Irony literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem. Many times it is the exact opposite of what it appears to be. 

Why is this ironic?

Irony Situational Verbal Dramatic The opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Verbal The opposite of what is meant is said (sarcasm) Dramatic The reader knows something the character does not

Situational Irony The fire safety lectures were canceled because the screen caught on fire.

Dramatic Irony Scary music in a horror movie only the audience can hear, so we are prepared for what is to come while the characters are not. In Titanic, we know the boat is going to sink. The people on the boat are unaware of the actual dangers the iceberg presents.

You work from six in the morning to six at night doing manual labor. Verbal irony would be if you came home and said “I just had the most amazing day!” A mean sales women is rude to you. You would turn to whoever you are with and say “What a lovely lady she is.”

Accidentally Ironic

What TYPE of irony is this?

Your friend walks into a pile of dog poop and you say “Wow, how lucky are you?”

What does the Pardoner always preach about? Sin of Greed and “The Love of money is the root of all evil” Where is the irony in this?

In church he was a noble ecclesiast. Chaucer’s words And with these relics, any time he found  Some poor up-country parson to astound,  On one short day, in money down, he drew  More than the parson in a month or two, 725And by his flatteries and prevarication  Made monkeys of the priest and congregation.  But still to do him justice first and last  In church he was a noble ecclesiast.

The Pardoner (lines 689-734) Greed, Sloth Compared to Summoner—together they sing a song about lustful love Has yellow waxy hair hanging down on his head thin like rat-tails; has bulging eyeballs; small voice like a goat; no beard Wore a little cap Greed, Sloth Personification of evil; sells holy relics and favors to pardon people form all their sins to ensure purgatory; extorts money from people by preaching against having money; has repulsive physical features; special skill is singing at the offertory to extract money.

So, what is ironic about…  In church he was a noble ecclesiast.

AND So, what is ironic about… His sermons: Sin of Greed “The Love of money is the root of all evil” The purpose of using irony: Is to reveal the serious moral of the story in a light mood.

GROUP WORK: Reader’s Theater Translate the Pardoner’s Tale into a “modern-language” verse adapted to be performed as a Reader’s Theater Make it a shorter version not being far with the following: 5 characters + 1 narrator Irony Allegory Satire Read creatively altogether for 5-10 minutes 9 members: 1 narrator 2 = 1st Roisterer 2 = 2nd Roisterer 2 = 3rd Roisterer 1 = old man 1 = boy

When to Perform? Wednesday: July 31

Excellent Good Needs works Oral Delivery Volume Consistently speaks loudly enough for audience to hear 6-8 pts. Usually speaks loudly enough for audience to hear 3-5 pts. Speaks too soft or loud to hear. 0-2 pts. Oral Deliver Clarity and creativity of revised storyline Words are pronounced correctly and easily understood Most words are pronounced correctly and easily understood Many words pronounced incorrectly, to fast or slow, mumbles Reads with expression Consistently reads with appropriate expression Usually reads with appropriate expression. Reads with little or no expression. Reads in turn Takes turns accurately on a consistent basis. Takes turns accurately on a somewhat consistent basis Takes turns rarely on a consistent basis Cooperation with group Consistently works well with others Sometimes work well with others. Difficulty in working with others.