WHAT IS IRONY?

Irony IIt can be funny! IIt’s unexpected. IIt sometimes creates suspense. It’s like Cupid never falling in love.

What is Irony? We have discussed how literature is a way for writers to share a message with the reader. Just how are the authors we will be studying getting their message across? Irony is just one of the writing tools an artist uses to sharpen his or her point.

The Big Picture Irony Verbal Irony Situational Irony Dramatic Irony

Three Types of Irony 1. Verbal irony occurs when we say one thing and mean something else. 2. Dramatic irony occurs when we know something that a character in a book (or a movie or play) doesn’t know. 3. Situational irony is a situation that turns out to be just the opposite of what we’d expect.

Verbal Irony  The simplest kind of irony.  You use it very often when you say one thing and really mean another.  It is often similar to a sarcastic response.  Examples:  “That’s just great,” your friend says in a disgusted tone, and you know she means it’s not great at all.  Your boyfriend shows up in ripped up jeans and a stained t-shirt. With a smirk, you say, "Oh! I see you dressed up for our date. We must be going to a posh restaurant."

Verbal Irony

Situational Irony  Occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of what you expected.  Examples:  The police chief is arrested for burglary.  The firehouse burns to the ground.  The prize encyclopedia goes to the kid who never studied for the exam.

Situational Irony

Dramatic Irony  Occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story, on the screen, or on the stage do not know. It’s like the audience is more aware of what’s going on than the people in the production.  This is used to engage the audience and keep them actively involved in the storyline.  Example:  “Don’t go down that dark hallway!” we want to scream, but the heroine goes anyway, and we know what she will find there.

Dramatic Irony

Review  Irony is a kind of a surprise. It is the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.  Irony is like a glitch, a twist, or a last minute switch in the game. It is an interruption of events that cause an unexpected outcome. There are three types of irony: Verbal, Situational, Dramatic

Which Type of Irony?

Jimmy the Lock was a master safecracker. He could bust open any safe in the world in under an hour using a crow bar, stethoscope, drill, and sledgehammer. No lock could hold Jimmy and that’s why they called him “the Lock.” Now Jimmy was set up to get the score of his life. He had the blueprints all laid out to do a job on an armored car diamond delivery. Gathering up all of his tools and gear, Jimmy headed out the door to meet his contact, Bobby the Rat, but when he got to his car, he couldn’t find his keys. He patted down his pockets before he realized that he must have left them in his other thieving- pants. Jimmy went back to get his keys, but the door wouldn’t open. Jimmy the Lock had locked himself out of his house.

Which Type of Irony?

A mean old man ate a large meal at a restaurant. The waitress tried to provide him with excellent service, but every time she brought him a dish, he complained. First he thought that the soup was too cold when it was hot. Then he said that his steak was dry and chewy, when it was moist and succulent. Then he complained that one of her blonde hairs was in his mashed potatoes, but the hair was actually grey like his own. She remained patient and continued to try to help him until the end of the meal, when he left her a quarter for a tip. She replied on his way out, “Thank you for the generous tip, Mister.”

Which Type of Irony? Irony Example 2

Is this irony?  Someone dreams of a plane crash so they travel by car. Then, the plane they would have taken ends up crashing, killing all passengers.

You try! Make this event an example of irony.  A man bets life savings in a poker game and wins.