A A LessonLesson in Irony in Irony

Lesson Objectives for StudentsLesson Objectives for Students

1)1) Define the three different kinds of irony. Define the three different kinds of irony.

2)2) Look at examples of music and poetry and discuss Look at examples of music and poetry and discuss how irony is used in music to communicate an idea, how irony is used in music to communicate an idea, theme, or create social commentary. theme, or create social commentary.

3)3) Through a choice of written activities, use irony to Through a choice of written activities, use irony to express your own ideas and opinions about a subject.express your own ideas and opinions about a subject.

We have discussed how literature is a way for writers to share a message with the reader. Just how are the authors we will be studying getting their message across? Irony is just one of the writing tools an artist uses to sharpen his or her point.

We begin with a few We begin with a few questions…questions…

What are some of the cultural functions and/or purposes of literature and music?

What are the possible intentions of artists when they create popular (or not so popular) musicfor an audience ?

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony

Produced when the audience’s or reader’s Produced when the audience’s or reader’s knowledge of events surpasses that of knowledge of events surpasses that of the characters. The words and actions the characters. The words and actions therefore, take on a different meaning for therefore, take on a different meaning for the audience/ reader than for the the audience/ reader than for the characters.characters.

A few examples:

• Shakespearean soliloquies

• Romeo and Juliet

• Common technique used in horror movies

Situational IronySituational Irony

A discrepancy between the expected and A discrepancy between the expected and the actual state of affairs; a contradictory the actual state of affairs; a contradictory or badly-timed outcome of events as if in or badly-timed outcome of events as if in mockery of the fitness of things. Simply, mockery of the fitness of things. Simply, the unexpected happens.the unexpected happens.

A few examples:

• A firefighter’s house burns down

• Stories with a surprise ending like old Twilight Zone episodes

Verbal IronyVerbal IronyThe use of words to express something The use of words to express something

other than (and especially the opposite other than (and especially the opposite of) the literal meaning. Especially the of) the literal meaning. Especially the humorous use of praise to imply humorous use of praise to imply condemnation or contempt.condemnation or contempt.

A few examples:

• “You are as a candle, the better burnt out.” –Henry IV, part 2

• Sarcasm: saying the opposite of what you really feel in an attempt to be funny or illicit a response

““Ironic” by Alanis Ironic” by Alanis MorissetteMorissette

An old man turned ninety-eightAn old man turned ninety-eightHe won the lottery and died the next dayHe won the lottery and died the next dayIt's a black fly in your ChardonnayIt's a black fly in your ChardonnayIt's a death row pardon two minutes too lateIt's a death row pardon two minutes too lateAnd isn't it ironic... don't you thinkAnd isn't it ironic... don't you think

ChorusChorus It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paidIt's a free ride when you've already paidIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeWho would've thought... it figuresWho would've thought... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to flyMr. Play It Safe was afraid to flyHe packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbyeHe packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbyeHe waited his whole damn life to take that flightHe waited his whole damn life to take that flightAnd as the plane crashed down he thoughtAnd as the plane crashed down he thought"Well isn't this nice...""Well isn't this nice..."And isn't it ironic... don't you thinkAnd isn't it ironic... don't you think

[ repeat Chorus][ repeat Chorus]

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on youWell life has a funny way of sneaking up on youWhen you think everything's okay and everything's going rightWhen you think everything's okay and everything's going rightAnd life has a funny way of helping you out whenAnd life has a funny way of helping you out whenYou think everything's gone wrong and everything blows upYou think everything's gone wrong and everything blows upIn your faceIn your face

A traffic jam when you're already lateA traffic jam when you're already lateA no-smoking sign on your cigarette breakA no-smoking sign on your cigarette breakIt's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knifeIt's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knifeIt's meeting the man of my dreamsIt's meeting the man of my dreamsAnd then meeting his beautiful wifeAnd then meeting his beautiful wifeAnd isn't it ironic...don't you thinkAnd isn't it ironic...don't you thinkA little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...A little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...

ChorusChorus It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paidIt's a free ride when you've already paidIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeWho would've thought... it figuresWho would've thought... it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on youLife has a funny way of sneaking up on youLife has a funny, funny way of helping you outLife has a funny, funny way of helping you outHelping you outHelping you out

Let’s Review-What is Let’s Review-What is Irony?Irony?

Irony is an implied discrepancy, or gap, between Irony is an implied discrepancy, or gap, between what is said and what is meant. Also applies to what is said and what is meant. Also applies to situations where there is a gap between what situations where there is a gap between what is expected and what actually happens.is expected and what actually happens.

Sometimes as cultural observers and

participants we are expected to bridge that

gap.

““Sleeping In” by The Postal Sleeping In” by The Postal ServiceService

Last week I had the strangest Last week I had the strangest dreamdreamWhere everything was exactly how Where everything was exactly how it seemedit seemedWhere there was never any Where there was never any mystery of who shot John F. mystery of who shot John F. KennedyKennedyIt was just a man with something to It was just a man with something to proveproveSlightly bored and severely Slightly bored and severely confusedconfusedHe steadied his rifle with his target He steadied his rifle with his target in the centerin the centerAnd became famous on that day in And became famous on that day in NovemberNovember

Don't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on sleeping in

Again last night I had that strange dreamAgain last night I had that strange dreamWhere everything was exactly how it seemedWhere everything was exactly how it seemedWhere concerns about the world getting Where concerns about the world getting warmerwarmerThe people thought they were just being The people thought they were just being rewardedrewardedFor treating others as they'd like to be treatedFor treating others as they'd like to be treatedFor obeying stop signs and curing diseasesFor obeying stop signs and curing diseasesFor mailing letters with the address of the For mailing letters with the address of the sendersenderNow we can swim any day in NovemberNow we can swim any day in November

Don't wake me I plan on sleeping Don't wake me I plan on sleeping Don't wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on sleeping in

Activities in IronyActivities in Irony

Pick two people from “Richard Cory’s Pick two people from “Richard Cory’s Funeral Characters”. Write a eulogy Funeral Characters”. Write a eulogy for the funeral or a letter in the for the funeral or a letter in the character of the two people you character of the two people you chose. Essentially you are filling in chose. Essentially you are filling in “the gap” in information left by his “the gap” in information left by his suicide. How might your characters suicide. How might your characters be able to explain why Richard killed be able to explain why Richard killed himself?himself?

Whenever Richard Cory went down town, Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at himWe people on the pavement looked at him He was a gentleman from sole to crown, He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed,And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talkedAnd he was always human when he talked But still he fluttered pulses when he said,But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich—yes, richer than a king— And he was rich—yes, richer than a king— And admirably schooled in every grace; And admirably schooled in every grace; In fine we thought that he was everything In fine we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Richard Cory by Simon Richard Cory by Simon and Garfunkeland Garfunkel

They say that Richard Cory owns one They say that Richard Cory owns one half of this whole town,half of this whole town,

With political connections to spread his With political connections to spread his wealth around.wealth around.Born into society, a banker's only child,Born into society, a banker's only child,He had everything a man could want: He had everything a man could want: power, grace, and style.power, grace, and style.

Chorus:Chorus:But I work in his factoryBut I work in his factoryAnd I curse the life I'm livingAnd I curse the life I'm livingAnd I curse my povertyAnd I curse my povertyAnd I wish that I could be,And I wish that I could be,Oh, I wish that I could be,Oh, I wish that I could be,Oh, I wish that I could beOh, I wish that I could beRichard Cory.Richard Cory.

The papers print his picture almost The papers print his picture almost everywhere he goes:everywhere he goes:Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Cory at a show.Cory at a show.And the rumor of his parties and the And the rumor of his parties and the orgies on his yacht!orgies on his yacht!Oh, he surely must be happy with Oh, he surely must be happy with everything he's got.everything he's got.

Repeat ChorusRepeat Chorus

He freely gave to charity, he had the He freely gave to charity, he had the common touch,common touch,And they were grateful for his And they were grateful for his patronage and thanked him very patronage and thanked him very much,much,So my mind was filled with wonder So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read:when the evening headlines read:"Richard Cory went home last night "Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head.“and put a bullet through his head.“

Repeat ChorusRepeat Chorus