A&P and Other Stories
Telephone Conversation by William Stafford
PART A: How does the speaker use irony when addressing the landlady and responding to her questions?
- The speaker appears polite in conversation with the landlady when in reality they are making fun of her.
- The speaker goes out of their way to be polite and respectful to the landlady to convince her to rent the property to them.
- The speaker is polite and considerate to the landlady to draw attention to how rude she is being to them.
- The speaker is kind and respectful towards the landlady, hoping that it will cause her to be friendlier towards them.
- “‘I hate a wasted journey — I am African.’ / Silence. Silenced transmission of” ( Lines 5-6)
- “By ill-mannered silence, surrender / Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.” ( Lines 15-16)
- “Flight of fancy, till truthfulness, clanged her accent / Hard on the mouthpiece. ‘WHAT'S THAT?’ conceding” ( Lines 24-25)
- “‘About my ears — ‘Madam,’ I pleaded, ‘wouldn't you rather / See for yourself?’” ( Lines 34-35)
Asked by
zulikha h #992016
Last updated by
jill d #170087
