Irony

The art of written word is one that few can truly master.  A good author knows the trick to intriguing their audience. There are various literary techniques that writers utilize to get a certain feeling or message across. One of the most popular literary techniques is irony. “Irony in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence or word is actually different from the literal meaning derived”(3). Irony is often used humorously to imply the blatant contrast of the literal meaning being put forth. “The use of irony forces the reader to read deeper and find the real significance of the words and their context”(3).  One poet who commonly incorporated ironic elements in his poems is Robert William Service.  Service uses irony to get a point across to the reader without literally saying that point. Irony forces the reader to really think about what the author is trying to say. By using irony in his work, Service grabs the reader’s attention and forces them to think about what his words really mean. Three of his particularly ironic pieces of work are; My Husbands, the short poem about a young gold digger who eventually feels the karma for her actions, I Have Some Friends, a poem about household friends and My Madonna, a poem about street woman turned Virgin Mary. First, a brief overview of Robert William Service’s life will be provided, so you can get to know the man behind the words. Then two critics of his work; Robert Lowell and Helen Vendler, will be provide two contrasting views on his work. Finally, the three works previously mentioned will be analyzed for their ironic elements, as well as Service’s use of other literary techniques.  

Prior to devouring Service’s words, it is important to have at least the basic understanding of the life Service lived in order to appreciate his work. Robert William Service was born on January 16, 1874 in the city of Preston in Lancashire, England. He was the first of ten children born to his Scottish parents. His father was a banker and his mother a stay at home mom.  He attended the University of Glasgow in 1892 (1). While at the school, his aptitude for English and Literature was apparent. After finishing his schooling, however, Service would initially attempt to follow in his father’s footsteps as a banker. He first worked at the Commercial Bank of Scotland but would immigrate to Canada in 1894 to work for the Canadian Bank of Commerce. He worked at the bank in Whitehorse, Yukon, for eight years (1). It is during this time “he published his first book of poems that was to make him famous, Songs of a Sourdough”, which included some of his most popular works such as “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, “The Law of Yukon”, “The Call of the Wild” and “The Spell of the Yukon.” He found more fame with his publication of Ballads of  a Cheechako, shortly after (1)(2).  It is obvious Service was inspired by his surroundings. He was rather active in the Balkan War effort, working as a newspaper correspondent for the Toronto Star. He also corresponded in France during World War I, as well as worked as an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross. Many of his publications would reflect his travels. While in France he wed Germaine Bougeoin.. Throughout these years, Service continued to write. “Among his later volumes of verse are Rhymes of a Red Cross Man  and Bar Room Ballads”(5). In total, Service penned hundreds of poems, multiple novels, as well as two autobiographical pieces; Ploughman of the Moon  and Harper of Heaven(5). Several of his stories even inspired movie depictions such as Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Roughneck. With his new fortune he relocated his family, now including a daughter, to France. In his early writings, Service was greatly influenced by the Canadian wilderness and the gold rush era. Many of his later works that he penned while in Europe are classified as thrillers. The difference in atmosphere was apparent in his writings. Service always allowed himself to be inspired from his surroundings and experiences. He even used heart complications to inspire him to pen a health book (2). During his thirties, Service became interested in the Marxist movement in Paris and began writing about labor. He even went on two trips to the Soviet Union, the latter of the two interrupted by the Hitler-Stalin pact. Service was force to flee several European countries and relocate his family to Canada after he had mocked Hitler in a newspaper (2). The family moved  once again in 1940, settling in Hollywood, California. After the war, they returned to France. Service would spend the remainder of his final years in Europe, constantly writing, though no works trumped his first publication. Service died of a heart attack on September 11, 1958, but his work continues to capture generations of new readers. His popularity can in many ways be attributed to his ingenious use of the literary techniques (1).