Which line in this excerpt from The Still Alarm by George S. Kaufman demonstrates the use of understatement? ED (crosses up to R
. window—peering out): It's reached the floor right underneath. BELLBOY: Yes, sir. The lower part of the hotel is about gone, sir. BOB (still looking out—looks up): Still all right up above, though. (Turns to boy) Have they notified the Fire Department? BELLBOY: I wouldn't know, sir. I'm only the bellboy. BOB: Well, that's the thing to do, obviously—(Nods head to each one as if the previous line was a bright idea)—notify the Fire Department. Just call them up, give them the name of the hotel— ED: Wait a minute. I can do better than that for you. (To the boy) Ring through to the Chief, and tell him that Ed Jamison told you to telephone him. (To Bob) We went to school together, you know.
Bellboy: yes sir the lower part of the hotel is about gone, sir. would most likely be the answer because he says it in a way that sounds almost as though it is not a big deal while in reality it is. I hope this helps!
In this excerpt from "The Still Alarm" by George S. Kaufman, the line that demonstrates the use of understatement is:
"Yes, sir. The lower part of the hotel is about gone, sir."
An understatement, in literature, is a figure of speech employed to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
While what the Bellboy is saying is a very serious matter (the whole lower part of the hotel is burning), he expresses it with a calmness that feels inappropiate for the situation; as if it was not important at all. Therefore, this line is an understatement.
I actually just did this as a project for my English class. Basically, they both create meaning by telling you of the struggles they went through. In "gumption" Oyster and his boy are dealing with racial injustice. In "to build a fire" he is challenged with surviving in the wilderness in the middle of winter. (hope I helped)
