What Has It Got in Its Pocketsess?

 View the picture below:

What two literary terms drive the humor in this image?

a. verbal irony and periphrasis
b. alliteration and dramatic irony
c. allusion and pun
d. archetypes and imagery






Scroll down for the answer.




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a. is incorrect - verbal irony requires that something is said.  Nobody talks in this picture.  
b. is incorrect.  While it does seem that there may be some dramatic irony going on, it really doesn't add to the humor.  Plus there is no alliteration whatsoever in this picture.
c. is correct!  It is an allusion to The Hobbit, obviously, but the humor comes in that it is also an allusion to the cartoon series Precious Moments. Allusions are difficult if you are not familiar with the source material being referenced, so you may need to rely on eliminating other answers that you know are incorrect and then choosing from the ones left.  The pun is the word precious, being used by both stories.
d. is incorrect, but is the best wrong answer.  There are archetypes in this picture, but they are not being used for humorous intent.

Somebody Saaaaaaave Me!

 Read this panel from Amazing Spider-Man #162

In this issue, what literary device was writer Len Wein using for (what he thought) was a humorous effect?

a. onomatopoeia
b. visual imagery
c. graphic contrast
d. allusion












Scroll down for the answer.



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a., b., and c. are incorrect.  While all three of these literary devices are used in this panel, none of them drive the humor.  Make sure the answer fits ALL of the question.  A partially wrong answer is a completely wrong answer.
d. is correct since it is a take off on the old Superman cartoons where he would often say, this looks like a job for....(take of glasses, rip off shirt, and say in a deeper voice) SUPERMAN!
Bonus points to anyone who knows what the title is an allusion to.

It takes leadership to confront a nation's fear. It takes friendship to conquer your own.

Read this excerpt from The King's Speech" by King George VI as Great Britain was about to enter WWII and answer the following question:


"Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right, and if this principle were established throughout the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole British Commonwealth of nations would be in danger."


What is suggested by King George's use of the word PRIMITIVE?

a. Germany's pursuit of world domination is the prime reason for Great Britain joining the war
b. Germany's pursuit of world domination is crude and uncivilized
c. Great Britain needs to join the war for the prime reason that their freedom is in danger
d. Great Britain needs to join the war so they can obtain world domination before Germany

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Primitive means most basic and when applied here to civilized countries, King George VI is  calling them basic and uncivilized.  That makes B the correct answer.

Thank you to Ms. Willis from Manteo High School for the question.  Her students should thank her for being the most wonderful teacher in their school and should really consider getting her some Starbuck gift cards for teacher appreciation week.

Mother's Day Takes on a Whole New Meaning...

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus runs away from home after hearing a prophecy that he will do some crazy stuff with his parents.  However, he doesn't know he is adopted and runs straight to his real parents.  Of course he marries his mother unknowingly. What is this an example of?

A. Epic Failure on the level of creation
B. Sarcasm
C. Verbal irony
D. Dramatic irony







Scroll down for the answer.

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Answer- A. Seriously. This must be the inspiration for every Jerry Springer/Maury reality, talk show


D- is the correct answer. The Greek audience knew because of their story-telling traditions who Oedipus was and his “intimate” family connections. They know the plotline, while Oedipus blindly continues his quest for the truth. (Forgive the pun…)

Thanks Aaron, Zane, and Brittany for this question and we'll forgive Mrs. Stamey for the sheep pun (it was baaaaaaad).

We Should All Love Our Mothers

In the play, “Oedipus Rex,” the king is visited by an elderly Messenger from a distant land with important news.

Oedipus- “Never, I will never go near my parents.”
Messenger- “My boy, it is clear, you don’t know what you’re doing.”


Why does the Messenger refer to Oedipus as “my boy?”

A. The messenger knows that Oedipus is male
B. Oedipus is actually a child
C. The messenger thinks that Oedipus is naïve like a child
D. The messenger knows that Oedipus is a Momma’s boy

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Answer- C- Based upon how familiar the Messenger seems to be with the king, the Messenger holds knowledge that the king does not have.


A is irrelevant. B. Typically non-royals do not address Kings in a condescending or familiar manner, unless they have just cause to do so.
D is simply wrong. On multiple levels. Forgive me.



Thanks to Jaxon, Daniel, and Daniel, three guys who love their mothers (not like Oedipus, though...  Ewww!)

Say What You Will, but the Guy Did Love His Mother

Read the passage from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

“A blight on the fresh crops, and the rich pastures, cattle sicken and die, and the women die in labor, children stillborn, and the plague, the fiery god of fever hurls down on the city, his lightning slashing through us- raging plague in all its vengeance, devastating the house of Cadmus!”

What word could replace blight in the passage?

A. Prosperity
B. Disease
C. Blessing
D. Purity










Scroll down for the answer.

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b. is the correct answer - Disease….in the passage everything is negative and dying; therefore, you should look for the one word that has a negative connotation. (A connotation is how you FEEL about a word, not necessarily what it means.)

Thanks Lydia and Kris from Ms. Stamey's class!  You know what else is a blight?  State's basketball program, but you guys probably already knew that since you seem really smart.

Idioms

 Which of the following quotes taken from a movie is an example of an idiom?

a. from: The Avengers
Loki: I am a god, dull creature, and I will NOT be bullied by a ...

b. from: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Kirk: If we play our cards right, we may be able to find out when those whales are being released.

Spock: How will playing cards help?

c. from: Clash of the Titans

Perseus: If I do this, I do it as a man.
Draco: But you are NOT just a man.

d. from: Taken

Bryan: I have a daughter who wants to be a singer. I was wondering if you have any tips for her.
Sheerah: Yeah, I do. Tell her pick another career.

Scroll down for the answer.

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To get this question right, you need to know the definition of idiom:

The term refers to a set expression or a phrase comprising two or more words. An interesting fact regarding the device is that the expression is not interpreted literally. The phrase is understood as to mean something quite different from what individual words of the phrase would imply. Alternatively, it can be said that the phrase is interpreted in a figurative sense. Further, idioms vary in different cultures and countries.

from: http://literarydevices.net/

For all of these, the only one that has a set expression is when Kirk is talking to Spock and says, "play our cards right," so the correct answer is b.