“War Prayer”

Mark Twain

Mark Twainaka Samuel Clemens

• Contemporary-ish of Emerson and Thoreau (born in 1835)

• River boat pilot• Famous works: The

Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• Abolitionist • Satirical master!!

“War Prayer”:

• Mark Twain's reaction to the Philippine-American war (1899-1902), which Twain opposed. After hearing various clergy lead prayers in support of the war, Twain penned what he thought was the unspoken subtext of these preachers' sermons, "The War Prayer.“

• Never published in his lifetime—no one would buy it!

The Philippine-American War: 1899–1902

After its defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spain ceded its longstanding colony of the Philippines to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. On February 4, 1899, just two days before the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, fighting broke out between American forces and Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo who sought independence rather than a change in colonial rulers. The ensuing Philippine-American War lasted three years and resulted in the death of over 4,200 American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants. As many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine, and disease (US Department of the State, Office of the Historian).

What is satire?

• A work that attacks human vice or foolishness using irony, wit, and sarcasm– “The human race is a race of cowards; and I am

not only marching in that procession but carrying a banner.”

– “I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”

– “The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.”

Let’s head over to our Outmoded Words List:

– Smote: past tense of “smite”; to hit something with a lot of force; to attack, destroy or punish someone

– Supplications: when someone asks for help from someone in high power or from God

Purpose for Reading:1. Identify that which makes “War Prayer” satirical

(consider Twain’s background as well as the time period).• What does Twain think about war? • What Twain’s argument?

2. Identify a “sticky” sentence– As you read, identify (star, underline, etc.) one

sentence that renders your brain useless. – See what strategies you can use to fix meaning, but

don’t spend more than a minute or two there.

**Annotate as you read**

Now…

• Your job is to talk to a peer about that “sticky” sentence.

• Peer, your job is to not explain the sentence, but explain how you made meaning of the sentence.– This will likely take some thinking time– Refer to the strategies on your Reading Tips sheet– Did you look for an antecedent? Reread? Engage

prior knowledge?

Next:

• Complete the multiple choice questions• You MUST use process of elimination as you

go! (No credit unless I see POE!)• Pay attention to which questions are difficult

and why.• 10 minutes

31. D (simile)

• There is not simile in the sentence. Alliteration is seen in “breast burned” (line 3) and “pistols popping” (line 5). Hyperbole is present—”wilderness of flags” (line 8) and “deepest deeps” (line 15) . Ellipsis (intentional omission of words, in this case, the conjunction “and”) is present in “the drums were beating the bands playing, the toy pistols popping” (lines 4-6). Onomatopoeia is in line 5 and “hissing and spluttering” (line 6).

32. E 22

• Until line 22, there is a focus on large groups being physically active in support of the war. Then the focus shifts to a small group expressing quiet feelings about the war.

33. D “a glad and gracious time” (line 23)

• To describe the beginning of war as “a glad and gracious time” is contradictory to the negative image of war and death. The use of “gracious,” meaning pleasantly kind or benevolent is particularly ironic in the context of war.

34. B II only

• It is highly contradictory to wish “sons and brother” “to die.” There is no contradiction in going to church to seek solace before going into battle nor in looking in the Old Testament for a war prayer since there are so many battles described there.

35. A: chiasmus

• There is no chiasmus in the stranger’s speech. Logical appeal is used in lines 88-92, 100-107). Ellipsis is present in line 97 and 112. Rhetorical questions are in lines 96-97 and 112. The analogy is in lines 103-107, in the comparison to praying for rain.

36. C: I and III only

• The carnage of battle is described in lines 127-132, and the plight of civilians in 132-145. There is nothing in the sentence that shows that the terrible destruction is necessary.

37. B: Ironic

• To ask for such horrible destruction and suffering “in the spirit of love” from “the Source of Love” presents a terrible contrast and thus is ironic.

38. A: I only• The congregation is the same group describe in

the first part of the passage as being so excited and eager for war, thus they would view as “a lunatic” any person who pointed out the horrors of war. The “rash spirits” in line 24 were people who disapproved of the war and “cast a doubt upon its righteousness,” so they would not have viewed the visitor as a lunatic. The author’s horrific description of war in the last half of the passage makes it clear that he, too, opposes war, so he would not e view the man as a lunatic.

Look at the questions you got wrong:

• Write down three reasons you got those questions incorrect

Now:

• Let’s go back and reread the passage, looking at this though the lens of satire and argument.

• What might Twain be saying about war?

Advice to Youth

23.E24.A25.C26.D27.B 28.D29.D30.D

23. D I, II,III

• Lines 2-5 show that the speaker knows what is expected of his speech. “Very well” implies that he will offer the expected “good advice.” Lines 7-9 express his concern for youth.

24. A it shows the speaker believes…

• The “when they are present” undercuts and negates the speaker’s previous “obey your parents.” It implies that it is acceptable to disobey parents when they are are not present. The tone of the first paragraph is serious, that of the second is humorous. The instruction to “humor” youths should act on their own judgment. The idea of parents knowing best being a “superstition” shows mockery of society’s precepts. The advice to obey only when parents are present would appeal to the youths who are being addressed.

25. C “violence”

• The phrase “in this age of charity and kindness” describes the “time” which “has gone by.” “For such things” refers to the “violence.” “Dynamite” cannot be the reference since it follows rather than precedes the pronoun

26. D starting the day very early is wise and respectable

• All though the speaker begins saying it is wise “to get up early,” he then mocks this maxim by discussing training a lark not to get up until 9:30. The satiric reference to solving problems with a brick and dynamite is implying the author believes too many people resort to violence. Lines 24-28 mock people who react quickly and with violence only to find out later that there was no real provocation. The speaker lampoons several homilies: “ honor thy parents,” “respect your superiors,” “early to bed early to rise .” “honesty is the best policy,” etc. Lines 24-28 satirize the idea that an apology always excuses a violent, thoughtless action

27. B the truth is very powerful and always triumphs in the end

• The speaker refers to the idea that “the truth is mighty” as “ the most majestic compound fracture of fact” and then gives specific examples of the truth not pervailing. Choice A is found in lines 54-56 and lines 59-60. Choice C is in lines 83-85. Choice D is in lines 61-70. Choice E is in lines 43-45 due to the sarcasm in “ the good and the pure” and then all the historical examples of lies.

28. D I and II only

• The anecdote is about a youth teasing with an unloaded gun that does no harm, which is completely contrary to the warnings about the danger of playing carelessly with guns. Then, the vision of a battle between youths with unloaded guns and “their female relations” further mock society’s emphasis on children with unloaded guns being dangerous. This mocking satire is critical of the over-emphasis of the danger; the speaker is not critical of children playing with unloaded guns, only of society’s obsessive focus on it.

29. D desires his audience to make their own value judgments rather than simply accepting society’s

• The speakers discusses several platitudes often put forth by society—obey parents, tell the truth, rise early, etc.-- then challenges each one, thus rising questions about society’s stated values. The last satiric comment about “how nicely and sharply it resembles everbody else’s” is a hint that he would prefer his audience to make their own decisions rather than simply going along with the crowd. Parents would be appalled by his statement about obeying parents only when they are present, and school officials, usually supportive of society’s precepts, would also bit appreciate many of the speaker’s comments about lies and truth and about respect for superiors

30. D I, II and III

• The speech is well organized, moving smoothly from point to point, and it includes many rhetorical devices—anecdotes, repetiton, rhetorical questions, personal tones, platitudes and specific, concrete examples. The humor and satire are evident. There is figurative language—allusions (line 119 Waterloo), alliteration (line 116 gatling gun) hyperbole (lines 126-127 “an inestimable, an unspeakable”)