Irony, contradiction and paradox [Analysis of 2002-2010 GCE 'A' Level questions]

Over the past nine years (2002-2010), Cambridge has asked questions on irony, contradiction and paradox four times.

IRONY/CONTRADICTION

Recap the skills here.

2002

7. Now you have studied the whole article carefully, look again at the opening headline.
Explain what is ironic or contradictory about the headline NO SINGLISH PLEASE, WE ARE SINGAPOREAN. (1 mark)

It is expected that an article that advocates the value of Singlish as a vehicle for promoting national identity would have a headline that encourages Singlish. However, in actual fact, the headline is a request for it to be abolished. As the actual headline contradicts the expected headline, it is ironic.

2004

1.  ‘narrow uniform lives …diversity is the new conformity’ (lines 6-7). Explain the contrast the writer is making here and in what way it is contradictory. [3m]

The contrast is between the similar and limited lives of the people in the past and the varied opportunities of the present generation  (1 mark). The contradiction lies in the fact that the contrast is illusory because people are still leading similar lives – similar in trying to be different.

[Note:This contradiction question is a paradox question - there are two contradictory ideas coexisting. The first mark went towards explaining the contrast. The second mark was not testing your ability to explain the paradox (that was the intention of the third mark). Instead, the second mark was to test your ability to identify the fact that it seems contradictory, but isn't - it's a paradox]

2006

7. Using your own words as far as possible explain why, in paragraph 5, the author claims that fraternity ‘solves the contradiction’ (lines 60-61) of the other two words of the clarion call. [2]

[Note: This question has two requirements - only the first requirement is your typical "explain the irony/contradiction"; the second requires you to identify the relevant point from the passage and paraphrase it]

[Requirement 1]
The other two words of the clarion call are ‘liberty’ and ‘equality’. Liberty, for those who have natural advantages, inevitably means that they will obtain more than others, thus negating the principle of equality [explanation of the contradiction].

[Requirement 2]
However, when people feel kinship towards others [explanation of "fraternity"] they will voluntarily sacrifice their natural superiority for the betterment of those who are underprivileged [explanation of why].

2010

5. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the irony which the author describes in lines 54-55. [2]

It is expected that books advocating eating more will not be placed with those that advocate eating less. However, in actual fact, such books advocating contradictory behaviour are placed in close proximity to each other. As the expected situation contradicts the actual situation, it is ironic.

 

 

PARADOX

2008

7. ‘the only lesson to be learnt from history is that there are no lessons to be learnt from history’ (lines 7-8)
Explain why this is a paradox. [1m]

SKILL: Explain why it APPEARS contradictory but why it ACTUALLY ISN’T.

The statement appears contradictory as one would not expect history to teach us something and nothing at the same time. However, the knowledge that history teaches us nothing is a lesson in itself. Thus, the paradox is that history teaches us something and nothing at the same time. 

OR

The author states that history teaches us nothing. Yet, contradictorily, knowing this is in itself a lesson. Since two contradictory ideas occur simultaneously, it is a paradox.

Paradox practice (Comprehension)

Here’s a blog devoted to paradox.

Task:
For each post in the blog, question: is it really an example of paradox?
For those that are paradoxes,  explain the paradox.

[Note: Refer to this post for techniques on answering paradox questions]

Comprehension practice: Paradox

“The relative nature of status explains the paradox observed in 1974 by an economist called Richard Easterlin that, while rich people are happier than poor people within a country, average happiness does not increase as that country gets richer.”

- Darwinism: Why we are as we are, The Economist

Question:

Explain the paradox that the author refers to.

Mentally Ill Offenders Strain Juvenile System

“We’re seeing more and more mentally ill kids who couldn’t find community programs that were intensive enough to treat them,” said Joseph Penn, a child psychiatrist at the Texas Youth Commission. “Jails and juvenile justice facilities are the new asylums.”

At least 32 states cut their community mental health programs by an average of 5 percent this year and plan to double those budget reductions by 2010, according to a recent survey of state mental health offices.

Juvenile prisons have been the caretaker of last resort for troubled children since the 1980s, but mental health experts say the system is in crisis, facing a soaring number of inmates reliant on multiple — and powerful — psychotropic drugs and a shortage of therapists.

- New York Times

Question:

How far do you agree that our system of dealing with youth crime is flawed?

Comprehension practice: Paradox

Under a plan to reduce the state juvenile inmate population, many youths who once would have been held by the state are now detained by the Los Angeles County juvenile detention system. Los Angeles County is also under a federal mandate to improve psychiatric services for juvenile inmates, especially at the six camps at its Challenger Memorial Youth Center, which holds most of the county’s medium- and high-risk offenders and most of its mentally ill ones.

“We were told that the Challenger camps are, paradoxically, the only camps at which staff are authorized to carry O.C. spray,” wrote federal civil rights investigators in a 2008 report to county authorities, referring to oleoresin capsicum, known as pepper spray. “One supervisor told us that he believed that allowing staff to carry and use O.C. spray made sense given the ‘mental health population.’ ”

- New York Times

“We were told that the Challenger camps are, paradoxically, the only camps at which staff are authorized to carry O.C. spray,”

Explain the paradox in the above statement.

[See this post on how to answer questions on paradox]

Comprehension skills: How to answer questions on irony and paradox

Questions on irony, paradox and metaphors fall under the category of figurative questions.

Essentially, what they require is for one to prove that one knows what these terms mean, in the context of the passage.

Thus, to answer such questions, one would need to

1) Fully understand the meaning of these terms

2) Link this understanding to the context of the passage

So, to address point 1), here’s a compilation of the definitions of these terms, as given by askoxford.com:

irony

• noun (pl. ironies) 1 the expression of meaning through the use of language which normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous effect. 2 a state of affairs that appears perversely contrary to what one expects.

To answer questions on irony:

1) State that it is ironic because <insert definition 1 or 2, as appropriate> (Note: This helps ensure that you pick out the right answer. However, typically, no marks are awarded for this statement.)
2) Show how this definition is applicable in the context of the passage (Note: This is typically where the mark gets awarded).

For example:

“One expects that <insert point from the passage that refers to the expected outcome>. However, in actual fact,  <insert point from the passage that refers to the actual outcome>. Thus, the irony is in the fact that the expected outcome is contrary to the actual outcome.”

paradox

• noun 1 a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that may in fact be true. 2 a person or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.

To answer questions on paradox:

Show that you understand the idea of contradictory ideas coexisting.

1) State that it is a paradox because <insert definition 1 or 2, as appropriate> (Note: This helps ensure that you pick out the right answer. However, typically, no marks are awarded for this statement).
2) Show how this definition is applicable in the context of the passage (Note: This is typically where the mark gets awarded).

For example:

“<insert point from the passage> contradicts <name contradictory point from the passage>, because <state why points are contradictory / why one would not expect both points to be true at the same time / why one might expect the two points to be mutually exclusive>. Despite this, both <former point> and <latter point> are seen to occur. Thus, it is a paradox.”