Irony: A Fabulous Example of Dramatic Irony from a Classic Short Story
The concept of IRONY is often a hard one for students to understand. It’s easier to show examples of irony than it is to explain it. The classic short story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson, is a wonderfully funny example of dramatic irony. It is also a good lesson in Point of View and Inferencing. In Beyond Words Learning, we have a complete copy of the story, plus 12 multiple-choice questions, focusing on plot, character, and irony. (See “Charle Short Story and Quiz”)
The story is quite short. It’s about a five-year old boy, but we suggest reading it in sixth grade or up, since younger students may not appreciate the irony and may find the writing style a bit difficult.
The story is told in the first-person point of view by the mother of a five-year old boy named Lawrence (nicknamed Laurie). Laurie has just started kindergarten, and his mother is worried because he is talking a bit “tough” and doesn’t seem so sweet and innocent anymore. She also thinks that another boy in the class named Charles is a bad influence on her own sweet child. Laurie tells her every day about the misdeeds of naughty Charles – Charles throws crayons, interrupts adults, and even says a bad word in class.
Laurie’s mother is eager to go to Parent-Teacher night, mainly because she is curious to meet the mother of this mysterious delinquent Charles. Once there, she cannot find Charles’ mother, but she does chat with the kindergarten teacher.
When the mother asks how her own son Laurie is doing in class, the teacher nervously replies that he has had some adjustment and behavior issues. The mother remarks that his classmate Charles might be the reason for Laurie’s behavior issues. Surprised, the teacher replies, “Charles?
There is no one named Charles in the kindergarten class.” That’s the end of the story. But the conclusion is obvious – and hilarious – for adults and for students who use their inferencing skills. We recommend reading this short story aloud together in case some students don’t “get” the ironic humorous ending.
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