THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Wilde’s Use of Irony & Satire

SITUATIONAL IRONY—  Situational irony occurs when an event that takes place (in a novel, poem, or on stage in a play) produces a completely unexpected outcome.

EXAMPLE OF SITUATIONAL IRONY FROM EARNEST  LADY BRACKNELL: I’m sorry if we are a little late, Algernon, but I was obliged to call on dear Lady Harbury. I hadn’t been there since her poor husband’s death. I never saw a woman so altered; she looks quite twenty years younger.

VERBAL IRONY  Verbal irony occurs when a writer, speaker, or narrator uses words to say one thing when he really means the opposite of what he says. One popular form of verbal irony is sarcasm.

EXAMPLE OF VERBAL IRONY FROM EARNEST  Algernon: Got nice neighbours in your part of Shropshire?  Jack: Perfectly horrid! Never speak to one of them.  Algernon: How immensely you must amuse them!

DRAMATIC IRONY  Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows critical information that a character or characters do not know.

DRAMATIC IRONY FOR EFFECT  What effect does the use of dramatic irony have in Oedipus the King as compared to The Importance of Being Earnest?

EXAMPLE OF DRAMATIC IRONY FROM EARNEST  Miss Prism: Cecily! I am surprised at you. Mr. Worthing rism has many troubles in his life. Idle merriment and triviality would be out of place in his conversation. You must remember his constant anxiety about that unfortunate young man his brother.

IRONY AND SATIRE Oscar Wilde uses irony as a tool to create humor within his satirical drama.

SATIRE  Satire is the use of different elements such as irony, sarcasm, humor, and ridicule to criticize or mock the foolish behavior of others.  Although the use of satire is often entertaining, it is also often used to bring attention to a particular subject and promote change

BRAINSTORM  1. Which aspects of Victorian culture does Oscar Wilde satirize in The Importance of Being Earnest?  2.Which characters and scenes highlight these satirical jabs at Victorian life?