Irony

1. Irony Surprises, Twists, and Mysteries

2. 1. Irony Meaning – When the audience expects something to happen and the opposite occurs. There are three types of Irony. • Verbal Irony • Situational Irony • Dramatic Irony

3. Examples • If a mayor was elected because people thought that he was honest and he gets caught stealing, it would be ironic. • If a floored boxer lifts his head from the ground and says, “I think I’ve got him worried.”

4. 2. Verbal Irony Meaning – Verbal Irony is used when someone says one thing but means the opposite. Example • The big bad wolf tells the three little pigs, “I would love to have you over for dinner.”

5. 4. Dramatic Irony Meaning – When the audience or reader knows what will happen to a character, but that character does not. Example: Horror movies – the young couple goes for a romantic stroll at midnight with a serial killer on the loose.

6. 3. Situational Irony Meaning – An event that is not just surprising, but actually contrary to what the reader or audience should expect. Example: You break a date with your girlfriend so you can go to the ball game with the guys. When you get to the concession stand, you run into your date who is with another guy.

7. Review • After Rick leaves Gina’s office with a stack of work, Gina makes a phone call to a friend to report that she has just won the lottery and will be quitting any day now. • (dramatic irony) • Rick convinces his boss that he can do Gina’s job. The boss fires Gina and tells Rick to do both jobs. • (situational irony) • Rick then thanks his boss and says, “I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” • (verbal irony)