Isn’t It Ironic?3 Types of Irony

WHAT IS IRONY?Irony: the opposite of what is expected.

– Irony is about EXPECTATIONS.

Three types of irony: 1. Situational2. Verbal3. Dramatic

Situational IronyDefinition: When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected.– Something about the situation is completely

unexpected.

Examples:My neighbor has an extremely large dog named Tiny. A fireman was arrested for setting fires for his company to put out.

Situational Irony

• The opposite of what is expected happens.(video)

Verbal IronyDefinition: A character says one thing

but means the opposite. Sometimes sarcasm.

Examples:•“The locker room smells really good,” I thought as I gagged. •“Awesome! Another homework packet!” the student claimed as he rolled his eyes.

Verbal Irony

• The speaker says the opposite of what they really mean. (video)

Dramatic IronyDefinition: When the reader knows something that a character does not.

Examples:•Tim’s parents are proud of the “A” he got on the test, but we know he cheated.•Alex writes a love poem to Judy but we know that Judy loves Devin.

Dramatic Irony

• The audience knows something the character doesn’t. (video)

In conclusion…• Something that is ironic is unexpected.

– If unexpected by everyone, it’s situational.– If the speaker means the opposite of what is

said, it’s verbal.– If unexpected by a character, it’s dramatic.

• All types of irony can have a humorous, suspenseful, or tragic effect.