IRONYFIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Presents two levels of meaning◦ One that we understand◦ One that the character understands

Different Kinds◦ Verbal (sarcasm)◦ Structural Irony

Unreliable Narrator◦ Dramatic◦ Tragic◦ Cosmic

WHAT IS IRONY?

When the speaker intends something entirely different than what is being stated.

Trying to seem a certain way, but really “secretly” meaning it another way.

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

VERBAL IRONY

Example:  Mother comes into the TV room and discovers her 11-year-old watching South Park instead of doing his homework, as he was set to a dozen minutes ago.  Pointing to the screen she says, "Don't let me tempt you from your duties, kiddo, but when you're finished with your serious studies there, maybe we could take some time out for recreation and do a little math."

VERBAL IRONY continued..

Example:  Dad is finally out of patience with picking up after his son, who can't seem to be trained to put his dirty clothes in the hamper instead of letting them drop wherever he happens to be when he takes them off.  "Would My lord please let me know when it pleases him to have his humble servant pick up after him?"

VERBAL IRONY continued..

Example:  "My, you've certainly made a mess of things!" could be said in congratulations to someone who's just graduated summa cum laude, or to a hostess who presents a spectacular dish prepared with obvious care and skill.

VERBAL IRONY continued..

The difference between VERBAL IRONY and SARCASM is that SARCASM intends to upset the other person.

VERBAL IRONY assumes the other person understands what you are really trying to say.

VERBAL IRONY continued..

Come up your own example of Verbal Irony

VERBAL IRONY ACTIVITY

When a character in a story understands something a different way that was intended.

When a character misunderstands

Example: Voltaire’s Candide encounters many evils but always comments obtusely and stupidly upon them, saying “All is for the best.”

STRUCTURAL IRONY

Example In Jonathan Swift’s satire Gulliver’s Travels

(1726) the gullible narrator Gulliver is told horses are superior to men, so he begins to act like a horse.

STRUCTURAL IRONY

Come up with your own example of Structural Irony

STRUCTURAL IRONY ACTIVITY

A Narrator who continually interprets events and intentions the wrong way.

Can you think of a character from a movie or book where the narrator or character was unreliable?

UNRELIABLE NARRATOR

When the audience knows information that a character lacks for comedic effect – Dramatic

When the audience knows information that a character lacks and end tragically – Tragic

DRAMATIC / TRAGIC IRONY

Example: In Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," when

Hester is in the governor's garden to see to it that Pearl is not taken away from her, she asks the Reverend Dimmesdale to support her position. This is an example of dramatic irony as the reader knows that Dimmesdale and Hester are partners in sin, but the characters do not.

DRAMATIC / TRAGIC IRONY

Example Oedipus is a good example of tragic irony,

as the audience knows that he is the one guilty of the crime he seeks to punish.

DRAMATIC / TRAGIC IRONY

Come up with your own example of Dramatic or Tragic Irony in the form of a short story.

DRAMATIC / TRAGIC IRONYACTIVITY

When the characters are led to embrace false hopes of success and then are defeated by some larger force like fate or God.

Example a hapless house-cat is watching out the window

when there is a collision outside between two trucks, one labeled "Bob's Assorted Rodents" and another labeled "Al's Small Flightless Birds. When the cat tries to leave the house to get some “munchies” a gust of wind slams the door closed.

COSMIC IRONY

Example A man is on a voyage home at sea and the

water is calm and the sun is shining. He sees his home in the distance and he knows in a day he will be home. Suddenly a freak storm erupts and sinks the man’s boat.

COSMIC IRONY

Come up with your own example of COSMIC IRONY

COSMIC IRONY ACTIVITY