RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
A1 Gauthier-Trépanier, Camylle
T1 Irony under a teenager's gaze: an analysis of the mechanisms of irony and critical discourse in Les petites reines by Clémentine Beauvais
JF Romanica Olomucensia
YR 2019
VO 31
IS 1
SP 63
OP 78
DO 10.5507/ro.2019.005
UL https://romanica.upol.cz/artkey/rom-201901-0007.php
AB Some psychological and linguistic studies have demonstrated children's ability to identify and understand ironic statements. This ability can be seen in youth literature, where irony is often used by teen characters for numerous reasons. However, there is very little work on irony in youth literature. First, the study seeks to identify the ironic discourse in Clémentine Beauvais' novel Les petites reines, using the work of Philippe Hamon, Wayne Booth, and Linda Hutcheon. In second, an attempt will be made to show the strategies used to integrate ironic discourse into a youth novel. Les petites reines integrates structures and functions of irony as theorized by Hamon, Booth, and Hutcheon, while keeping away from self-mockery, which is often associated with women's humour. The novel also develops different ways of being ironic, such as a form of explained antiphrastic structure which guides the reader in the process of recognizing and understanding irony and does not let them get lost in an ensuing misunderstanding. Beauvais' novel does an efficient job of inciting young readers to question themselves and to play an active part in their reading. In particular, the paper shows that irony can contribute to the development of youthful readers' critical thinking by confronting them with the stereotypes which youth culture, cinema, and literature are full of.