ISN’T IT IRONIC?Everything You Could Ever Want to Know About Irony

• A literary device in which something is stated, observed, or understood to be different from what it really is.

• There are three different types of irony:– Verbal Irony– Situational Irony – Dramatic Irony

What is irony?

(Next Slide)

VERBAL IRONY• Verbal irony occurs when a character says

something that is discordant with what he or she means.

• Let’s check out a clip from “Futurama” to see what Bender thinks about verbal irony.

Back to Types of Irony

• In the previous clip from Fox’s “Futurama,” Bender tells us that verbal irony is “The use of words expressing something other than their literal intention.”

• There are three types of Verbal Irony– Sarcasm– Hyperbole – Understatement

VERBAL IRONY

SARCASM

• A sharply mocking or contemptuous remark, typically involving statements or implications opposite of the intended meaning.

• Who can give me an example?

• Let’s check out a clip from Disney’s “The Emperor’s New Groove”

HYPERBOLE• Verbal exaggeration used for effect.

• Who can give me an example?

Observe this clip from Fox’s “American Dad.”

understatement• A statement that falls short, in

intensity, of the reality of the situation.

• Who can give me an example?

• Observe this clip from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

Situational Irony• Situational irony occurs when there is

an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

• Who can give me an example?

Back to Types of Irony

• Please Listen to the following clip and write down some of the examples of situational irony. What would be expected in each of these cases? What actually happens?

Situational Irony

Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic”

Dramatic Irony• Dramatic irony occurs when the

audience is aware of everything that’s going on, but the characters are not.

• Who can give me an example?

Back to Types of Irony

Dramatic Irony• Take a look at this comic strip. How does

it exemplify dramatic irony?

SATIRE• So, then how does satire fit in to all of

this?• Satire often uses the types of verbal irony

to point out and make fun of human vice and folly.

• Please listen to the following song and read along on the sheet we’ve provided. How is Weird Al Yankovic using satire?

Weird Al Yankovic’s “Don’t Download This Song”