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Stephen Leacock

“Softening the Stones for Children¹

What is the major proposition of the essay? Is it stated clearly in the text? Is it restated? Mark fragment(s) in the text if possible.

How is the main proposition supported? Paraphrase minor propositions.

3. List all the kinds of stories/books for children mentioned in the essay.

4. What is the modem altemative for traditional stories for children mentioned by Leacock? What is his attitude to it and what are his arguments?

5. Is there any concession in the essay?

6. Up to paragraph 31 what regularity in the structure can you notice? What is the modę of development used by Leacock? Mark proper fragments in the text.

7. Give three most effective examples of the use of irony in the text. Mark proper fragments in the essay.

8. Quote three euphemisms from stories for children cited by Leacock and their ‘reałistic’ counterparts.