Irony

A simple way of putting it is that irony usually signals a

difference between the appearance of things and

reality.

IronyIrony

• Situational Irony:Situational Irony: When there is a When there is a contrast between what a reader contrast between what a reader oror character character expectsexpects and what and what actually actually exists or happensexists or happens. .

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational Irony ExampleSituational Irony Example

• When When John Hinckley attempted to attempted to assassinate President President Ronald Reagan, all of his shots , all of his shots initially missed the President; however, a initially missed the President; however, a bullet ricocheted off the bullet-proof bullet ricocheted off the bullet-proof windows of the Presidential limousine and windows of the Presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest. Thus, the struck Reagan in the chest. Thus, the windows made to protect the President from windows made to protect the President from gunfire were partially responsible for his gunfire were partially responsible for his being shot.being shot.

Situational Irony ExampleSituational Irony Example

• In 1974 the In 1974 the Consumer Product Safety Commission had had to recall 80,000 of its own lapel buttons to recall 80,000 of its own lapel buttons promoting "toy safety", because the promoting "toy safety", because the buttons had sharp edges, used lead paint, buttons had sharp edges, used lead paint, and had small clips that could be broken and had small clips that could be broken off and subsequently swallowed.off and subsequently swallowed.

Situational Irony ExampleSituational Irony Example

• Jim Fixx, who did much to popularize Jim Fixx, who did much to popularize jogging as a form of healthy exercise in his jogging as a form of healthy exercise in his 1977 book 1977 book The Complete Book of Running,The Complete Book of Running, died at the age of 52 of a heart attack (a died at the age of 52 of a heart attack (a death associated with sedentary, unhealthy death associated with sedentary, unhealthy lifestyles) while out jogging. lifestyles) while out jogging.

Situational Irony ExampleSituational Irony Example

• Alfred Nobel invented the relatively stable Alfred Nobel invented the relatively stable explosive dynamite essentially to prevent explosive dynamite essentially to prevent deaths (such as in mining work which deaths (such as in mining work which relied on the unstable explosives relied on the unstable explosives gunpowder and nitroglycerin), but his gunpowder and nitroglycerin), but his invention was soon taken up as a weapon invention was soon taken up as a weapon in the Franco-Prussian War, among others, in the Franco-Prussian War, among others, causing many deaths. causing many deaths.

IronyIrony

• Verbal Irony:Verbal Irony: Saying one thing, but Saying one thing, but meaning something else. . . knowingly meaning something else. . . knowingly exaggerating. (sarcasm) exaggerating. (sarcasm)

• Example:Example: Teacher: “I can see from the ‘F’ Teacher: “I can see from the ‘F’ on your paper that you put a lot of effort on your paper that you put a lot of effort into your assignment.” into your assignment.”

Verbal Irony ExampleVerbal Irony Example

“It looks like you put a lot of thought into your outfit. Thanks

for dressing up.”

Verbal Irony ExampleVerbal Irony Example

“Thanks so much!” said the man to the driver of the car.

Verbal Irony ExampleVerbal Irony Example

Verbal Irony ExampleVerbal Irony Example

IronyIrony

• Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony: : The audience or reader The audience or reader knows something another character does knows something another character does not know.not know.

• Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example: We, the : We, the audience, know that there is a surprise audience, know that there is a surprise party for Carlos; however, Carlos does not party for Carlos; however, Carlos does not know and is surprised to find a room full know and is surprised to find a room full of friends when he arrives home.of friends when he arrives home.

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example

Although we, the audience, know Bob is in danger of being shot by Steve, poor Bob does

not know Steve is around the corner.

BOBSTEVE

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example

We, the audience, know the identity of Hannah Montana; yet other characters do not know that

Miley Stewart is actually Hannah Montana.

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example

For some reason, nobody could tell that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person. The cape and

no glasses change his identity.

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example

• In In TitanicTitanic, we know that the ocean liner is , we know that the ocean liner is going to hit an iceberg and sink but the going to hit an iceberg and sink but the passengers and crew cannot know this. passengers and crew cannot know this. Although we know this from historical Although we know this from historical fact, it is not made explicit to the audience fact, it is not made explicit to the audience in the story itself. in the story itself.

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example

• When watching a talk When watching a talk show like show like Jerry Jerry SpringerSpringer, the audience , the audience knows why a person has knows why a person has been brought on the been brought on the show. However, the show. However, the person sitting in the chair person sitting in the chair does not know that he is does not know that he is going to be reunited with going to be reunited with a former lover.a former lover.

Irony Quiz!!

• What kind of irony is present here?– The audience knows something that the character

in the play does not.

• Dramatic!

– Your mother/father tells you, “Of course you aren’t in trouble for totaling my car, no big deal.”

• Verbal!

– You buy yourself something after months of saving and then someone gets it for you for Christmas.

• Situational!

Symbol

• A person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for something beyond itself as well.

• Examples: the American flag symbolizes freedom, liberty, and love for America.

• A wedding band symbolizes_______.• A white flag symbolizes__________.

Symbols in Literature

• Dove = • Peace• Eagle = • freedom, liberty,

strength• Spring = • youth, re-birth, birth,

life

• Autumn = • middle age, maturity• Winter = • death, dying, old age• Water = • birth, re-birth,

renewal, purification

Symbols in Literature

• Rose = • love, beauty• Sunrise = • new start, beginning • Full moon = • danger, bizarre

behavior• Sleep = • death

• Skull = • death• Forest = • place of testing or

challenge• Light = • good, hope, freedom

Symbols in Literature

• Darkness = • evil, magic, fear,

unknown• Red = • anger, passion• Blue = happiness,

peacefulness, sadness, intellect

• Green = • jealousy, wealth,

growth • Black = • death, evil, sin,

holiness • White = • purity, innocence