Isn’t it Ironic

1. Isn’t it Ironic Story of an Hour By Kate Chopin

2. 3 Types of Irony • Situational- What is expected to happen is the exact opposite of what actually occurs. • Verbal- The writer or speaker says one thing, but really means something completely different. • Dramatic- The reader or audience knows something that the characters do not. EXAMPLES- work on handout!

3. Verbal Irony • One hears verbal irony in conversations all the time. It is the most commonly used form of irony. • When someone ends up burning a cake or if the milk spills over and someone says "Oh Great" - one of the simplest verbal irony examples. • When a mother walks into a room and sees that her children, instead of doing their homework, are playing video games, she gives them a stern look and says "Once you're done with your very important work there, let's take some time out for recreation in the form of some chemistry problems."

4. Dramatic Irony To create tension: Alice is engaged to Bob. Bob has made plans to elope with Carole. Alice is unaware of this. The real Dramatic Irony moment comes when Alice goes shopping with her best friend and is sighing over the wedding rings in the jewelery shop, while the audience knows Bob is on his way to the airport to meet Carole. To make the audience cringe on the character's behalf: Alice did really well in the audition for the school play, clearly outclassing her rival, The Libby. But unknown to her, the Libby's mother is in charge of casting. Alice runs up to her nemesis to gloat... meanwhile, the viewers are cringing uncomfortably, because they know that the Libby's about to laugh in Alice's face and get the part that Alice deserved. For comedy- movie- Back to the Future, song from Mulan “I will make a man out of you”

5. Situational Irony Otherwise known as the Irony of Events • A couple appears in court to finalize a divorce, but during the proceeding, they remarry instead. • You buy yourself something after months of saving and then someone gets it for you for Christmas! • To avoid getting wet by the sprinkler you jump to the side thus stepping in a large puddle…ughhhh. Let’s listen to the song----- • <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8v9yUVgrmPY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

6. Journal Entry • “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.” On your paper, make a prediction about what events may follow by continuing the story. Write one half to a whole page.

7. Lit. Response Questions • What is the nature of Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble,” and why would the author mention it in the first paragraph? Is there any way this might be considered ironic? Explain • What kind of relationships do the Mallard’s have? Why does she say “free, free, free” • What does Josephine represent in the story? • The last line of the story “When the doctors…. How is this line ironic? What is gained by the doctors saying this rather than Josephine or Richards? • What view of marriage does the story present? Does it only apply to marriages in the 19th century or could it apply to attitudes about marriage today?