1. Types of Irony

2. Irony The difference between what is expected and what actually happens

3. Socratic Irony (named after Socrates) is the feigned ignorance of another’s point of view in order to draw that person out and refute his or her arguments.

4. Example: One that pretends a willingness to learn (I am not sure I understand, would you please explain…) for the sake of exposing an opponent’s errors is a Socratic ironist.

5. Verbal Irony Is a figure of speech in which there is a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant. In speech tone of voice makes ironic intent obvious: “That’s just wonderful!” can clearly mean “That’s terrible!”

6. The writer has to convey irony more implicitly, and so it becomes more difficult for the reader to recognize. Sarcasm is verbal irony that is harsh and heavy-handed rather than clever and incisive.

7. Situational Irony Refers to the contrast between what is intended or expected and what actually occurs. Dramatic Irony is a form of situational irony, involving the audience being aware of a character’s real situation before the character is.

8. If someone writes travel books for a living, you would expect them to love traveling. If someone works all her life to become a doctor, you would expect her to become one instead of a typist.

9. Irony of Fate Is a phrase used to identify the view that fate, destiny, or God, seeking diversion for amusement, manipulates human beings like puppets and thwarts their plans.

10. Thus, it is an irony of fate that pardon is delivered too late to stay on death row, or that Silas Marner recovers his long lost gold after he ceases to have any desire for it.