Subscribe

8th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 4 of 12

Irony, Satire & Allusion

When words mean more than they say

What your child practices

Telling verbal, situational and dramatic irony apart, spotting how satire uses exaggeration to criticize, and explaining what an allusion to a well-known story adds to a text.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 8.RL.4; 8.RL.6 · irony, satire and allusion

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Verbal irony: saying the opposite of what you mean. Situational: the opposite of what you expect happens. Dramatic: the audience knows what a character doesn’t.
  2. Satire uses exaggeration and humor to criticize something real.
  3. An allusion is a reference to a well-known story or person that adds meaning.

Example: Sana says “Great job” after a friend drops the whole tray. What kind of irony is this? Dropping the tray isn’t a great job. Sana says the opposite of what she means. Answer: verbal irony

Irony, Satire & Allusion in Arizona

In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 12 in 8th grade English Language Arts, after Word Study and before Whose Story Is It?.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Arizona Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What is the author's main purpose?

    Notice from Town Hall

    ATTENTION CITIZENS: To reduce crowding on sidewalks, the Department of Walking now requires all pedestrians to apply for a Walking Permit. Applications take six to eight weeks to process. Until your permit arrives, residents are asked to stay where they are.

    A spokesperson called the system “simple and efficient.” The permit office is open on alternate Tuesdays from 2:00 to 2:15 p.m., on the fifth floor of a building with no elevator.

    • to describe the history of a town
    • to explain how to apply for a real permit
    • to persuade readers to walk more
    • to poke fun at rules that make simple things complicated

  2. Question 2

    A small bakery's court case against a giant chain is called “a David-and-Goliath battle.” What does that suggest?

    • a fight between friends
    • a case that is already finished
    • two equally matched sides
    • a small side facing a much bigger opponent

  3. Question 3

    A cartoon shows a mayor “saving” a park by paving it for parking. What is the cartoonist most likely doing?

    • using a rhyme scheme
    • using irony to criticize a decision
    • describing the park's history
    • foreshadowing a storm

  4. Question 4

    Which techniques does satire often use?

    • rhyme, meter and refrains
    • exaggeration, irony and humor
    • maps, charts and captions
    • dates, names and places

  5. Question 5

    A friend says the free game was a Trojan horse because it hid ads and viruses. What does the allusion suggest?

    • something very popular
    • something very old
    • something very large and slow
    • something that looks like a gift but hides a danger

  6. Question 6

    What does “the underdog had slung its stone” suggest?

    The Underdog

    “It's a David and Goliath matchup,” the announcer said as the Grade 8 team lined up against the high school varsity squad. Nobody expected the Hawks to last a quarter.

    But Priya dribbled around her tall opponent with the calm of a champion, and by halftime the Hawks were ahead. The crowd rose to its feet. The underdog had slung its stone.

    • Someone threw a stone at the crowd.
    • The game had ended in a tie.
    • The team lost badly.
    • The smaller team had a surprising success.

More 8th grade