Bellwork: 11/12/12

Take out a sheet of paper and title it “Comparing Literature: The Ransom of Red Chief & Brer Rabbit and Brer Lion.

Copy the following objectives:To evaluate the effectiveness of an

author’s use of exaggeration, comic language, & verbal & situational irony to create humor in writing

2. To compare and contrast elements of humor between a folktale & short story

“BRER RABBIT & BRER LION” (PAGE 575)

AND

“THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF” (PAGE 579)

OBJECTIVES :1 . TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS

OF AN AUTHOR’S USE OF EXAGGERATION, COMIC LANGUAGE,

& VERBAL & SITUATIONAL IRONY TO CREATE HUMOR IN

WRITING2. TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST

ELEMENTS OF HUMOR BETWEEN A FOLKTALE & SHORT STORY

Ms. Walker

Comparing Literature: Elements of Humor

1. Comic Language: the use of nonsense words where they don’t belong

Pun: a play on words; using words in the wrong context for some type of effect (single words, phrases, idioms, familiar analogies, etc.)

Some authors create words for comic effect. He said he was so tired that he felt like

a Tickeria.

2. Verbal Irony: a contrast

between what is said &

what is actually meant

(sarcasm)

3. Exaggeration/Hyperbole: the use of overstatement for comic effect

4. Situational Irony: a situation that is the opposite of what we expect or what seems appropriate

“Oh! The Irony!” Which element of humor is being used?

Comic Language, Verbal/Situational Irony, or Exaggeration?

The Senator hit the ceiling when he read the headlines.

He’s so thin that if he turned sideways, he would disappear.

It (the cold weather) stabbed like a driven nail.A teenager waits patiently to take his/her

driving portion of his/her driver’s license exam, but during the exam, hits a car from behind

Sam said, “Nick played a great game; he struck out three times.”

Carla called the child “Grace” after she tripped over the toy.

Which element of humor is being used?Comic Language, Verbal or Situational Irony, or

Exaggeration?The Senator hit the ceiling when he read the

headlines. (Exaggeration)He’s so thin that if he turned sideways, he would

disappear. (Exaggeration)It (the cold weather) stabbed like a driven nail.

(Exaggeration)A teenager waits patiently to take his/her driving

portion of his/her driver’s license exam, but during the exam, hits a car from behind. (Situational Irony)

Sam said, “Nick played a great game; he struck out three times.” (Verbal Irony)

Carla called the child “Grace” after she tripped over the toy. (Comic Language: Pun)

HOMEWORK: 11/12/12Review your notes on elements of humor. If you have access to the internet, look up additional examples of each. Select one of the four types of humor and create a comic strip that represents that type of humor. Use color in your comic strip.

Bellwork: 11/13/121. Pass up your homework.

2. On a sheet of paper answer the question below: (You may use yesterday’s notes.)

Which element of humor is represented in the picture? Explain your answer.

Read the comic strip. Explain how it illustrates the term “flip flop” as a pun.

The mom says, “I found your other sandal.”

The son replies, “The irony is that it’s a flip flop.”The use of “flip flop” indicates

the act of falling as well as the type of shoe.

Read “The Ransom of Red

Chief” by O. Henry. (page 579)

As you read, look for examples of Exaggeration,

Comic Language (Pun), and Verbal & Situational Irony.

Homework: 11/13/12 Finish reading “The Ransom…Chief.” (pages 580-

593)Answer the questions below in complete

sentences.1. Page 590, 2nd paragraph: How does Bill exaggerate his tortures?2. Page 591, Letter to the kidnappers from Ebenezer Dorset: How does the letter represent Situational Irony? (Consider the following questions: What would you expect the father of a kidnap victim to say? What does this father say?)

Bellwork (11/14/12) Place your homework on your desk. On a sheet of paper, head it correctly & title

it “Brer Rabbit…” Draw the chart below:

Elements of Humor

“Brer Rabbit & Brer Lion”

Exaggeration

Comic Language

Situational Irony

Homework Review:Which element is represented in each

statement(s) below and how do you know?1. Page 590, 2nd paragraph: How does Bill exaggerate his tortures?

2. Page 591, Letter from Ebenezer Dorset: How does the letter represent Situational Irony?

Bill exaggerates his tortures by comparing himself to a martyr and claiming he endured

“supernatural tortures.”

The letter represents Situational Irony because one would expect a father of a kidnap victim to be desperate to retrieve his child. Instead he asks the kidnappers to pay him to take the child back.

1. Which element of humor does the picture represent? How do you

know?Comic

Language Pun

(horse vs. hoarse)

2. Which type of irony does the comic strip illustrate?

3. Explain how the comic strip uses exaggeration.

• (Situational irony) He studied very hard but forgot everything.

• The idea of the character’s brain jumping from his head represents the use of exaggeration. This could not happen.

4. “‘PowerPoint’ POISONING” is an example of which element of humor?

Explain your response.

(Comic Language) There is no such condition as PowerPoint poisoning.

“Brer Rabbit & Brer Lion” (page 576)

an African American folk tale (a trickster tale)

The narrator speaks directly to

readers speaks with dialect

and comic exaggeration that helps create a personality as distinctive as those of the two animal characters

from Brer Rabbit and Brer Lionretold by Julius Lester

Brer Rabbit was in the woods one afternoon when a great wind came up. It blew on the ground and it blew in the tops of the trees. It blew so hard that Brer Rabbit was afraid a tree might fall on him, and he started running.He was trucking through the woods when he ran smack into Brer Lion. . . .“What’s your hurry, Brer Rabbit?“Run, Brer Lion! There’s a hurricane coming!”

Brer Lion got scared. “I’m too heavy to run, Brer Rabbit. What am I going to do?”“Lay down, Brer Lion, lay down! Get close to the ground!”Brer Lion shook his head. “The wind might pick me up and blow me away.”“Hug a tree, Brer Lion! Hug a tree!”“But what if the wind blows all day and into the night?”“Let me tie you to the tree, Brer Lion. Let me tie you to the tree.”Brer Lion liked that idea. Brer Rabbit tied him to the tree and sat down next to it.

After a while, Brer Lion got tired of hugging the tree.“Brer Rabbit? I don’t hear no hurricane.”

Brer Rabbit listened. “Neither do I.”

“Brer Rabbit? I don’t hear no wind.”

Brer Rabbit listened. “Neither do I.”

“Brer Rabbit? Ain’t a leaf moving in the trees.”

Brer Rabbit looked up. “Sho’ ain’t.”

“So untie me.”

“I’m afraid to, Brer Lion.”

Brer Lion began to roar. He roared so loud and so long, the foundations of the Earth started shaking. Least that’s what it seemed like, and the other animals came from all over to see what was going on.

When they got close, Brer Rabbit jumped up and began strutting around the tied-up Brer Lion. When the animals saw what Brer Rabbit had done to Brer Lion, you’d better believe it was the forty-eleventh of Octorerarry before they messed with him again.

Numbered Heads Together Short Answer Questions (**2 pts. on the LEAP)

Remember the following: Use TTQA (Turn The Question Around) Answer in a complete sentences. Use correct end punctuation and capitalization. Answer the question correctly.Remember the Numbered Heads Together process:

Write your own answer. When instructed, all group members should lean toward one

another and begin discussing your answer choices. When all members agree on only one answer, stop discussion and

lean back. I will stop the group discussions (if they are still occurring) and

select a group member to answer the question as well as explain HOW he/she found the answer.

If a member does not/cannot provide the correct answer OR explanation, the next group has a chance to answer and explain.

Elements of Humor

“Brer Rabbit and Brer Lion”

1. Exaggeration(second to last

paragraph)

2. Comic Language

(second paragraph)

Situational Irony

The lion’s roar shook the earth.

“trucking through the woods”

A small, weak rabbit outsmarts a big,

strong lion.

Homework (11/14/12) Complete the chart below by writing one example of each element of humor from

“The Ransom of Red Chief.” (pp. 580-593)

Elements of Humor

“The Ransom of Red Chief”

Exaggeration

Comic Language

Situational Irony