Understanding Irony: Types and Examples

1. Irony • The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. • 3 Types: • Situational • Verbal • Dramatic

2. Situational Occurs in a situation when the result you expected is completely different than the end result. Examples: ·The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge "Water, water, every where,And all the boards did shrink ; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink."

3. One of the best irony examples in literature is in The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy only realizes at the end of the novel that she possesses the ability to go back home, the Scarecrow who wants a brain realizes that he is extremely intelligent, the Tin man realizes he already has a heart and the Lion realizes that he is bold and courageous.

4. Verbal • When the literary meaning of a sentence is contrasted to the meaning it is intended to have. • Verbal irony is most common in our culture and most often heard in the form of sarcasm, though not true literary irony. It can be through sarcasm, hyperbole, understatement or even, rhetorical questions. • Again, not 100% accurate as literary irony or dramatic irony because verbal irony is always intentional.- it is necessary for the listener to have a basis of cultural knowledge in order to understand this type, again why this does not constitute as true literary irony. • For example, that was as much fun as a root canal- if you never experienced a root canal, you may not realize that a root canal, is, in fact, not at all fun.

5. More examples: Another good example from a Shakespearean play is from Macbeth. In Act 2, Lennox, in a conversation with Macbeth, talks about the events of the previous night which could not be categorized as anything but weird, to which Macbeth replies with a seemingly affirmative observation, "Twas a rough night." While Lennox is not able to grasp the full meaning of the statement, as a reader, you know that it is loaded with irony and is in reference to the murder of Duncan.

6. Dramatic Irony When there is disparity (difference or inconsistency) in what is said by the speaker and what is understood by the listener. Generally used to create suspense in a situation. The reader knows something the characters do not . Examples: Old horror movies where the woman is going into the basement when the view knows the killer is there. * Most Shakespeare plays: Romeo and Juliet, audience knows Juliet has taken a sleeping potion and is faking her death. Romeo and every one else believes she is dead.

7. Irony is often used in popular media and literature, but is one of the most misused figures of speech. It is important to note that true irony is not necessarily coincidences, (or irony needs to be specified: verbal, situational, or dramatic) Especially after the release of the song Ironic

8. Many misinterpret “irony” it is a bit more sarcastic *Alanis Morissette describes various life situations followed by the verse “ Isn’t it ironic?” and “ Don’t you think?” Problem: Most, if not all, of the verses attempting to portray irony do not constitute as literary irony. “rain on your wedding day” would be a coincidence or bad luck, not ironic.  A traffic jam when you’re already late A no-smoking sigh on your cigarette break It’s like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife It’s meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think?

9. “A traffic jam when you’re already late A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break It’s like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife It’s meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think?” These would be more unfortunate situations rather than defined as ironic. If you had 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife in the employee break room of a dinner service factory or a butcher shop…that would be ironic

10. So, • *Not every coincidence, curiosity, or paradox is irony • *A paradox, something that seems to contradict itself is not true irony. • *Irony requires an opposing meaning between what is said and what is intended. An instance where something should occur or happens where it really should not occur or where is should not happen.

11. War to prevent war when large amounts of money are spent to relieve poverty, and poverty increases