The lowest animal based on the essay by mark twain
when describing a buffalo hunt Twain writes they had Charming sport how does this dictation and syntax in the rest of the passage reveal the irony of the statement and support your response of evidence from the text
In Mark Twain's essay "The Lowest Animal," the author uses a humorous and satirical tone to display his views on human behavior. In the passage about the buffalo hunt, Twain's dictation and syntax contribute to the irony of his statement and provide evidence to support the idea that the hunt is far from charming sport.
Firstly, Twain's use of words such as "sport" and "charming" to describe the buffalo hunt is ironic because it suggests a pleasant and enjoyable activity. However, the passage that follows describes the savage and ruthless nature of the hunters, portraying them as anything but charming. Twain notes that the hunters kill the buffalo with "enormous guns," take pleasure in shooting at the herds indiscriminately, and even laugh at the suffering animals. This stark contrast between the seemingly lighthearted terms used to depict the hunt and the brutal reality reveals the ironic nature of the statement.
Furthermore, Twain's choice of syntax further highlights the irony. By describing the hunting party's behavior in a matter-of-fact and almost detached manner, Twain accentuates the barbaric nature of the hunt. For example, he states, "After killing buffaloes until they began to get monotonous, we suddenly concluded to vary the monotony by killing something else." The straightforwardness of this sentence, without any moral judgment or condemnation, emphasizes how the hunters treat the act of killing as ordinary and insignificant. This juxtaposition between the detached tone and the cruel actions strengthens the irony of the initially charming sport.
In conclusion, Twain's dictation and syntax in the passage about the buffalo hunt reveal the irony of his statement that it was a charming sport. By using terms such as "sport" and "charming" to describe the activities, Twain sets up an expectation of a pleasant experience. However, through his subsequent descriptions of the ruthless hunters and their merciless actions, he exposes the true nature of the hunt. Twain's matter-of-fact and detached syntax further emphasizes the contrast between the initial characterization and the brutal reality, strengthening the irony of his statement.