Transcript Unraveling *Irony* in Rod Serling*s Twilight Zone

Mr. Sochocki
Honors English 10 A
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SSR & Log
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Unveil Essential Question
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Into to Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone
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Clip from Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval Documentary
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The New Twilight Zone Intro (1985)
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View Mini-Episode “A Small Talent for War”
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Discussion and Writing Activity
twilight zone
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noun
1: an area just beyond ordinary legal and
ethical limits
2: a world of fantasy or illusion
First known usage dates back to 1908
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World War II Army Veteran (injured in the Philippines)
Awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the
Philippine Liberation Medal
Writing became an outlet for him to deal with his
nightmarish experiences from the war
Wrote for radio and television
Created, hosted, and wrote for The Twilight Zone and Rod
Serling’s Night Gallery
Won numerous awards for his work
Married and had two children
His chain smoking habit most likely contributed to his death
at the age of 50
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Aired from 1959-64 (156 episodes)
Acknowledged by critics as one of the greatest
American television series of all-time
Anthology series that included a wide range of
genres such as drama, fantasy, horror,
psychological thriller, science fiction, and suspense
Tackled social issues in an unconventional way to
avoid being censored or losing sponsors
Famous for its “twist endings”
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Irony: “Irony is a special kind of contrast
between appearance and reality—usually one
in which reality is the opposite from what it
seems. One type of irony, is situational irony,
the contrast between what a reader [viewer] or
character expects and what actually exists or
happens.”
From The Language of Literature Grade 9 page 1134
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXVduN8ISU4
The New Twilight Zone Intro (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFyh4mU6ps
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View Mini-Episode “A Small Talent for War”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbT1fCHOj
fI
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Why is the ending of “A Small Talent for War”
ironic?
This episode aired over 25 years ago during the
Cold War, but is it still thought-provoking
today? Why?
What value does “strangeness” have in
literature, film, and television? Explain.
Mr. Sochocki
Honors English 10 A
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Vocabulary
Quick Recap of Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone,
and the Key Concept of “Irony”
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“I See,” “I Think,” and “I Wonder” Activity
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View the Episode “Eye of the Beholder”
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Writing Activity
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1). Write about the use of irony in the TZ
episode “Eye of the Beholder” in regards to the
view of “beauty.” This is the one with pig
people being “attractive” and “normal” people
being ugly.
2). In the real world, can the “eye of the
beholder” be biased or blind by what it sees?
For example, could this episode’s message be
applied to bullying or any form of
discrimination? Explain.
The young sleuths of Mr. Sochocki’s class will put on
their thinking caps, pick up their magnifying glasses,
and witness a world of illusions turned inside out. The
brilliant Twilight Zone episode “Eye of the Beholder”
will be the vehicle for their learning that will be
culminated by an introspective writing assignment.
Along the way, they will “see” irony and at the same
time will reflect upon the deeper implications at hand,
which can be unsettling to discover.
Ultimately,
students will develop a more sophisticated
understanding of irony that has relevance to their own
lives and may even awaken a more mature attitude
towards others.
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Sharpen their writing skills by producing a
polished and thoughtful paper on the
highlighted concept of irony
Raise awareness on the neighboring concepts
of “suspense” and “inference” too
Dissect the craft of the episode and explain
why it is extremely effective
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Engaging “See, Think, and Wonder” activity
Collaborate and build off of one another’s
insights and ideas
Play detective!
“Open mic” opportunity to share exerts from
their finished product with their classmates
Applause for each volunteer
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Make real life connections to the learning at
hand
Freedom to explore a wide range of topics such
as superficiality, closed mindedness, racism,
sexism, homophobia, diversity, or
socioeconomic status
Unique way to tackle bullying
Goes to the root of what it means to be
different which can be very arbitrary
Remind students of the dangers of smoking