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Understatement is a figure of speech used to convey an idea or point by saying less than what is actually meant. In the short storyThe Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry understatement is used frequently. Here are some examples of understatement from the story:
- Bill and Sam introduce themselves as "philanthropists" which implies that they are generous when in fact they are criminals.
- When Red Chief causes chaos in the town Sam remarks "He\'s a regular young Patsy" when in reality Red Chief caused a lot of trouble.
- When Bill and Sam eventually pay the father to take Red Chief back they call it a "small ransom" when in reality it was a large sum of money.
These are just a few examples of understatement used in "The Ransom of Red Chief." O. Henry\'s use of understatement in the story adds a bit of humor to an already humorous story.
In "The Ransom of Red Chief," the personification can be seen when the protagonist describes the town of Summit as being "so quiet and peaceful." This attributes human qualities (quietness and peacefulness) to the town, making it seem alive.
Some examples of exaggeration in the Randsome of Red Chief are:
- The rock was the size of a pottato
- He tried to slice him like baccon
- Bill shook Red Chief until his freckles ratteled
- he put a red hot pottato down my back
- Nobody was draging a creek
- I saw a peacful landscape dotted with one man plowing a dung mule
thats all i found my friend
1. (At the beginning of the story):
"There was a town down there, as FLAT AS A FLANNEL CAKE, and called Summit, of course." (a town as flat as a flannel cake - ie as flat as a pancake is an example of hyperbole/exaggeration because no town could literally be as flat as a pancake - but the author, O. Henry, exaggerates the flatness of the town to emphasise the irony of the name of the town "Summit" - which implies that the town should be hilly or on top of a hill.
2. I went out and caught that boy and SHOOK HIM UNTIL HIS FRECKLES RATTLED. ("shook him until his freckles rattled" is an example of hyperbole. The author uses this phrase to emphasise that he/Sam shook the boy vigorously. The boy's antics had driven Sam and Bill to drastic measures and so he emphasises their annoyance and irritation by painting an exaggerated picture of the boy being shaken - till his freckles rattled).
3. "You know, Sam," says Bill, "I've stood by you without batting an eye in EARTHQUAKES, FIRES AND FLOODS -- in Poker games, dynamite outrages, police raids, train robberies and cyclones. I never lost my nerve yet till we kidnapped that TWO-LEGGED SKYROCKET of a kid. (The hyperbole of "earthquakes, fires and floods" and the metaphor "skyrocket" are used here as a contrast. Bill says that he has stood by Sam throughout almost everything possible and uses exaggeration/hyperbole "earthquakes, fires and floods" etc to emphasise this point and then says that this is nothing compared to dealing with this "two-legged skyrocket of a kid". Obviously, the boy is not a skyrocket but the use of hyperbole in this sentence helps the reader to imagine how wild the boy is and how difficult it is for Sam and Bill to deal with him.)
4. "Sam," says Bill, "I suppose you'll think I'm a renegade, but I couldn't help it. I'm a grown person with masculine proclivities and habits of self-defense, but there is a time when all systems of egotism and predominance fail. The boy is gone. I have sent him home. All is off. There was martyrs in old times," goes on Bill, "that suffered death rather than give up the particular graft they enjoyed. NONE OF 'EM EVER WAS SUBJUGATED TO SUCH SUPERNATURAL TORTURES AS I HAVE BEEN. I tried to be faithful to our articles of depredation; but there came a limit." (The hyperbole here is "None of 'em ever was subjugated to such supernatural tortures as I have been." This exaggeration of the boy's behaviour and claiming that it is worse than anyone has ever experienced emphasises just how difficult they think the boy is to deal with and just how desperate Sam and Bill are to get rid of him.)
5. (At the end of the story when the boy's father is holding him back so Sam and Bill can get away):
"How long can you hold him?" asks Bill.
"I'm not as strong as I used to be," says old Dorset, "but I think I can promise you ten minutes."
"Enough," says Bill. "IN TEN MINUTES I SHALL CROSS THE CENTRAL, SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE WESTERN STATES, AND BE LEGGING IT TRIPPINGLY FOR THE CANADIAN BORDER."
(It's definitely not possible for someone to travel this distance in 10 minutes whether it be by foot, car, train, airplane etc but the hyperbole shows how desperate Sam and Bill are to get away from the boy.)
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What is an example of tautology in the story the ransom of red chief?
somnolent sleepiness is an example of tautology in ransom of red chief
When was The Ransom of Red Chief created?
The Ransom of Red Chief was created in 1910.
Who is the author of the ransom of the red chief?
Ransom of the Red Chief is a short story by O Henry.
What is an example of malapropism in the ransom of red chief?
Sam says "for amoment of apperatiom"
What is capitalized incorrectly Have you ever read the Ransom of Red Chief?
The word the should be capitalized too. It should be ---- Have you ever read The Ransom of Red Chief?
Who are the ransom of red chief characters?
Sam, The Red Chief, and Bill.
What are the release dates for The Ransom of Red Chief - 1911?
The Ransom of Red Chief - 1911 was released on: USA: 15 February 1911
What are some alliteration in the ransom of red chief?
The first is in the title: Ranson of Red Chief.
When was The Ransom of Red Chief written?
1910
Who is is red chief?
There is not a famous person or character named Red Chief. There is a book called, The Ransom of Red Chief, though.
Who is red chief from the ransom of red chief?
The red Cheif is Jonny the boy sam and bill took
What is an example of allusion in Ransom of Red Chief?
An example of one allusion in "Ransom of Red Chief" is "By Geronimo!",(40).
