Analysis Lets get the birthday party started
Analysis of “Let’s get the (Birthday) party started” A short story by Dave Barry
Childhood amnesia is a well known fact. Most adults are unable to remember infancy or toddlerhood. Therefore, one wonders whether it is even worth to celebrate a toddler’s birthday. Dave Berry’s short story “Let 's get the (birthday) party started right” is mostly a low level comedy text that uses caricatures, one liners and hyperboles to communicate the idea that planning parties can be very stressful and exhausting, especially with kids, but that it is worth it.
Dave Berry’s short story is mostly a low level comedy text. Low level means that the plot takes priority over characters. “Let’s get the (birthday) party started right” is not focused on the characters and there are no detailed descriptions about who they are. Also, the characters are not what makes the text humorous. It is rather the plot and series of events which make the short story amusing and laughable. “All I know is, the organized activity we had for them was: art. Yes! We invited small children to our house and DELIBERATELY GAVE THEM PAINT.” (Barry) This part is a perfect example where you can see that the plot is humorous and not the characters which would be the toddlers in this case. That is what makes the story low level comedy text.
One essential element of humor that is used to make the short story humorous are caricatures. Caricatures are characters that represent over-exaggerated stereotypes.
Since “Let’s get the (birthday) party started right” is not mainly focused on the characters, there aren’t as many caricatures as in other stories. However, I was able to identify one about toddlers. “Our house was filled with two-year-olds, running, falling, yelling, crying, pooping, etc., each with at least one adult in pursuit, trying to organize the child. “ Obviously not every toddler is like that. The stereotype of an infant is that it screams and yells and makes a lot of noise. However, I have seen kids that were
Childhood amnesia is a well known fact. Most adults are unable to remember infancy or toddlerhood. Therefore, one wonders whether it is even worth to celebrate a toddler’s birthday. Dave Berry’s short story “Let 's get the (birthday) party started right” is mostly a low level comedy text that uses caricatures, one liners and hyperboles to communicate the idea that planning parties can be very stressful and exhausting, especially with kids, but that it is worth it.
Dave Berry’s short story is mostly a low level comedy text. Low level means that the plot takes priority over characters. “Let’s get the (birthday) party started right” is not focused on the characters and there are no detailed descriptions about who they are. Also, the characters are not what makes the text humorous. It is rather the plot and series of events which make the short story amusing and laughable. “All I know is, the organized activity we had for them was: art. Yes! We invited small children to our house and DELIBERATELY GAVE THEM PAINT.” (Barry) This part is a perfect example where you can see that the plot is humorous and not the characters which would be the toddlers in this case. That is what makes the story low level comedy text.
One essential element of humor that is used to make the short story humorous are caricatures. Caricatures are characters that represent over-exaggerated stereotypes.
Since “Let’s get the (birthday) party started right” is not mainly focused on the characters, there aren’t as many caricatures as in other stories. However, I was able to identify one about toddlers. “Our house was filled with two-year-olds, running, falling, yelling, crying, pooping, etc., each with at least one adult in pursuit, trying to organize the child. “ Obviously not every toddler is like that. The stereotype of an infant is that it screams and yells and makes a lot of noise. However, I have seen kids that were
Bibliography: Welsh, Jennifer. "Some Preteens Remember Being 2." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 20 May 2014. ANALYTICAL ESSAY !3