IRONY

1. IRONY Mrs. Konradt

2. IRONY…WHAT IS IT? • The term “IRONY” comes to us from the Greek word “eiron”. • This means “the dissembler of speech” • dissembler: A person who gives a false or misleading appearance to; who conceals the truth or real nature of something.

3. IRONY • This is a very apropos definition because irony is simply this: • WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS DIFFERENTLY FROM WHAT IS EXPECTED.

4. IRONY (THREE TYPES) • In class, we deal with three distinct types of IRONY. • SITUATIONAL • DRAMATIC • VERBAL

5. SITUATIONAL IRONY • SITUATIONAL IRONY occurs when events turn out opposite of expected. • With situational irony, we, as the reader, ARE SURPRISED at the outcome of the event.

6. EXAMPLE OF SITUATIONAL • The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, they were both eaten by a killer whale.

7. DRAMATIC IRONY • Saying or doing something while unaware of its ironic contrast with the whole truth. • With DRAMATIC irony, we the reader know something that a character is unaware of. • The CHARACTER is SURPRISED. • EX:A character says, “This is the happiest day of my life,” and the audience knows what the character doesn’t—his family has just died in a plane crash.

8. VERBAL IRONY • Verbal irony is when you say one thing, but really mean something else. • You know what I mean? • Sometimes verbal irony can be sarcasm…but not always.

9. IRONIC IMAGES