When using a mentor text to discuss a literary device, you want to find a really clear example of that literary device. That’s one reason why The Girl Who Drank the Moon makes such a good novel study, it contains straightforward examples of climax, suspense, foreshadowing, symbolism and irony.
Once again, multiple perspectives is the vehicle for our literary device–irony. By giving the reader access to multiple perspectives, the author allows us (the readers) to understand much that the characters are unaware of. Irony lies in the differences between what the reader knows and the characters know. Here are some examples:
- We know families and elders are wrong about the witch.
- We know Xan is the extra tree mentioned at the beginning.
- We know where the madwoman’s map leads.
- We know that Antain’s scars are a map.
- We know Ignatia is the witch.
- We know that both Luna and Xan are witches, but neither of them is the witch.
There are some other more acute examples of irony. Here are a few:
- While hunting for the witch, Antain injures Xan (who is disguised as a sparrow) then carries her with him and promises to help her recover.
- The actual witch (Ignatia) lives inside the Protectorate, while everyone fears a witch outside of the Protectorate.
- On page 317 Gherland says he is “as sure as the ground under our feet” that life will return to normal. Then the ground begins to shake.
- On page 338 Antain says of Luna, “So…she has taken the form of a girl. Even a tiger can take the skin of a lamb. It doesn’t change the fact that it is a tiger.” He refers to Luna as a tiger, when it is Ignatia who is like a tiger.
Do you teach irony in your reading class? How do you go about it?
This is a series for teachers who are reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill with their students. You’ll read about focusing your novel study around major literary devices found in the book. If you’re looking for activities to go with the book, you can preview my novel study here.
