Twain - Advice to Youth
Twain Against The Grain
Mark Twain is most well known for his humorist approach to his literature, usually utilizing Horatian satire. The use of such light satire allows for Twain to approach realism differently than most conventional speakers would when instructed to deliver a speech to the youth of America. In Advice to Youth, Twain lists six various advice-like statements, to aid youth in their transition into adulthood. The advice goes from the kind one would hear from their parents, such as ‘Always obey your parents’, ‘Be respectful of your superiors’ and ‘Go to bed early, Get up early’. Stretching to a more excessive range from ‘Art of lying’ to ‘Never handle firearms carelessly’, both subjects catching the readers attention. Twain’s use of wit, tone, realism and sarcasm allow the young audience to dismiss his advice as comical and a diversion to what the real idea is of the literature. Twain begins the speech with a serious tone in his writing, a relatable aspect for the older adults who may be indulging in the knowledge brought by Twain. “Being told I would be expected to talk here, I inquired what sort of talk I ought to make. They said it should be something suitable to youth--something didactic, instructive, or something in the nature of good advice.” (Peterson 550) Examining the wording of this segment is what uncovers the real motive behind why Twain was to give this speech. The word choice of didactic, meaning ‘intended to teach, moral instruction as ulterior motive’, shows that Twain was to give a speech instructing the youth what society says they should do and how they should react to situations as an ‘adult’. The tone of this segment is poised and lofty sounding, putting Twain in the role of an elder in the society, as compared to the youths. Mark Twain ends the first paragraph with a contradiction to his earlier quote, “First, then. I will say to you my young friends--and I say it beseechingly, urgingly—“ (550), by calling the audience,
Mark Twain is most well known for his humorist approach to his literature, usually utilizing Horatian satire. The use of such light satire allows for Twain to approach realism differently than most conventional speakers would when instructed to deliver a speech to the youth of America. In Advice to Youth, Twain lists six various advice-like statements, to aid youth in their transition into adulthood. The advice goes from the kind one would hear from their parents, such as ‘Always obey your parents’, ‘Be respectful of your superiors’ and ‘Go to bed early, Get up early’. Stretching to a more excessive range from ‘Art of lying’ to ‘Never handle firearms carelessly’, both subjects catching the readers attention. Twain’s use of wit, tone, realism and sarcasm allow the young audience to dismiss his advice as comical and a diversion to what the real idea is of the literature. Twain begins the speech with a serious tone in his writing, a relatable aspect for the older adults who may be indulging in the knowledge brought by Twain. “Being told I would be expected to talk here, I inquired what sort of talk I ought to make. They said it should be something suitable to youth--something didactic, instructive, or something in the nature of good advice.” (Peterson 550) Examining the wording of this segment is what uncovers the real motive behind why Twain was to give this speech. The word choice of didactic, meaning ‘intended to teach, moral instruction as ulterior motive’, shows that Twain was to give a speech instructing the youth what society says they should do and how they should react to situations as an ‘adult’. The tone of this segment is poised and lofty sounding, putting Twain in the role of an elder in the society, as compared to the youths. Mark Twain ends the first paragraph with a contradiction to his earlier quote, “First, then. I will say to you my young friends--and I say it beseechingly, urgingly—“ (550), by calling the audience,
Cited: Peterson, Linda, John Brereton, Joseph Bizup, Anne Fernald, and Melissa GoldthwaiteNew York, NY: 550-552.