Cynicism Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: SL.9-10.1.D

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Cynicism is when a person generally does not trust the intentions or motives of another person. The cynic will not establish a sense of faith or hope that the person in question is motivated by reasons or emotional that they may have professed. Some characters may seem to lead in this direction often skewing their view of the world. These types of characters tend to feel that people will always act selfishly and in their own best interest. In literature you will find that these types of characters often use sarcasm to express their jaded point of view. The worksheets, that you will find below, will help students explore the use of this technique in the work of others and help them learn to use it in their own narratives.

Cynicism Worksheets To Print:

Cynicism - We look at all of the fundamentals of the concept and technique as it is used in literature.

The Dark Sides - Write each characteristic that is given of a person or thing in the correct box.

True or False - See how much you understand about this topic.

Deep Thoughts - Complete all of the sentences using the words that have been provided.

Elements of a Cynical Character - Identify how the elements of a cynical character listed below appear in the story.

In My Life - You have probably encountered cynicism in your life before. Can you think of an example, maybe of something you have seen on a T-shirt, or a comment you have heard someone make?

Catcher in the Rye - What are your thoughts on Holden Caulfield.

three Concepts - Take your time to differentiate between all of these closely related concepts.

Create a Cynical Character - Explore the steps that will help you achieve this.

Dark Comedy - This usually means that the story revolves around a trageic events or has elements of tragedy.

Satire - We explore the interconnectedness of these topics.

Comic Relief - This is often the motivation as why authors choose to have a character exhibit this nature throughout the story.

The Appeal - Why would you want to have these types of characters in your work?

Anti-Hero - An anti-hero is a lot like a hero, but he is not a traditional "good guy." The anti-hero ultimately does good, but they can be unwilling heroes or even villains.

What I Have Seen - Think back on your experiences. Where have you seen this technique used before.

What Is Cynicism in Literature?

Over the years, cynicism has been associated with sarcasm, a jaded point of view, and distrust. However, if we talk about the initial times, it was a far more optimistic worldview in literature. A group of ancient Greeks who were followers of Socrates' principles and felt that criticizing the existing quo was the path to truth was known as the Cynics—that concept is still alive and well, despite the absence of Cynic literature. Difficult to comprehend? Let us break it for you.


What is It?


Cynicism is a cynical attitude toward the world, particularly against human beings. "Cynics" are individuals who think human beings are fundamentally driven by self-interest and greed, generally negative in their outlook, and skeptical of emotion. You may find an entirely distinct sense of cynicism in ancient philosophy, practically the opposite of what it means now.


The Beginning: The First Cynic


Antisthenes was the first Cynic who set the practice for followers by rehearsing a lifestyle of severe asceticism, renouncing worldly commodities, and living through self-reliance—championed by Transcendentalists Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson many generations later. Due to the difficulty of following the philosophy of self-denial, which was relatively similar to the one founded by Gautama Buddha, most supporters diverged into another philosophy, Stoicism, which is the belief in suffering misfortunes without complaining.


Nietzsche's "The Gay of Science”


Cynicism in literature has a philosophical foundation that includes both anarchy (few human beings can rule themselves) and self-denial (only few can regulate). This resulted in the development of literary genres such as satire and existential literature. Another cynical work by Nietzsche, "The Gay Science," in which he takes on the tale of Diogenes, who wandered about with a lit lantern in the middle of the day looking for a living creature, is an example of this. Nietzsche's Diogenes character is a delusional seeker of God who is forced to announce that God dies at the novel's end.


Shakespeare


Characters in literature who are memorable for their cynicism bear the combined burdens of anarchic thinking and self-denial. Shakespeare's "Othello" begins with the line, "I am nothing if not critical," and then satirically critiques the defects of both himself and the others around him while playing a horrifying scheme to depose his general Othello via jealous rumor spreading. When Iago deviates into nihilism, he foreshadows the natural conclusion of the cynical philosophical school of thought. His response is cynical when pressed for an explanation: "What you know, you know."


Uses in Modern Literature


Although the cynics have long since disappeared from Greek history, their sect was exterminated around 323 B.C. Cynical characters—not jaded misfits but genuine seekers of truth—can still be found in contemporary works such as Charles Frazier's "Cold Mountain," in which Confederate deserter Inman returns home to find his beloved, only to discover, like Nietzsche's madman, that God and truth have completely vanished from his life.


Cynicism was initially used to characterize the way of life of ancient cynics. However, in recent years, the phrase has taken on a new significance in the context of language use. With thoughts and statements, a cynic makes a ridiculing and a violation of fellow human beings, disregarding their moral standards and social customs. Imagine if somebody says, "I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter." Well, that's what a cynic would say.