Question

1. how is the storys first - sentence - an exclamation - verbally ironic? what tone does the sentence create? explain. the exclamation shows verbal irony because it is in the contrast between juans reaction of luck and reality of his work. the tone is pitying and dark - humorous. 7. in paragraph 10, what is the narrator really saying about the validity of juans efforts? cite specific words and phrases that are verbally ironic (saying the opposite of what you mean). how does this paragraph add to the storys tone and message? 8. in paragraphs 11 and 12, identify sentences that begin with conjunctions. how does this syntax (sentence structure) add to the narrators tone? 9. what social ills are the target of the satire in this story? what message is the author trying to convey? how does the storys tone contrast with the subject and message? 10. what do you think was the authors main purpose for writing this story? cite evidence from the text to support your answer. do you think satire was an effective way of achieving that purpose? why or why not? by working hard, he quickly reached section e where the job became more interesting, for he could now read and analyze the letters contents. here he could even hope to get hold of his letter, which, judging by the time that had elapsed, had gone through the other sections and was probably floating around in this one. soon his work became so absorbing that his noble mission blurred in his mind. day after day he crossed out whole paragraphs in red ink, pitilessly chucking many letters into the censored basket. these were horrible days when he was shocked by the subtle and conniving ways employed by people to pass on subversive messages; his instincts were so sharp that he found behind a simple “the weathers unsettled” or “prices continue to soar” the wavering hand of someone secretly scheming to overthrow the government. his zeal brought him swift promotion. we dont know if this made him happy. very few letters reached him in section b - only a handful passed the other hurdles - so he read them over and over again, passed them under a magnifying glass, searched for microprint with an electronic microscope, and tuned his sense of smell so that he was beat by the time he made it home. hed barely manage to warm up his soup, eat some fruit, and fall into bed, satisfied with having done his duty. only his darling mother worried, but she couldnt get him back on the right track. shed say, though it wasnt always true: lola called, shes at the bar with the girls, they miss you, theyre waiting for you. or else shed leave a bottle of red wine on the table. but juan wouldnt overdo it: any distraction could make him lose his edge and the perfect censor had to be alert, keen, attentive, and sharp to nab cheats. he had a truly patriotic task, both self - denying and uplifting. his basket for censored letters became the best fed as well as the most cunning basket in the whole censorship division. he was about to congratulate himself for having finally discovered his true mission, when his letter to mariana reached his hands. naturally, he censored it without regret. and just as naturally, he couldnt stop them from executing him the following morning, another victim of his devotion to his work. comprehension check what does juan do when he finds his letter to mariana?

Explanation:

1. The first - sentence's exclamation shows a contrast in Juan's perception, creating a pitying and dark - humorous tone.
2. Analyze the narrator's words about Juan's efforts for verbal irony. Irony adds to the story's satirical tone and message.
3. Identify sentences starting with conjunctions in paragraphs 11 and 12. Syntax can influence the narrator's tone, e.g., by creating a sense of flow or emphasis.
4. Determine social ills targeted by satire, the author's message, and how the tone contrasts. Satire often uses a light - hearted tone to critique serious issues.
5. Infer the author's purpose from the text. Evaluate if satire was effective based on how well it conveyed the purpose.

Answer:

1. The exclamation creates a contrast - based tone of pity and dark humor.
2. Find verbally ironic words/phrases about Juan's efforts; they enhance the satirical tone and message.
3. Identify conjunction - starting sentences; syntax affects the narrator's tone.
4. Social ills are targets; author has a message; tone contrasts with subject/message.
5. Infer author's purpose; evaluate satire's effectiveness.