Irony

3 Kinds of Irony

What is Irony?

Irony is about expectations.

Irony: the opposite of what is expected.

3 kinds of irony • Verbal• Dramatic• Situational

Verbal IronyA character says one thing but means the

opposite.

It’s easy to remember by thinking of sarcasm or being sarcastic, but it is not just that. Sarcasm is usually meant to hurt someone, while Verbal irony is not.

ExamplesThe locker room smells really good.Awesome! Another homework packet!

Situational IronyWhen what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected.

Something about the situation is completely unexpected.

Example

Bill Gates uses an Apple computer.

Situational Irony Cont…• An example would be when someone buys a gun to

protect himself, but the same gun is used by another individual to injure him. One would expect that the gun would keep him safe, but it has actually caused him injury.

• There is however a difference between situation irony and coincidence or bad luck.

• When someone washes his car and it rains, that is just bad luck; nothing led him or her to think that it would not rain. However, when a TV weather presenter gets caught in an unexpected storm, it is ironic because he or she is expected to know the exact weather changes.

• For situation irony to occur there has to be something that leads a person to think that a particular event or situation is unlikely happen.

Dramatic IronyWhen the reader understands more about the events of a story than a character.

You, as the reader or audience, know something that a character doesn’t.

Example

Tim’s parents are proud of the “A” he got on the test, but we know he cheated.

Review

Something that is ironic is unexpected.

If unexpected by a character, it’s dramatic.

If unexpected by everyone, it’s situational.

If it’s what someone said, it’s verbal.

Let’s check out The Oatmeal just in case!

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/irony

Getting to know “Cask of Amontillado”

No one attacks me with impunity

*Impunity : exemption from punishment.

In other words, you can’t attack me and expect to get away with it. You’re going down, too.

Topics in Cask…• You add the “what about it” to make it a

theme!• Revenge (what about it?!)• Deception (what about it?!)• Pride (what about it?!)• Foolishness (what about it?!)

There are more! Write them down if you pick up on them.