There’s a lot to be said for seeing irony, foreshadow, and satire playing out on the screen versus just reading about it. My visual students really thrive when they see it in action. And since all my students secretly love watching kids’ movies, it’s a win-win when I show these clips.

(This is the second post of this kind. Click here to check out my original post. )

Ratatouille

Situational Irony

Really the entire movie since the main plot involves a rat cooking, but I think this particular clip shows it best. The rat even washes his hands before he expertly maneuvers around the kitchen.

Dramatic Irony

We know the rat is controlling the human, but no one else does. This scene is perfect because the female chef is clearly shocked by the man’s behavior since she has no idea he’s being controlled by the rat.

Tangled

Situational Irony

It’s a song and dance scene, but it’s funny because of the irony: the scary barbarians/Vikings actually have a soft spot when it comes to their personal dreams.

Verbal Irony

Same scene as above. The name of the rowdy bar with lots of fights is The Snuggly Duckling.

Internal Conflict

This clip shows it so clearly and repeatedly that it is one of my go-to clips. Rapunzel just left the room she’d been locked in her whole life. She’s overwhelmed by both the freedom and guilt she feels.

Inside Out

Situational Irony

I have two for this one. The first is the entire theme of the movie about allowing yourself to be sad so you can be happy again (in the most basic of explanations). This clip is long so I start it at 2:30 and let it play to the end. It shows Joy realizing Riley was really sad about missing the shot during her game which made her family and team rally around her to cheer her up. Happiness doesn’t exist without sadness.

The second is Disgust’s comment about not talking to the cool kids because they want them to like Riley. (play 2:00-2:28 if you’re strapped for time and just want to play the specific scene)

Verbal Irony

Mindy Kaling’s personality for Disgust is perfect! Her tone seeps with sarcasm. I couldn’t find the clip on YouTube, but Disgust suggests as they review daydreams about the new house that they just live in the smelly car since they have been in for so long already. With a perfectly disgusted (and ironic) tone as only Kaling can.

Dramatic Irony

This is the dinner table scene after Riley’s first day of school. Mom is gently probing about her day and Dad is checked out. The humor in this scene only works because the characters have no idea what is going on inside each other’s heads (the dramatic irony). I usually get a few laughs from the students on this one as well. An added bonus – there’s a touch of verbal irony in Riley’s response to her mom about the hockey team tryouts the next day.

Internal Conflict

This clip literally shows the different thoughts in Riley’s head fighting over whether or not to eat a grape that fell on the floor.

LEGO Movie

Foreshadow

This clip is a little long, but again the students like it. The last 30 seconds shows Emmet about to touch the Piece of Resistance. As he is reaching for it there are quick images of characters who appear at the end of the movie and a voice-over basically explaining how it will all end.

Satire

It’s at the beginning of the movie where Emmet is getting ready for work. This movie scene shows Emmet doesn’t do anything without first consulting the directions. He’s told how to live every aspect of his life and he blindly follows – a satire as to how some people follow the crowd and don’t think for themselves which allows others to nefariously control them.

Dramatic Irony

Lord Business is showing off his “relics” which are various everyday products and not in any way special. This clip is amusing for the students and quick. We know what all of these products actually are which makes it funny to hear Lord Business’s misunderstanding of them.

Flashback

It’s a flashback with purpose and a little bit of symbolism/allegory. Wyldstyle explains everything about the master builders and Lord Business when they first get to The Old West. It serves to explain the background to Emmet (and the audience) and it is clearly meant to be a statement about diversity and accepting others who are different. I couldn’t find a clip on YouTube so you’ll have to own the movie to play the clip for this one.

Mean Girls

Satire and Situational Irony

Know your audience when showing this clip and end it at 2:30 when they pull out the Burn Book. The satire is the entire movie as it mocks teen girls in the way they treat each other and where they learn it from. The situational irony comes from the prettiest girls in school pointing out their tiny flaws as if they’re devastating, and only accepting Cady when she admits her own flaws as well. at Georgina’s house for the first time.

The Lorax

Satire

Another song and dance number – but’s so catchy and perfectly satirical! This clip is the opening scene of The Lorax where everyone happily lives in a town without any real nature. It’s a clear statement on how we destroy our perfect world in an attempt to make it more perfect, which actually kills it. I guess there’s some situational irony in there as well!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Satire

I couldn’t find the clip for this one either, but it’s very clear to the students so I like to show it (I own the movie). It’s the opening scene where everyone is at the stores trying to get last-minute gifts. It’s clear no one remembers the true meaning of Christmas and everyone has succumbed to their shallow, materialistic side.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Puns

This movie clip is so cheesy, but I still laugh. Make it a game with the students and see who can identify the most puns! I stop the movie clip after the leek in the boat since they dry up from there.

Shrek

Satire

Really, it’s the whole movie, but I like to show the clip where he rescues Fiona and she’s adamant that Shrek stop and recite poetry. It’s a clear statement about the false expectations we give children when we read them traditional fairy tales.

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