Irony and Ambiguity

Irony Irony Irony Irony is the difference between what we expect and what actually happens. Irony is the difference between what we expect and what actually happens.

Types of Irony There are three types of Irony: There are three types of Irony: Verbal Verbal Situational Situational Dramatic Dramatic

Verbal Irony Verbal Irony: Verbal Irony: Verbal Irony occurs when someone says something but means the complete opposite. Verbal Irony occurs when someone says something but means the complete opposite.

Examples of Verbal Irony Examples of Verbal Irony: Examples of Verbal Irony: When someone says what a good driver you are when you just crashed into them. When someone says what a good driver you are when you just crashed into them. When you thank someone for doing something they didn’t do. When you thank someone for doing something they didn’t do. Note: Verbal Irony can also be called “sarcasm”

Finding Verbal Irony To find the verbal irony, ask yourself, what is really being said? If what the person actually says is not exactly what the person really means, you likely have verbal irony. To find the verbal irony, ask yourself, what is really being said? If what the person actually says is not exactly what the person really means, you likely have verbal irony.

Situational Irony Situational Irony: Situational Irony: Is when the outcome of a situation is inconsistent with what we expect would logically or normally occur. It is the reverse of what we expect will be or happen.

Examples of Situational Irony Examples of Situational Irony: Examples of Situational Irony: A fire station catching on fire. A fire station catching on fire. Bill Gates winning a computer in a contest. Bill Gates winning a computer in a contest. A thief’s house was broken into at the same time he was robbing someone else. A thief’s house was broken into at the same time he was robbing someone else.

Finding Situational Irony To find the situational irony, ask yourself, what were you expecting would happen or what did you expect it to be? If the situation is something different than what we expect would happen or is the opposite, then it is situational irony. To find the situational irony, ask yourself, what were you expecting would happen or what did you expect it to be? If the situation is something different than what we expect would happen or is the opposite, then it is situational irony.

Dramatic Irony Dramatic Irony: Dramatic Irony: Dramatic Irony takes place when the audience or reader knows what is going to happen to a character but the character does not know. Dramatic Irony takes place when the audience or reader knows what is going to happen to a character but the character does not know.

Examples of Dramatic Irony Examples of Dramatic Irony: Examples of Dramatic Irony: A character in a story only wants a quiet evening at home, but the reader knows that there is a surprise party waiting for him. A character in a story only wants a quiet evening at home, but the reader knows that there is a surprise party waiting for him. When a character refuses to go to prom when the reader knows she has won queen. When a character refuses to go to prom when the reader knows she has won queen.

Finding Dramatic Irony To find dramatic irony, ask yourself, what did you already know happened or was going to happen. To find dramatic irony, ask yourself, what did you already know happened or was going to happen.

Ambiguity Ambiguity: Ambiguity: Ambiguity allows something to be interpreted in several different – or conflicting – ways. Ambiguity allows something to be interpreted in several different – or conflicting – ways. Note: There is no way to interpret a story if it is ambiguous.

Examples of Ambiguity Examples of Ambiguity: Examples of Ambiguity: A man says he is an honest person, but lies when his girlfriend asks if her butt looks big. A man says he is an honest person, but lies when his girlfriend asks if her butt looks big. A Pepsi Cola truck picking up a Coca- Cola vending machine to fix it. A Pepsi Cola truck picking up a Coca- Cola vending machine to fix it.