作者：陈灏君
　　【Abstract】Mark Twain is regarded as the leading figure of American realistic literature in 19th century. He writes humorously and sharply with distinctive wits and profound insights. The short story Is He Living or is He Dead？ written in 1893 is a good example. Although short in length， the devices of irony and paradox are largely used. The essay will answer the key problem “Is he living or is he dead” by analyzing the plots and words from the perspective of irony in the novel.
　　【Key words】ironic language； ironic frame； Mark Twain
　　【作者簡介】陈灏君，昆明理工大学津桥学院。
　　It is universally acknowledged that Mark Twain is a milestone of American literature. Ernest Hemingway completely approves： “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called， Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” （Churchwell， 2011） and William Faulkner’s words， “all of our grandfather”“the father of American literature” （Jelliffe， 1956： 88， 140） are more direct and concise. Even Twain himself was proud of it. In the 1890s in Europe， “he wrote in his notebook： ‘Are you an American？ No， I am not an American. I am the American. ’” （Churchwell， 2011） He deserves such a high opinion， because he is the “authentic American ---- a native writer thinking his own thoughts， using his own eyes， speaking his own dialect-everything European fallen away， the last shred of feudal culture gone， local and western yet continental. ” （Vanderbilt， 1989： 315）
　　Irony has greatly contributed to Twain’s success and then are regarded as his conspicuous styles. Among all his works， the short story “Is He Living or is He Dead？”， is undoubtedly far less famous than “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”， which is called “the Great American Novel”， however， the former， written in 8 years later than the other， displays a more mature humorist.
　　It is hard to apply an universally accepted definition of “irony”， says Fowler， “… definition of irony—though hundreds might be given， and very few of them would be accepted…. ” （Fowler， 2011） Cleanth explains it as the “obvious warping of a statement by the context： it exists only because of the particular context in which a linguistic component resides. ” （Brooks， 1998： 758） Gilles Deleuze and Jean Francios Lyotard go to one extreme and declare that irony corresponds to humour. （Zhao， 2006： 91） Anyway， the core of “irony” is definite that “the surface meaning and the underlying meaning of what is said are not the same”. （Fowler， 2011）
　　In the very beginning of the story， Twain arranges ironic plots， as well as ironic words. “At this retired spot （Mentone） one has all the advantages，， privately…”—A short but powerful slogan， instantly grasping numerous eyes and hearts. Then， a coloured sketch of its natural beauty unfold， where there is “the flooding sunshine， the balmy air and the brilliant blue sea”. The sense of sight， smell and touch are all activated to set up Mentone. What’s more wonderful， there will never be “the marrying additions of human pow-wow and fuss and feathers and display” to interrupt such tranquility and privacy. In a word， “Mentone is quiet， simple， restful， unpretentious； the rich and the gaudy do not come there. ” Trustworthy guarantee is loudly broadcast. What a successful advertisement！ The ideal resort undoubtedly is firmly rooted in the brain！ Nonetheless， in next moment， the tone subtly adjust while saying “（a）s a rule… the rich do not come there. ” Then， an exception follows and the check fails to be cashed immediately， when “（n）ow and then a rich man comes. ” （Twain， 2009： 190） What to trust if promises always change？