Irony

Irony: the opposite of what you might expect to happen

Three Types of irony: Dramatic Irony: When the reader or audience knows more about the events of a story than a character.

Dramatic Irony Example The most obvious example of this is when the young lady in the slasher flick doesn’t realize that the guy in the hockey mask with the meat cleaver is hiding behind the hot tub—but we do.

Dramatic Irony Example Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet then kills herself.

Dramatic Irony Example If you’re watching a movie about the Titanic and a character leaning on the balcony right before the ship hits the iceberg says, "It's so beautiful I could just die," that’s an example of dramatic irony.

3 Types of Irony Situational Irony: When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.

Situational Irony Example The Psychic Friends Network went bankrupt due to “unforeseen circumstances.” It's raining and you don't want to get wet. You open an umbrella and walk into the rain only to discover that there is a hole in the umbrella and you get soaking wet.

In 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Dorothy goes to a wizard to fulfill her wish to go home before discovering that she had the ability to go back home all this while. The Scarecrow longs for intelligence only to discover that he is a genius, just as the Tin man longs to be capable of love only to discover that he has a heart. Similarly, the Lion who at first seems to be a coward, turns out to be very courageous.

3 Types of Irony Verbal Irony: A character says one thing but really means the opposite; aka, sarcasm.

Verbal Irony Examples “I can’t wait to start writing these forty-seven reports.” “My walk home was only twenty-three blocks.” The simple comment, "Oh Great" after something rotten happens is verbal irony.

The movie Shrek is a perfect example when it comes to verbal ironies The movie Shrek is a perfect example when it comes to verbal ironies. The little spats that Donkey and Shrek keep having are really the best way to understand this figure of speech. Donkey: Can I stay with you? Please? Shrek: Of course. Donkey: Really? Shrek: NO.

Coincidence is Not Irony As George Carlin and others have pointed out, sportscasters, particularly baseball announcers, have an irony problem. Many of them simply don’t understand what the word means. Usually they mistake coincidence for situational irony. For example, an announcer might say, “It’s ironic that Stubby McGillicutty broke the single season RBI record in Anaheim where Angel great Jackie Fullcup, whose record McGillicutty broke, spent his entire career.” No. IT’S COINCIDENTAL.

Which Type of Irony? State whether the following are examples of verbal irony, situational irony, dramatic irony or not ironic in any way. 1. “Oh, great! It’s raining and I forgot my umbrella.”

2. I failed the test because I did not study.

3. Dave’s blood pressure medication gave him a heart attack.

4. Batman doesn’t know that the Joker is waiting for him, but the audience does.

5. Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly SLO are both located in California.

6. The box of airdropped humanitarian aid landed on the refugee and killed him.

7. I missed the job interview because I overslept.

8. “Thank you for this ticket, Officer. You just made my day.”

9. Three celebrities died in three separate plane crashes yesterday.

“Ironic” An old man turned ninety-eight He won the lottery and died the next day It's a black fly in your Chardonnay It's a death row pardon two minutes too late And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye He waited his whole life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down he thought "Well isn't this nice..."

A traffic jam when you're already late A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife It's meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife