Irony = the opposite of Wrinkly*

*Sorry, couldn’t resist. Saw it on a t-shirt

English 9

Irony (an overview)

Irony is a storytelling tool used to create a contrast between how things seem and how they really are beneath the surface.

There are three main types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic

It is often used to add suspense and interest.

It is also used to keep the reader thinking about the moral of the story.

Defining Verbal Irony

Verbal Irony: refers to the difference between what a character says and what is meant (usually has the opposite meaning)

Examples: “I’m so happy to be here,” Beth said from the hospital bed.

When you appear to be sick and someone asks you if you’re okay. You say “Of course!” But in the meantime you are vomiting and fainting.

Defining Situational Irony

Situational Irony: when events are contrary to what is expected (we expect A, but B happens)

Examples: The basketball coach asked the 7-foot tall freshman, “What’s

your sport, son?” The young man answered, “wrestling.”

The teacher’s daughter is a high school drop out.

The police chief gets caught stealing.

The chef won’t eat his/her own cooking.

Defining Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony: occurs when the audience knows more

about a situation than the characters do

This is used to engage the audience and keep them actively involved in the storyline.

Examples: When everyone is running around thinking Juliet is dead, but we

know she is just drugged.

In a horror movie, we know the murderer is hiding in the woods. The characters don’t know this and go into the woods. We get emotionally engaged as we anticipate the “horror” of it all.

Practice In the chat, write down which category of irony each of the following fall

under.

1. Weighing in at over eleven pounds at birth earned Josh the nickname Chubs. Still called Chubs McGee, Josh now stands 6’ 6’’ and weighs 175 pounds.

2. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Ernest is not a real character. Jack simply pretends to be Ernest when he is in London. Thus, it is odd when Ernest, appears at Jack’s country home (spoiler, it is another character, Algernon, pretending to be Ernst).

3. The military acronym SNAFU: situation normal, all f***** up