Haroun and the Sea of Stories Lesson Plan

When Haroun and Rashid take off on Butt the Hoopoe’s back, Butt reads Haroun’s mind and responds to his thoughts. Upon hearing this, Rashid cries, “That’s unbelievable…. It spoke without moving its beak.” What makes this comedic? What technique did Rushdie use here to create comedy?

Rushdie uses irony here for comedic effect. Rashid has taken much of this strange world in stride, despite all its weird and magical elements. He didn’t bat an eyelash at the concept of riding on a mechanical bird alongside a genie, a gardener creature, and two rhyming fishes covered in many mouths, so it’s unexpected and absurd when he chooses to exclaim over the fact that the Hoopoe can talk...