THE BIG PICTURE

Irony

VerbalIrony

SituationalIrony

DramaticIrony

UNIT OVERVIEW

Big Idea: Change Can Be

Unexpected

1. Irony

2. Essential Questions

3. Perspective

← You will be reading

two stories that are

about the Big Idea.

↑You will be looking at

how irony affects the

story and the

characters.

You will be analyzing

how the characters had

different perspectives

about unexpected

change. ↓

You will be focusing on

two essential questions.

→

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• How do people respond to

unexpected change?

• How do authors use irony to build

mystery, tension, and surprise?

WHAT IS IRONY?

• A Surprise!

• It is the difference between what we expect

to happen, and what actually does

happen.

• It is often used to add suspense and interest.

• It is also used to keep the reader thinking

about the moral of the story.

VERBAL IRONY• The simplest kind of irony.

• You use it everyday when you say one thing and really mean another.

• It is often similar to a sarcastic response.

Example:

• When you appear to be sick and someone asks you if you’re okay. You say “Of course!”

But in the meantime you are vomiting and fainting and have 104 degree fever.

SITUATIONAL IRONY

• Occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of what you thought it would be.

Example:

• The teacher’s daughter is a High School drop out.

• The mayor’s wife gets caught stealing.

• The chef won’t eat his/her own cooking.

• The barber always needs a haircut.

DRAMATIC IRONY

• Occurs when the audience knows

something that the characters in the story,

on the screen, or on the stage do not know.

• This is used to engage the audience and

keep them actively involved in the storyline.

DRAMATIC IRONYCONTINUED…

Example:

• In all of the Friday the 13th movies, we know Jason is in the woods. The characters do not. When they go out into the woods we are afraid for them because we know that they are in danger. We scream for them to run, we get excited when they fall, we cringe when we know that Jason is right behind the tree.

BY ROALD DAHL

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

ROALD DAHL (1916 – 1990)

• Born in Wales in 1916 and loved stories as a young child.

• He was well traveled – story ideas came from his adventures.

• Had 5 children with his first wife.

• Dahl’s first kids book was The Gremlins in 1943. He was 27.

• Dahl’s real (children's) career didn’t start until the 60’s after he had become a father.

DAHL’S CHARACTERS…

Dahl’s stories are modern-day fairy tales. His universe is

one of magical happenings, peopled by

characters who are

obviously good

or obviously bad.

‘THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE LAUGHED SO MUCH HIS TEETH RATTLED TOGETHER LIKE

PENNIES IN A MONEYBOX.’

He uses descriptive language to build

a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.

Dahl presents unusual and

improbable events as ordinary.

‘They all peered down

anxiously at the sharks

who were cruising slowly

round and round the

peach.’

From James and the Giant Peach

FAMOUS CHILDREN’S BOOKS

• James and the Giant Peach

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• The BFG

• Danny, the Champion of the World

• The Twits

• The Witches

• Boy

• Going Solo

• Matilda• The Magic Finger

• Fantastic Mr. Fox

• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

• The Enormous Crocodile

• George’s Marvelous Medicine• The Giraffe and Pelly and Me

• Esio Trot

• The Vicar of Nibbleswicke

• The Min Pins

THE EXTENDED ANTICIPATORY GUIDE

Statement Agree Disagree Explain

Women should make

dinner for their

husbands.

Police officers’ lives

are safer than other

citizens’ lives

Pregnant women need

special, kind treatment

Women should have

interests outside of

their families

Detectives are good at

noticing details

Murderers always get

caught eventually