Irony and Ambiguity

1. Irony and Ambiguity Holt Chapter 5

2. Pre test!! • 1. Describe irony in your own words. What are the three types of irony our book describes? • 2. Describe ambiguity in your own words. Give an example.

3. Irony • The difference between what we expect or what seems suitable and what happens. • Example: The health nut who only eats organic foods and lots of fruits/veggies and runs every day dies of heart disease.

4. Types of Irony: Verbal • Verbal irony—the most simple type of irony. It is when someone says something but means the opposite (what Ms. Bozarth does often). • Example: “I know that it is really difficult to put your name and date on your paper, but would you try your hardest to do it every time… pretty, pretty please? • Now—write your own example of verbal irony.

5. Types of Irony: situational • Situational irony—describes an even that is not just surprising but actually contrary from what we expected. • Example: Mother Theresa actually stole money from many of the poor people we thought she had helped.

6. Types of Irony: dramatic • Dramatic irony—this type of irony often occurs in plays, a fact that explains how it gets its name. When we know what is in store for a character, but the character does not know, we are experiencing dramatic irony. • Example: We know that Joey from Friends is listening to Chandler from inside the entertainment center, but Chandler does not know.

7. Alanis Morissette: Ironic An old man turned ninety-eight He won the lottery and died the next day It's a black fly in your Chardonnay It's a death row pardon two minutes too late Isn't it ironic ... don't you think Chorus It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought ... it figures Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye He waited his whole damn life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down he thought 'Well isn't this nice...' And isn't it ironic ... don't you think Repeat Chorus Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a funny way of helping you out when You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up In your face It's a traffic jam when you're already late It's a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break It's like ten thousand 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 A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think... Repeat Chorus Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out Isn’t it Ironic? Well, is it?

8. Ambiguity • Definition of Ambiguous: open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations Ambiguity in stories offers us several conflicting consequences or meanings—and leaves us to sort them out. Example: have you ever wanted the bad guy to win in a story, but at the same time you realize that they are hurting innocent people? You feel mixed up inside? That is an ambiguity in a story. Now—describe a story that you can think of that is ambiguous in meaning or how it makes you feel in some way.

9. Food for thought… • Could ironic or ambiguous endings be the most powerful? Do stories that we can’t quite figure out make us think harder and consider life a little bit more? • Are these endings powerful because life isn’t clear-cut and is, by nature, often ironic or ambiguous? What do you think?