A surprise is often used to create a thrill, but sometimes it can create . Authors use a device called situational irony that creates an element of surprise or an unexpected twist in the plot of the story. This catches the reader off guard. Situational irony can create other emotions then surprise. Guy de Maupassant uses situational irony to make the reader feel sympathy in “The Necklace.” Also, in “The Ransom of Redchief,” O. Henry creates a humorous feeling to the reader by using situational irony. By reading these two short story it is clear that both authors use situational irony to make the reader feel a different emotion than surprise.
In Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” he creates situational irony that makes the reader
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Henry creates situational irony that creates humor. For example, The Redcheif actually enjoys being kidnapped. Sam asks the Redchief if he wants to go home. He tells the Redchief that he could stay for only a little while. The boy responds, “‘All right’ says he, ‘That’ll be fine. I never had such fun in all my life”’ (41). Usually, kids who are being kidnapped are scared to death. Unlike the Redchief, he is having the time of his life. Also kids who are kidnapped are very nice and obey the kidnappers. The Redchief is the complete opposite. He is extremely mean to Sam and Bill. He is especially mean to Bill. He hurts Bill all the time. Another example of situational irony that creates humor in the story is that the kidnappers pay a ransom rather than receive one. The two kidnappers are reading the letter they got in return; “You bring johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands” (52). Sam and Bill send a letter to Ebenezer Dorset wanting fifteen hundred dollars in return for Johnny. Ebenezer knows that Johnny must be causing the kidnappers trouble and knows that he will get money to take him back. Instead Sam and Bill pay Ebenezer the money and will never return to the town of Summit ever again. Therefore, in O. Henry’s short story “The Ransom of Redchief” he uses situational irony to create a humorous short