1. Irony
a figure of speech which is a contradiction or incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs.

2. Verbal Irony
Verbal irony is the use of words to mean something different from what a person actually says.
Overstatement – when a person exaggerates the character of something. Understatement – when a person undermines the character of something.
Sarcasm is used to inflict harm (not irony)

3. Dramatic Irony
It occurs when the audience is aware of something that the characters in the story are not aware of.
Installation – audience is informed of something the character does not know about Exploitation – using this information to develop curiosity among the audience Resolution – what happens when the character finally finds out what is going on?

4. Situational Irony
It involves a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
There is a difference between situational irony and coincidence or bad luck.

6. Student examples: decide if these are irony or not

8. In Romeo and Juliet when everyone thought Juliet was dead, but she was on a sleeping potion.

9. Amir has a problem with Baba’s “black and white” view, but Amir also has it.

10. Baba doesn’t pay attention to his son, but has an orphanage built.

11. My 100 lb lab’s name is “Tiny.”

12. I tweeted about how no one really listens to Twitter.

13. A politician supports gun control, then supports prochoice (or the opposite).

14. A fire truck on fire.

15. Hassan points out a plot hole to the Amir.

16. Hassan is good at riddles, but he can’t read.