Exploring the Text

  1. You will doubtless notice that Joy Williams speaks in the second person throughout the essay. Count the instances of the word you and its forms (your, yours, yourself, etc.). What tone does she achieve through this repetition? How do you feel reading the essay, considering the fact that it addresses you directly? Do you sympathize with her perspective? Explain.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: You will doubtless notice that Joy Williams speaks in the second person throughout the essay. Count the instances of the word you and its forms (your, yours, yourself, etc.). What tone does she achieve through this repetition? How do you feel reading the essay, considering the fact that it addresses you directly? Do you sympathize with her perspective? Explain.
  2. Note the details Williams chooses to use at the beginning—such places as a plastics plant, gas stations, video shops, and the like. Identify all of the “place” references. What is their cumulative effect?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Note the details Williams chooses to use at the beginning—such places as a plastics plant, gas stations, video shops, and the like. Identify all of the “place” references. What is their cumulative effect?
  3. Williams writes, “So you entered the age of irony, and the strange double life you’ve been leading with the world ever since” (para. 2). What does she mean by “age of irony” and “strange double life”?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Williams writes, “So you entered the age of irony, and the strange double life you’ve been leading with the world ever since” (para. 2). What does she mean by “age of irony” and “strange double life”?
  4. Why does Williams cast environment in italics in paragraph 2?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Why does Williams cast environment in italics in paragraph 2?
  5. In paragraph 5, Williams writes a response from “you” saying, “We know a lot these days.” What is her intended purpose here? What is the supposed source of the knowledge?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: In paragraph 5, Williams writes a response from “you” saying, “We know a lot these days.” What is her intended purpose here? What is the supposed source of the knowledge?
  6. Select what you think is Williams’s most ironic or most humorous statement. What are its tone and purpose?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Select what you think is Williams’s most ironic or most humorous statement. What are its tone and purpose?
  7. Consider the difference between verbal irony and sarcasm. Where in the essay does Williams’s irony become sarcasm? Is it effective? Why or why not?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Consider the difference between verbal irony and sarcasm. Where in the essay does Williams’s irony become sarcasm? Is it effective? Why or why not?
  8. Of the concerns and issues that Williams mentions, which is the most serious, which the most difficult to address? Why?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Of the concerns and issues that Williams mentions, which is the most serious, which the most difficult to address? Why?
  9. Williams employs italics, quotation marks, and capital letters liberally, and for different purposes. Identify three examples of each, and analyze their rhetorical effect.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Williams employs italics, quotation marks, and capital letters liberally, and for different purposes. Identify three examples of each, and analyze their rhetorical effect.
  10. Williams uses quite a few inverted sentences in this piece. Identify a few, and discuss their rhetorical effect.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Williams uses quite a few inverted sentences in this piece. Identify a few, and discuss their rhetorical effect.
  11. Effective humorists and satirists usually have a very serious point. What is Williams’s serious point? Do you agree with her overall idea? Explain your response.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp - Exploring the Text: Effective humorists and satirists usually have a very serious point. What is Williams’s serious point? Do you agree with her overall idea? Explain your response.