IRONYLanguage or situations that seem to reverse normal expectations.

VERBAL IRONYWhat is meant is usually the opposite of what is said

“I love your skirt! Where did you get it?” “It was my mom’s in the 80s.”

“That is the ugliest skirt I’ve ever seen.”

VERBAL IRONYis not the same as

COINCIDENCE.

It’s coincidental.

“It’s ironic that she fell down the stairs on the first day of both junior and senior

year!”

NO. IT’S NOT.

SITUATIONAL IRONYWhen the outcome of actions or events is different than the expected or desired results.

The Sixth Sense

SITUATIONAL IRONYAnother example:

DRAMATIC IRONYWhen the audience or reader has a full understanding of a situation while the characters do not.

Modern examples:

Every horror movie ever Pranks on Punk’d

DRAMATIC IRONYClassic example:

Oedipus Rex, by William Shakespeare

The audience is clued in on the fact that Oedipus accidentally fell in love with his mother, but he doesn’t realize it until the very end.

Are the following examples of verbal irony, situational irony, dramatic irony, or are they not ironic at all?

1. I failed the test because I didn’t study.

2. Batman doesn’t know the Joker is waiting for him, but the audience does.

3. The passenger’s airbag killed him when it deployed.

4. “Thanks for the ticket, Officer. You just made my day.”

5. Dave’s blood pressure medication gave him a heart attack.

6. Mr. Freeze: “Let’s kick some ICE!”