, IA / / fax 4

...so you don't just sit! POB Ames, IA / / fax 4 ...so you don't just sit! POB 742 4 Ames, IA 4 50010-0742 4 515/232-1247 4 515/232-3729 fax 4 al@alsmusic.com Al tackles one of the toughest questions a DJ ever has to answer: What kind of music do you

More information

Where the word irony comes from

Where the word irony comes from Where the word irony comes from In classical Greek comedy, there was sometimes a character called the eiron -- a dissembler: someone who deliberately pretended to be less intelligent than he really was,

More information

Elements of Short Stories ACCORDING TO MS. HAYES AND HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON

Elements of Short Stories ACCORDING TO MS. HAYES AND HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Elements of Short Stories ACCORDING TO MS. HAYES AND HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON HOW DO YOU DEFINE A SHORT STORY? A story that is short, right? Come on, you can do better than that. It is a piece of prose

More information

How ironic! That is so ironic!

How ironic! That is so ironic! How ironic! That is so ironic! There are three types of irony: 1) Verbal irony 2) Dramatic irony 3) Situational irony Verbal irony: an author says one thing and means something else; also known as sarcasm

More information

Reading Assessment Vocabulary Grades 6-HS

Reading Assessment Vocabulary Grades 6-HS Main idea / Major idea Comprehension 01 The gist of a passage, central thought; the chief topic of a passage expressed or implied in a word or phrase; a statement in sentence form which gives the stated

More information

Monty Python WRITING

Monty Python WRITING Monty Python WRITING Content In this lesson you are going to learn about the comedy group Monty Python Learning Outcomes Learn new vocabulary related to comedy Practice reading comprehension Be able to

More information

Look Mom, I Got a Job!

Look Mom, I Got a Job! Look Mom, I Got a Job! by T. James Belich T. James Belich tjamesbelich@gmail.com www.tjamesbelich.com Look Mom, I Got a Job! by T. James Belich CHARACTERS (M), an aspiring actor with a less-than-inspiring

More information

Investigating affective contemporary responses to historical versus contemporary Gothic writing.

Investigating affective contemporary responses to historical versus contemporary Gothic writing. Investigating affective contemporary responses to historical versus contemporary Gothic writing. Our Project: Our texts: Tenant of Wildfell Hall Frankenstein Twilight Miss Peregrine s Home for Peculiar

More information

I Like You Just The Way I Am: Stories About Me And Some Other People PDF

I Like You Just The Way I Am: Stories About Me And Some Other People PDF I Like You Just The Way I Am: Stories About Me And Some Other People PDF A New York Times best seller! By the actress, writer, and one of the funniest women on Twitter, an outrageous, hysterical memoir

More information

Frame Shifting. Linguistic utterances usually build up clear and coherent conception of a state of affairs.

Frame Shifting. Linguistic utterances usually build up clear and coherent conception of a state of affairs. Frame Shifting Linguistic utterances usually build up clear and coherent conception of a state of affairs. Meanings of words/phrases constrain interpretation of following words/phrases The United States

More information

LUYỆN TẬP CHỨC NĂNG GIAO TIẾP 1 ID: LINK XEM LỜI GIẢI

LUYỆN TẬP CHỨC NĂNG GIAO TIẾP 1 ID: LINK XEM LỜI GIẢI LUYỆN TẬP CHỨC NĂNG GIAO TIẾP 1 ID: 46147 LINK XEM LỜI GIẢI http://moon.vn/fileid/46147 Câu 1 [318207]: A: Would you like a coke? A. I like coke. Thanks B. It's ok. I'm proud of you. C. Yes, please. But

More information

KEEPING CONTROL AT DEPOSITION:

KEEPING CONTROL AT DEPOSITION: KEEPING CONTROL AT DEPOSITION: A FEW TIPS By Paul Scoptur Why We Take Depositions We take depositions for a variety of reasons: to gather facts, evaluate a witness, pin down opinions, and to get sound

More information

FICTIONAL ENTITIES AND REAL EMOTIONAL RESPONSES ANTHONY BRANDON UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

FICTIONAL ENTITIES AND REAL EMOTIONAL RESPONSES ANTHONY BRANDON UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Postgraduate Journal of Aesthetics, Vol. 6, No. 3, December 2009 FICTIONAL ENTITIES AND REAL EMOTIONAL RESPONSES ANTHONY BRANDON UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Is it possible to respond with real emotions (e.g.,

More information

English Holiday Homework

English Holiday Homework English Holiday Homework Term 3 Text Study : The Lord of the Flies Due Date: 16/07/18 1. Read Chapters One to Six 2. Complete a Summary of Chapters One to Six 3. Complete questions for Chapters One to

More information

Palliative Care Chat - Episode 18 Conversation with Barbara Karnes Page 1 of 8

Palliative Care Chat - Episode 18 Conversation with Barbara Karnes Page 1 of 8 Hello, this is Doctor Lynn McPherson. Welcome to Palliative Care Chat, the Podcast brought to you by the online Master of Science and Graduate Certificate Program at the University of Maryland. I am so

More information

AP Language and Composition Hobbs/Wilson

AP Language and Composition Hobbs/Wilson AP Language and Composition Hobbs/Wilson Part 1: Watch this Satirical Example Twitter Frenzy from The Daily Show http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-march-2-2009/twitter-frenzy What is satire? How is

More information

This Is Just a Little Bit Funny, Right?

This Is Just a Little Bit Funny, Right? Common Core Standards Lesson Type: Narrative & POV Concept: Exploring Satire & Dark Humor Primary Subject Area: English Secondary Subject Areas: n/a Common Core Standards Addressed: Grades 9-10 Grades

More information

ENGLISH MODULE CONDITIONAL AND MIXED CONDITIONAL

ENGLISH MODULE CONDITIONAL AND MIXED CONDITIONAL ENGLISH MODULE CONDITIONAL AND MIXED CONDITIONAL Grade X Semester 2 Academic Year 2016-2017 Learning Objectives: Students are able to identify some types of conditionals Students are able to make conditional

More information

Sample Test Questions:

Sample Test Questions: Sample Test Questions: 1.) All the balls are nearly the same - one is very much like. a. other b. another c. an other 2.) Those people over there are friends of. a. ours b. us c. our 3.) I'm going to France

More information

The Water of Wanting 5 Full English Breakfast 18 A Little Pot of Honey 32 Kung Fu Spice 50 Fugu 70 Changes 82

The Water of Wanting 5 Full English Breakfast 18 A Little Pot of Honey 32 Kung Fu Spice 50 Fugu 70 Changes 82 Contents The Water of Wanting 5 Full English Breakfast 18 A Little Pot of Honey 32 Kung Fu Spice 50 Fugu 70 Changes 82 BEFORE YOU READ 1 Look at the cover and the pictures in the book. The stories are

More information

AP* Literature: Multiple Choice Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

AP* Literature: Multiple Choice Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray English AP* Literature: Multiple Choice Lesson Introduction The excerpt from Thackeray s 19 th century novel Vanity Fair is a character study of Sir Pitt Crawley. It offers challenging reading because

More information

Preparing to Write Literary Analysis

Preparing to Write Literary Analysis Preparing to Write Literary Analysis As you read the poem, short story, or play you will be writing about, mark your text, making notes and underlining passages. Use a pen, pencil, or highlighter, but

More information

Writing Terms 12. The Paragraph. The Essay

Writing Terms 12. The Paragraph. The Essay Writing Terms 12 This list of terms builds on the preceding lists you have been given in grades 9-11. It contains all the terms you were responsible for learning in the past, as well as the new terms you

More information

That's OK. I thought it was the horse

That's OK. I thought it was the horse HOME The Japan Times Printer Friendly Articles WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST That's OK. I thought it was the horse By THOMAS DILLON Here's a joke I once read in a worn volume of rib ticklers. A bit off color,

More information

Jacob listens to his inner wisdom

Jacob listens to his inner wisdom 1 7 Male Actors: Jacob Shane Best friend Wally FIGHT OR FLIGHT Voice Mr. Campbell Little Kid Voice Inner Wisdom Voice 2 Female Actors: Big Sister Courtney Little Sister Beth 2 or more Narrators: Guys or

More information

The Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka

The Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka The Metamorphosis Franz Kafka The life which is unexamined is not worth living. Socrates Did Gregor Samsa examine his life? Franz Kafka depicts the separation and alienation of modern man. Kafka delineates

More information

Chapter 13: Conditionals

Chapter 13: Conditionals Chapter 13: Conditionals TRUE/FALSE The second sentence accurately describes information in the first sentence. Mark T or F. 1. If Jane hadn't stayed up late, she wouldn't be so tired. Jane stayed up late

More information

Part A Instructions and examples

Part A Instructions and examples Part A Instructions and examples A Instructions and examples Part A contains only the instructions for each exercise. Read the instructions and do the exercise while you listen to the recording. When you

More information

huh...become someone else...that's not a bad idea...

huh...become someone else...that's not a bad idea... huh...become someone else...that's not a bad idea... Michael listen, as your agent, i'm telling you, you're not gonna get another acting job unless you...become another person! Not just a role! the role!

More information

Little Brother The Story of the Prodigal Son by Mary Evelyn McCurdy. Scene 1. BIG BROTHER: Why are you talking about Dad dying? That's a long way off.

Little Brother The Story of the Prodigal Son by Mary Evelyn McCurdy. Scene 1. BIG BROTHER: Why are you talking about Dad dying? That's a long way off. Little Brother The Story of the Prodigal Son by Mary Evelyn McCurdy Cast: Big Brother Little Brother Servants (variable number, two have lines) Dad Trouble Maker Farmer Pigs (variable number) Friends and

More information

9 cm. A Bicycle in Good Repair. f1~~. f1~

9 cm. A Bicycle in Good Repair. f1~~. f1~ 9 cm A Bicycle in Good Repair f1~~. f1~ SUMMARY OF THE LESSON I The narrator, one evening, accepted his friend's proposal to go for a long bicycle ride on the following day. He got up early and started

More information

O GOD, HELP ME TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUE

O GOD, HELP ME TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUE O GOD, HELP ME TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUE A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. PROVERBS 15:13 Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows

More information

Lesson 1 Mixed Present Tenses

Lesson 1 Mixed Present Tenses Lesson 1 Mixed Present Tenses In today's lesson, we're going to focus on the simple present and present continuous (also called the "present progressive") and a few more advanced details involved in the

More information

Metaphors. Metaphor Simile Tenor & Vehicle Extended Metaphor Mixed Metaphor

Metaphors. Metaphor Simile Tenor & Vehicle Extended Metaphor Mixed Metaphor FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Metaphors Metaphor Simile Tenor & Vehicle Extended Metaphor Mixed Metaphor metaphor Using the traits of one thing to describe another. example: He was a wad of crumpled Hanukkah wrapping

More information

POLITENESS AND IRONY PRINCIPLE

POLITENESS AND IRONY PRINCIPLE POLITENESS AND IRONY PRINCIPLE www.pakfaizal.com www.stainsalatiga.ac.id Politeness is Islamic value According to George Yule (1996) in his book Pragmatics the traditional linguists have no real social

More information

NUMBER TWO ECSTASY A SHORT FILM. David Wells

NUMBER TWO ECSTASY A SHORT FILM. David Wells NUMBER TWO ECSTASY A SHORT FILM by David Wells FADE IN: INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT It is 3:00 in the morning., mid-40's, is on the phone with a plumber. He is stressed. His wife,, holds her head over the kitchen

More information

30,000 FATE. Clint Chandler.

30,000 FATE. Clint Chandler. 30,000 FATE By Clint Chandler expendablefilms@yahoo.com 1. FADE IN: INT. AIRPLANE LATE AFTERNOON, early 30 s, puts his suitcase in the overhead bin then takes a seat next to the aisle. reaches the same

More information

#029: UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH WITH A STRONG ACCENT

#029: UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH WITH A STRONG ACCENT #029: UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH WITH A STRONG ACCENT "Excuse me; I don't quite understand." "Could you please say that again?" Hi, everyone! I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com.

More information

Lit Up Sky. No, Jackson, I reply through gritted teeth. I m seriously starting to regret the little promise I made

Lit Up Sky. No, Jackson, I reply through gritted teeth. I m seriously starting to regret the little promise I made 1 Lit Up Sky Scared yet, Addy? the most annoying voice in existence taunts. No, Jackson, I reply through gritted teeth. I m seriously starting to regret the little promise I made myself earlier tonight.

More information

The verbal group B2. Grammar-Vocabulary WORKBOOK. A complementary resource to your online TELL ME MORE Training Learning Language: English

The verbal group B2. Grammar-Vocabulary WORKBOOK. A complementary resource to your online TELL ME MORE Training Learning Language: English Speaking Listening Writing Reading Grammar Vocabulary Grammar-Vocabulary WORKBOOK A complementary resource to your online TELL ME MORE Training Learning Language: English The verbal group B2 Forward What

More information

The Greeks. Classic Comedy and Tragedy images

The Greeks. Classic Comedy and Tragedy images Tragedy The word genre Genre - from the French meaning category or type Not all plays fall into a single genre, but it helps us to understand the genres as a general basis for approaching art, music, theatre

More information

Purpose, Tone, & Value Words to Know

Purpose, Tone, & Value Words to Know 1. Admiring. To regard with wonder and delight. To esteem highly. 2. Alarmed Fear caused by danger. To frighten. 3. Always Every time; continuously; through all past and future time. 4. Amazed To fill

More information

TRAPPED INSIDE THE STOKER 1998 Dallas Mayr

TRAPPED INSIDE THE STOKER 1998 Dallas Mayr TRAPPED INSIDE THE STOKER 1998 Dallas Mayr I like this house. I really do. Not to start out crass but what the hell, I like the fact that for one thing, I didn't have to pay for it. Except in the way you

More information

A Play in Three Scenes. Mike Martone. Scene I

A Play in Three Scenes. Mike Martone. Scene I 34 MANUSCRIPTS ON A TRAIN WRECK A Play in Three Scenes Mike Martone Characters: BOY MAN CHORUS WITHA LEADER Scene I (Scene. The stage is completely dark except for a single spot on a chair at center stage

More information

Video - low carb for doctors (part 8)

Video - low carb for doctors (part 8) Video - low carb for doctors (part 8) Dr. David Unwin: I'm fascinated really by the idea that so many of the modern diseases we have now are about choices that we all make, lifestyle choices. And if we

More information

Incoming 11 th grade students Summer Reading Assignment

Incoming 11 th grade students Summer Reading Assignment Incoming 11 th grade students Summer Reading Assignment All incoming 11 th grade students (Regular, Honors, AP) will complete Part 1 and Part 2 of the Summer Reading Assignment. The AP students will have

More information

English 9 Romeo and Juliet Act IV -V Quiz. Part 1 Multiple Choice (2 pts. each)

English 9 Romeo and Juliet Act IV -V Quiz. Part 1 Multiple Choice (2 pts. each) English 9 Romeo and Juliet Act IV -V Quiz Part 1 Multiple Choice (2 pts. each) 1.Friar Laurence gives Juliet a potion that he says will A) make her forget Romeo and fall in love with Paris B) stop her

More information

Guiding Questions for a Deeper Understanding of Stranger Than Fiction

Guiding Questions for a Deeper Understanding of Stranger Than Fiction Guiding Questions for a Deeper Understanding of Stranger Than Fiction 1. Why does the narrator focus so much on Harold s obsession with time? 2. (Harold goes to sleep.) In this scene, Harold s watch is

More information

Unit 1: Small Talk. Small Talk: Conversation Starters

Unit 1: Small Talk. Small Talk: Conversation Starters A) Home activities Unit 1: Small Talk 1. Part of developing a new friendship is making small talk, or initiating a conversation using basic topics that are safe to talk about with someone you don't know

More information

A STUDY OF THE FUNCTION OF RHETORICAL QUESTIONS IN THE NOVEL FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND (A PRAGMATIC APPROACH)

A STUDY OF THE FUNCTION OF RHETORICAL QUESTIONS IN THE NOVEL FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND (A PRAGMATIC APPROACH) A STUDY OF THE FUNCTION OF RHETORICAL QUESTIONS IN THE NOVEL FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND (A PRAGMATIC APPROACH) Pathy Yulinda, M.R. Nababan, and Djatmika Postgraduate Program of Sebelas Maret University,

More information

THE BLACK CAP (1917) By Katherine Mansfield

THE BLACK CAP (1917) By Katherine Mansfield THE BLACK CAP (1917) By Katherine Mansfield (A lady and her husband are seated at breakfast. He is quite calm, reading the newspaper and eating; but she is strangely excited, dressed for travelling, and

More information

Higher Still. Notes.

Higher Still. Notes. Higher English Assisi Contents The Situation 1 Themes 1 Essay Questions 1 Essay 1 1 Essay 2 1 Essay Plans 2 Essay 1 2 Essay 2 3 Essays 4 Essay 1 4 Essay 2 6 These notes were created specially for the website,

More information

A is going usually B is usually going C usually goes D goes usually

A is going usually B is usually going C usually goes D goes usually This guide is to help you decide which units you need to study. The sentences in the guide are grouped together (Present and past, Articles and nouns etc.) in the same way as the units in the Contents

More information

S1MONE + A HABIT OF WASTE

S1MONE + A HABIT OF WASTE S1MONE + A HABIT OF WASTE -analysis + connectiona. What is the theme(s) in this film? Provide a detailed explanation. b. What truths about society does the film allude to? Comment on three. c. What ideas

More information

News Literacy Teacher Guide Mini-Lesson B: Satire. Step by Step

News Literacy Teacher Guide Mini-Lesson B: Satire. Step by Step News Literacy Teacher Guide Time Needed: 1-2 class periods depending on the activity options you choose Materials: (optional but recommended) Web Activity link found on the teacher web page for this lesson

More information

AP Language APECHS Spring 2014 Unit2: Humorous Writing. Humor Writing

AP Language APECHS Spring 2014 Unit2: Humorous Writing. Humor Writing AP Language APECHS Spring 2014 Unit2: Humorous Writing Humor Writing John Scroggs, New Yorker dandy revisited, 2011 DESIRED RESULTS What overarching understandings are desired? Students will explore written

More information

Big Life. Paul Calandrino Characters. Brad - 30s Angelina - 30s

Big Life. Paul Calandrino Characters. Brad - 30s Angelina - 30s Big Life Paul Calandrino calandrino@comcast.net Characters Brad - 30s Angelina - 30s The actors should be plain looking, nothing like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie. Time and Place Present A parked car 1

More information

Drama Second Year Lecturer: Marwa Sami Hussein. and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to

Drama Second Year Lecturer: Marwa Sami Hussein. and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to University of Tikrit College of Education for Humanities English Department Drama Second Year- 2017-2018 Lecturer: Marwa Sami Hussein Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited

More information

Notes #5: NONFICTION VS FICTION

Notes #5: NONFICTION VS FICTION Notes #5: NONFICTION VS FICTION Remember to label your notes by number. This way you will know if you are missing notes, you ll know what notes you need, etc. Include the date of the notes given. NONFICTION:

More information

The Jane Schaffer Writing Strategy. The 11 Sentence Paragraph. Basics for. Response-to-Literature. Essays

The Jane Schaffer Writing Strategy. The 11 Sentence Paragraph. Basics for. Response-to-Literature. Essays The Jane Schaffer Writing Strategy Basics for Response-to-Literature Essays The 11 Sentence Paragraph The Prompt Before writing anything, know your assignment READ THE PROMPT! What are you being asked

More information

3/4/2016. Please Pass The Peas! by Terri Young/Mathis

3/4/2016. Please Pass The Peas! by Terri Young/Mathis Please Pass The Peas! by Terri Young/Mathis Fifty years ago, John F. Kennedy said, "Civility is not a sign of weakness. Please Pass The Peas Please, please, please pass the peas. Thank you, thank you,

More information

Please Pass The Peas! by Terri Young/Mathis

Please Pass The Peas! by Terri Young/Mathis Please Pass The Peas! by Terri Young/Mathis Fifty years ago, John F. Kennedy said, "Civility is not a sign of weakness. Please Pass The Peas Please, please, please pass the peas. Thank you, thank you,

More information

FADE IN: A dimly lit, musty, basement. Water drips from old rusted pipes. Rats scurry across the room.

FADE IN: A dimly lit, musty, basement. Water drips from old rusted pipes. Rats scurry across the room. 1 FADE IN: INT. BASEMENT - DAY A dimly lit, musty, basement. Water drips from old rusted pipes. Rats scurry across the room. Here, hanging from the ceiling, is a brown haired man; BOB. He has looks to

More information

! Symbolism in Hole in My Life

! Symbolism in Hole in My Life Common Core Standards Symbolism in Hole in My Life Concept: Symbolism Primary Subject Area: English Secondary Subject Areas: Common Core Standards Addressed: Grades 9-10 Key Ideas and Details o Determine

More information

Clovis East High School Sophomore English Honors Summer Reading Requirements

Clovis East High School Sophomore English Honors Summer Reading Requirements Clovis East High School 2015-2016 Sophomore English Honors Summer Reading Requirements Rationale: In Honors English 10, students will gain higher-level, critical thinking skills throughout the school year

More information

SECTION EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE

SECTION EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE SECTION EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE Rhetorical devices -You should have four to five sections on the most important rhetorical devices, with examples of each (three to four quotations for each device and a clear

More information

A Modest Essay, for preventing the students of Mass. Academy in Worcester,

A Modest Essay, for preventing the students of Mass. Academy in Worcester, Mary Barsoum Joshua DeOliveira Humanities Section P 12/19/17 A Modest Essay, for preventing the students of Mass. Academy in Worcester, from being a burden on their teachers or society, and for making

More information

Ed Boudreaux Hi, I'm Ed Boudreaux. I'm a clinical psychologist and behavioral health consultant.

Ed Boudreaux Hi, I'm Ed Boudreaux. I'm a clinical psychologist and behavioral health consultant. Discussing Positive Alcohol Screenings: A Moderately Resistant Role Play Edwin D. Boudreaux, PhD Behavioral Health Consultant Stacy Hall, LPC MAC Ed Boudreaux Hi, I'm Ed Boudreaux. I'm a clinical psychologist

More information

Metaphor: interior or house is dull and dark, like the son s life. Pathetic fallacy the setting mirrors the character s emotions

Metaphor: interior or house is dull and dark, like the son s life. Pathetic fallacy the setting mirrors the character s emotions Metaphor: interior or house is dull and dark, like the son s life Pathetic fallacy the setting mirrors the character s emotions Suggests unpleasant and repetitive work Handsome but child-like: suggests

More information

Activity One. The Role of the Supernatural

Activity One. The Role of the Supernatural Activity One The Role of the Supernatural The engine that drives the plot of Hamlet is the belief in the supernatural or spiritual forces as realities. Though there is considerable doubt in the minds of

More information

Act I Scene 1. LITTLE SALLY How about bad subject matter?..or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good.

Act I Scene 1. LITTLE SALLY How about bad subject matter?..or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good. Act I Scene 1 Well, hello there. And welcome - to Urinetown! (Pause) Not the place, of course. The musical. Urinetown "the place" is...well, it's kind of a mythical place, you understand. A bad place.

More information

Is your unconscious mind running the show and should you trust it?

Is your unconscious mind running the show and should you trust it? Is your unconscious mind running the show and should you trust it? NLPcourses.com Podcast 6: In this week s nlpcourses.com podcast show, we explore the unconscious mind. How the unconscious mind stores

More information

Tony, Frank, John Movie Lesson 2 Text

Tony, Frank, John Movie Lesson 2 Text Tony, Frank, John Movie Lesson 2 Text Hi, it s AJ and welcome to part two of the Tony and Frank video. Actually, it s three people, Tony Robbins, Frank Kern and John Reece. We watched part one. Part one

More information