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EILAND'S ONLINE ENGLISH CLASSES

Grass courtesy of Janet Preslar, FrActivity

Irony

IRONY

• There are several types
• All have a discrepancy or incongruity
• There is a mocking of one item or idea by another
• It is not merely sarcasm, which is a verbal irony that is intended to put someone down

TYPES OF IRONY

• Verbal Irony -- spoken word
• Dramatic Irony -- spoken word or expressed thought
• Situational Irony -- not spoken word

VERBAL IRONY

• Words spoken by character who knows the discrepancy exists -- opposite meaning is intended
• Listener may also be aware of discrepancy
• Often sarcastic in nature
• Most simplistic and least important

DRAMATIC IRONY

• Also spoken word... or may be based on what character thinks-- but it's the discrepancy between what character says and reader knows to be true -- often the "joke" is on speaker
• Often statement is true, but in an unexpected way
• Often Irony revealed elsewhere in story
• More important and insightful than verbal

SITUATIONAL IRONY

• Irony of situation, not linked (necessarily) to spoken word
• Discrepancy between appearance and reality, expectation and outcome, or reality and the way things should be
• Most powerful and complex of ironies

MORE ON HOW TO DETECT IRONY

• Can be used to get ideas across indirectly
• Can be subtle and, therefore, hard to find
• Look for Verbals first and then see if other types become evident
• See Irony II for more...

© T. T. Eiland, January 1998
Last modified: March 12, 2003