Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

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Alive with Alive with IronyIrony

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

The use of words to convey the opposite of The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.appearance or presentation of the idea.

There are three forms of IronyIrony that are most commonly used:

Verbal IronyIronySituational IronyIronyDramatic IronyIrony

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony Verbal IronyIrony

This is when the intended meaning of This is when the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express.that the words appear to express.

In an example, suppose an employee says to his boss in a large meeting with all his co-workers:““Sir, may I say you are as smart as Einstein ever was.”Sir, may I say you are as smart as Einstein ever was.”

But now consider that everyone in the room - except the boss - knows that the employee has a dog named Einstein, and that dog was the real intent of the employee's named reference. This would be IronicIronic, because the boss would believe the employee's statement to be high praise, whereas everyone else would understand the statement for the insult it was meant to be.

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

Situational IronyIrony

Sometimes called Sometimes called irony of eventsirony of events, , Situational Irony Situational Irony is most broadly defined as is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is a situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected, but it incongruous with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a is also more generally understood as a situation that includes contradictions or situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts.sharp contrasts.

An example would be. A man who A man who takes a step aside in order to avoid takes a step aside in order to avoid getting shaken on by a wet dog and getting shaken on by a wet dog and falls into a swimming poofalls into a swimming pool.

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

Dramatic IronyIrony

DramaticDramatic IronyIrony involves the reader involves the reader (or audience) knowing something about (or audience) knowing something about what's happening in the plot, about which what's happening in the plot, about which the character(s) have no knowledge. Dramatic the character(s) have no knowledge. Dramatic IronyIrony can be used in comedies and tragedies, can be used in comedies and tragedies, and it works to engage the reader, as one is and it works to engage the reader, as one is drawn into what is happening. The audience drawn into what is happening. The audience may sympathize with the character, who does may sympathize with the character, who does not know the true situation. Or, the reader may not know the true situation. Or, the reader may see the character as blind or ignorant. The see the character as blind or ignorant. The clues may be rather obvious, but the character clues may be rather obvious, but the character may be unwilling to recognize the truth.may be unwilling to recognize the truth.

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

Example of Dramatic IronyIrony

Romeo and Juliet by William Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. When Romeo Shakespeare. When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, he assumes her to be dead and he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet then kills herself.her, Juliet then kills herself.

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

Example of Dramatic IronyIrony

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles in which Oedipus searches to find which Oedipus searches to find the murderer of the former the murderer of the former king of Thebes, only to king of Thebes, only to discover that it is himself, discover that it is himself, which is known to the which is known to the audience all along.audience all along.

Incorporating Incorporating IronyIrony

How to use Ironyin your writing:

Irony at its best is often used to express an opinion which is considered socially unacceptable or off-kilter. Many times this opinion is one which many people hold but are afraid to express.

For example, Mark Twain once said, "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myselfBut I repeat myself.”

While most people might not feel comfortable making fun of elected officials, Twain was able to present an opinion that many might hold, but are afraid to express.