Irony

Example: a fire station burns down Situational: something happens that we wouldn’t expect to happen Definition: a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens Example: a fire station burns down A fire station burns down Bill Gates uses an Apple computer. irony Dramatic: the reader knows something the characters do not Verbal: what is said is different than what is meant In Home Alone, we know that Kevin has planted traps every where, but the thieves don’t! Tim’s parents are proud of the “A” he got on the test, but we know he cheated. “The boy’s locker room smells really good.” “Awesome! Another homework packet, and it’s due tomorrow!”

Identify the following examples of irony as situational, dramatic, or verbal… 1. After unsubscribing to a company’s emails, the company sends you another email to confirm your unsubscribing.

SITUATIONAL IRONY

2. In The Gift of Magi by O. Henry, the wife cuts her hair to sell it in order to have the money to buy her husband a pocket watch chain. Meanwhile, the husband sells his watch to buy the wife a hair accessory.

SITUATIONAL IRONY

3. In Toy Story, human characters are not aware that the toys speak and move while the audience is aware

DRAMATIC IRONY

4. A tree falls on the house of an arborist (one who deals with the preserving and removal of trees).

SITUATIONAL IRONY

5. A man looked out of the window to see the storm intensify 5. A man looked out of the window to see the storm intensify. He turned to his friend and said “wonderful weather we’re having!”

VERBAL IRONY

6. A marriage counselor decides to file for divorce.

SITUATIONAL IRONY

7. In Romeo and Juliet, the former thinks Juliet is dead, but the audience knows that she only took a sleeping potion.

DRAMATIC IRONY

8. In King Lear, the audience knows from the beginning that Lear’s loyal daughter is Cordelia, but Lear does not see this

SITUATIONAL IRONY

9. In literature, Mark Antony’s speech following the assassination of Caesar: Mark Antony’s speech praises the assassin Brutus as an ambitious and honorable man while at the same time condemning him.

VERBAL IRONY

10. In the Truman show, the audience knows the show for what it is, a show. However, Truman only learns this as the movie progresses.

DRAMATIC IRONY