irony situational irony

Irony

Situational Irony – This is when something happens in a story that is “the opposite of what we would normally expect to happen or would find appropriate” (Holt Literature and Language Arts, Fourth Course 316).

Irony

Situational Irony often creates the surprise ending of a story, or the unexpected twist in a plot. Sometimes it’s humorous, and sometimes it’s not.

A Don Martin cartoon from Mad Magazine

Irony

How is the above cartoon an example of situational irony?

Irony

Dramatic Irony – This is where the reader or audience has information that some or all of the characters do not have.

Irony

Reference.com says this about dramatic irony: “irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.”

Irony

Because of their lack of knowledge, characters may say or do things that are contrary to what a situation would ordinarily demand. The audience knows what is about to happen, but the characters do not.

Irony

Dramatic irony often generates humor. Much of the humor you see in situational comedies is based on dramatic irony. (The entire premise of Three’s Company is based on dramatic irony.) However, dramatic irony is not always humorous, as the following example from Romeo and Juliet illustrates.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. The audience knows that Juliet is not dead, but has taken a drug that mimics death. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet then kills herself.

Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?Why?

1. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth plans the murder of Duncan (the king and his brother) whilst feigning loyalty. Duncan does not know of Macbeth’s plans but the audience does.



Dramatic Irony



Dramatic IronyThe audience knows what is going on, but Duncan does not.


Luke: “You killed my father.”

Darth Vader: “No, Luke, I am your father.”




Situational Irony




Situational IronyTo my fourteen-year-old brain in 1980, this

revelation was completely unexpected.


In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello blames Desdemona (his wife) for cuckolding him (being unfaithful to him) but the audience knows that Othello is being deceived by Iago.



Dramatic Irony



Dramatic IronyThe audience knows what is going on, but Othello does not.


In front of DEMOCRACY, she printed WE ARE A. “Now class, say it all together, ‘We are a democracy.’” We said it. Then Miss Gates said, “That’s the difference between America and Germany. We are a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Dictator-ship,” she said. “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Prejudice,” she enunciated carefully. “There are no better people in the world than the Jews, and why Hitler doesn’t think so is a mystery to me.”


“Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was—she was goin‘ down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her—she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson, they were gettin‘ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home—”


The two excerpts above from To Kill a Mockingbird, represent dramatic irony. The reader can see Ms. Gates’ prejudice and hypocrisy, but Ms. Gates cannot.

irony situational irony – this is when something happens in a story that is “the opposite of...

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