The Ransom of Red Chief - Cornell Notes

September 17-18, 2015

Students completed Cornell Notes (two column notes) on irony with the use of the text "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry (click the title to be redirected to the text). While reading, students identified irony and participated in class discussion on how clever the Henry executes the use of irony, making for an entertaining and hilarious story. The notes are as follows. Please read the text and record the notes provided. After reading the text and taking notes, write a summary demonstrating your understanding of the notes.

What is irony?

•   Events that contrast with what is typically expected

What is a prediction?

• An educated guess as to what will happen next

Elements of irony

•   “There was a town down there, as flat as a flannel-cake, and called Summit, of course.”
• Instead of running away from the kidnappers, the boy fights back.
• The citizens on Summit are expected to be “undeleterious”, however the boy is not.
• The boy is asked if he would like to return home, he declines stating “I never has such fun in all my life.”
•  Bill is admittedly afraid of the boy.
•  From the mountain, Sam observed no one searching for the boy in town, which he did not expect.
• Sam threatens the send the boy home due to his treatment of Bill and the boy pleads with Sam to allow him to stay.
•  After being sent home by Bill, the boy finds his way back to the kidnapper’s hideout.
• The boy’s father writes a reply to the ransom letter requesting that the men pay him $250 to take the boy off their hands. He also advises them to bring him at night because the neighbors believe he is lost and the neighbors may bring them harm for bringing him back.
• The kidnapper’s pay the father $250 to take his son back.