Do Now: Write down your own definition of irony and an example.

Irony

Irony The use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or usual meaning; incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the expected result.

Situational Irony When something happens that is the opposite of what you would expect. For example: A tow truck breaks down. Michael Jordan wearing LeBron sneakers. Dr. Oz getting sick.

Verbal Irony When what is said (by you or a character) is the opposite of what you mean, or the opposite of what is true. For example: “Wow that explanation was as clear as mud.” “I just got a full scholarship to Harvard—no big deal.” Wow! They’re cutting summer down to just one month? That sounds awesome!!!

Dramatic Irony For example:: This occurs when the implications of a situation, speech, etc., are understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play or movie For example:: Watching a hero break free while the villain reveals his or her evil plan When you see the killer in the horror movie creep up behind someone.

Dramatic Irony

Our Focus: Situational Irony When the opposite of what you expect happens: Howard, after working an eight hour shift at the fork factory, walked to the break room to eat his salad. He was dismayed to find he had forgotten his fork. When he went to the silverware drawer, he found only spoons.

What’s not ironic? When, on the one day you cannot be late for school, there is an enormous traffic jam. That’s not ironic. That’s unfortunate. You didn’t expect the opposite to happen, you were just hoping it would. When you were just talking about someone, and you happen to see them the very next minute. That’s not ironic. That’s a coincidence.

Discuss with your Group How did Zusak use irony in his novel?

Phrases A Crash Course

The Basic Rule: A phrase is two or more words without a subject and a verb pairing

Where it gets tricky Both of these are phrases: After lunch After slithering down the stairs and across the road to scare nearly to death Mrs. Philpot busy pruning her rose bushes

There are a few types of phrases Noun phrase Verb phrase Prepositional phrase Infinitive phrase Participle phrase Gerund phrase Absolute phrase

But let’s look at three more familiar phrases more closely Noun phrases Verb phrases Prepositional phrases

Noun Phrases Includes a noun (person, place, or thing) and modifiers that distinguish it (adjectives, etc.) For example: The stolen book A cat that refused to move A great soccer player Are part of sentences like: The stolen book burned Liesel so badly that she had to remove it from under her shirt. Liesel had to step around a cat that refused to move. It was Rudy’s ambition to become a great soccer player.

Verb Phrases This is a multi-word verb to expressed more nuanced action or condition For example: Had cleaned Should have been reading Must wash Becomes part of sentences like: After Rosa had cleaned the clothing, she thoroughly cursed the family that dirtied it. Liesel should have been reading easier books at the start of her education, but she had to work with what she had. Every night, Liesel must wash the spit off of Rosa’s front door.

Prepositional Phrases These start with a preposition and end with the “object” of the preposition For example: On time Underneath the smoldering ashes From eating too much Would be part of sentences like: Liesel would get a watschen if she didn’t arrive at school on time. Liesel pulled the book from underneath the smoldering ashes. Liesel vomited from eating too much.

Symbol a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

Symbolism the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Characters as Symbols Zusak uses his characters to symbolize different camps of thought in Nazi Germany With your group focus on the following adults from the novel: Frau Diller Hans Junior Alex Steiner Ilsa Hermann Hans Hubermann How does each character present a slightly different view relevant to the people of Nazi Germany?

Child Protagonists How does following Liesel’s story instead of one of these adults change the way we read it?