Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 17: Irony Made Understandable

One of the more difficult literary concepts to teach is irony, especially ironic point of view. Not only do students often miss the subtle linguistic clues, they become distracted by the issue of author's intent. Whether it's the classic essay by Jonathon Swift, 'A Modest Proposal,' the stories of Flannery O'Connor, or a well-known poem such as W.H. Auden's 'The Unknown Citizen,' students often have trouble recognizing the discrepancy between the writer and the speaker's viewpoint. By using contemporary music, the teacher enlists a methodology that engages auditory clues, has a recognizable stance, and attracts student interest.