Irony

American LiteratureLebanon City Schools

Irony

• Irony: – The general term for literary techniques that

portray differences between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and intention.

• Three Types:– Dramatic Irony– Situational Irony– Verbal Irony

Verbal Irony

• Words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant.

• In other words, the speaker says something totally different from what he or she means.– This is done intentionally by the speaker– It is meant to create an effect

• You are probably a master of verbal irony without even knowing it!

Verbal Irony• To recognize verbal irony,

you must look at the context of the speech.

• For example:– If someone says “It’s a nice

day” on a beautiful, sunny beach in Hawaii, the statement isn’t ironic.

– If someone says “It’s a nice day” at the bus stop in the pouring rain, the statement is ironic.

Not Ironic

Ironic

Verbal Irony

• More examples:– Your sister spills the last bit of Kool-Aide from

the jug in the fridge. You respond by saying, “Smart move, Einstein!”

– Your mother comes in to find you watching South Park rather than studying. She says, “Don’t let me interrupt your intense study session, but when you finish, please try to get to your math homework”

Verbal Irony?

Dylan and his friend Connor are standing on a street corner when a primer-red 1977 AMC Pacer with a cracked windshield and a big dent in the driver's side fender rolls by, leaving a big cloud of exhaust behind it. "Ha ha," says Dylan, "nice car!"

• Verbal irony?

Verbal Irony

YES!!!!!

Does this really look like a car you’d like

to drive?

Verbal Irony?

As she was walking down the hall, Amber tripped and fell flat on her face. Someone shouted, "Smooth move, Amber!" Verbal irony?

Verbal Irony?

YES!!!!!!!

Do you really think it’s smooth to fall flat on

your face?

Verbal Irony?

• Joey and Steve are watching television and Jessica Simpson (insert pretty actress here) flashes on the screen. Joey says, “Gosh, she’s beautiful!”. Verbal irony?

Verbal Irony

NO!!!!!!!!

Jessica Simpson is considered beautiful

by most people.

Dramatic Irony

• Dramatic Irony: There is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader knows to be true.– In easier terms…the audience (you) knows

what is going on, but the character thinks something completely different is happening.

– Think of this as the “Jerry Springer” type of irony (I’ll tell you why in a second)

Dramatic Irony• Talk shows contain numerous

examples of dramatic irony!– Let’s pretend we’re watching

Maury Povich.• A young man prepares to

propose to his girlfriend. While she is backstage, he tells the audience his plans.

• The young woman thinks she is on the show for a makeover.

• When she comes out, she thinks she is getting a makeover, but the audience knows differently!

Dramatic Irony• Some other examples include:

– Romeo and Juliet:• In the last scene Romeo sees

Juliet and thinks she’s dead. Juliet is just sleeping, and the audience knows this. Thinking his love is dead, Romeo commits suicide.

– Halloween:• The audience always knows

that Michael Meyers is sneaking up on someone, but the victim never knows.

– Dramatic irony is what makes a horror movie a horror movie!

Dramatic Irony?

The story begins with us meeting an alien. This alien travels to earth and is immediately confused by things like cars. He thinks cars are people, and he is afraid the “people” want to hurt him. Dramatic irony?

Dramatic Irony?

YES!!!!!!!!!

The audience knows exactly what cars

are, and they probably find the

alien’s assumptions humorous!

Dramatic Irony?

We meet a young lady in a movie who is totally in love with her boyfriend. We know that her boyfriend is cheating on her, but the young lady does not. Dramatic irony?

Dramatic Irony?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

The audience knows the situation, but the character does not!

Situational Irony

• Situational Irony: When events in the story contradict the expectations of the audience and characters (BOTH).– What does this mean…

• We’re all surprised at the outcome. It could be good or bad, but we are all surprised.

– Consider situational irony the Star Wars form of irony

Situational Irony• Examples:

– Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back.

• In a pivotal scene Darth Vader reveals to Luke Skywalker that he is his father.

• This totally takes the audience and Luke (the protagonist) by surprise.

– This is the perfect example of situational irony!

Situational Irony

• Other examples:– The Sixth Sense:

• At the very end of the film, we find that the psychologist (Bruce Willis) is actually a ghost!

• It is a total shocker (to the audience) when Cole (the little boy) utters those famous words, “I see dead people”