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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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 8.1.8.1; 8.1.6.2 · irony, satire and allusion, and how modern works draw on older ones

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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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 an allusion?

    • a repeated beginning sound
    • a word that sounds like its meaning
    • a brief reference to a well-known person, place, event or work
    • a comparison that uses like or as

  2. Question 2

    What kind of irony is the ending?

    Dev's Big Day

    Dev had spent a month preparing for the school's Be On Time Award. He set three alarms, packed his bag the night before and left home an hour early. He reached the school gate at 7:15 a.m., ready to be the first one there.

    The gate was locked. A sign taped to it read: “School closed today for Professional Development Day.”

    • dramatic irony
    • situational irony
    • verbal irony

  3. Question 3

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    A coach says, “Our defense is our Achilles' heel.” What does she mean?

    • It is the only part of the team that is injured.
    • It is our greatest strength.
    • It is our biggest weakness.
    • It is brand new.

  6. Question 6

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

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

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