Ambiguity (ambiguous) - when the meaning is unclear or you’re not sure of the meaning or intention because it could mean more than one thing. For example: “I promise I’ll give you a ring tomorrow.” Coincidence – when someting just happens to occur at the same time as something else, for example thinking about eating a donut and all of a sudden you see a donut shop on the corner. Bad Timing – An unfortunate pairing of situations, like a ship’s radio operator going to bed early the same night that another ship is sinking nearby.

Verbal irony – is when the speaker says something different from what he or she really believes. It can be sarcasm or exaggeration. Example (after eating a really terrible meal) “You are the best cook ever! How did you get that salsa tasting so amazing.” Situational irony – the situation is different than common sense makes it to be. Example. A man tries to shoot Ronald Reagan as he steps out of his car. He misses the President, but the bullets hit the bullet-proof windows of the car and rebound to hit him anyway. The glass that was supposed to protect the president actually causes him to be shot. Example. Some people pass out buttons to promote better product safety. They have to recall the buttons because they have sharp pins that keep stabbing the people who wear them.

Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich - yes, richer than a king - And admirably schooled in every grace; In fine we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Alanis Morissette - Ironic An old man, turned 98, 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? Refrain: 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, And who would've thought? It figures Mr. Play-It-Safe, was afraid to fly, He packed his suitcase, and kissed his kids goodbye, He waited his whole damn life, to take that flight And as the plane crashed down he thought, "Well isn't this nice"? And isn't it ironic? Don't you think? (Refrain) Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a funny way of helping you out When you think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up in your face 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 your dreams, and then meeting his beautiful wife And isn't it ironic? Don't you think? A little too ironic? Yeah I really do think (Refrain) Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you, And life has a funny, funny way of helping you out, Helping you out

coincidence