Example:
“Rather small, “ Noah repeated,sounding very British.
“Rather
a wimp, is he?” said Simon in a different funny voice.
“No, he’s not a wimp, “ I said. “He’s
just small. And he has a funny voice,” I blurted out.
“A funny voice!” Noah said in a funny voice.
“A
funny voice?” said Simon in a different funny voice.
“So he’s a little guy with a funny voice,”
Hester said,
“So what? So what’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing!” I repeated.
“Why
should anything be wrong with him, Hester?” Noah asked her.
“Hester probably wants to molest him,” Simon
said.
“Shut up, Simon,” Hester said.
“Both of you shut up, “Noah said. “I want to know
why Hester thinks there’s something wrong with everybody.”
- "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving
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Explanation:
John Irving vibrantly shows off a flippant tone in this passage because as Noah and Simon are making fun of Owen, they
are doing it with such ease and so well that there is no other tone to describe this passage. While Noah and Simon are making
fun of Owens short stature, funny voice, and weak physique, they do it with a casualness that only comes from years of practice.
Not only are they making fun of Owen, but as Irving blatantly states they are creating "funny voices" for each individual
insult, even one to imitate Owens high pitched squeal. For this passage to have a flippant tone it must have insults that
roll of the tounge and that are quick to respond to other comments, and that is exactly what Simon and Noah do
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