Irony

What Is Irony? Dissembling or hiding what is actually the case; not intended to deceive, but to achieve special rhetorical or artistic effects.

Verbal Irony Actual intent is conveyed by words that mean exactly the opposite (i.e. using “I could care less” to mean “I couldn’t care less”)

Dramatic Irony Words or acts of a character carry a meaning unperceived by the character but understood by the audience Characters interests are involved in a way he or she cannot understand Irony resides in the contrast between the meaning intended by the speaker and the different significance seen by others Also applies to situations when the character(s) are blind to something known by the reader Does not just apply to plays Responsible for much of the interest in fiction or drama because the reader enjoys being “in” on the secret

Situational Irony An outcome that turns out to be very different from what is expected The difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen Results from recognizing the oddness or unfairness of a given situation