1. ESOL 250: Level 7 Academic Reading Instructor: Sarah Bailie

2. Irony 1. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect. 2. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. (taken from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

3. Irony Irony: the discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, what is said and what is done, what is expected or intended and what happens, what is meant or said and what others understand.

4. Irony A difference between the appearance of things and reality. Ex. Sign: “ We are Committed to Excellense” Literature: “What a beautiful view,” he said, his voice dripping with irony as he looked out at the dirty alley. It was a tragic irony that he made himself sick by worrying so much about his health.

5. Irony: Another definition From: Scholastic.com Verbal-When what someone says something different from what they really mean, or something different from what would be the expected statement in that particular situation. This includes both sarcasm (for example, if your little brother is sitting on the couch scowling because he doesn't want to go out to dinner. And you say, with a smirk, "I'm glad to see you're so happy about going to dinner.") and verbal irony that is not sarcastic (for example, if a grieving widow says at her husband's funeral: "He would have loved to be here for this." Situational-When the outcome of a situation is totally unexpected and not anticipated based on earlier events. For example: if a championship swimmer drowns, or a firehouse burns down. Dramatic-When the audience or reader knows something that the characters do not, something which adds suspense or humor. For example, if the audience knows that Juliet only drank a sleeping potion and is not dead but Romeo doesn't know.

6. Irony Read the summary of the O. Henry short story, The Gift of the Magi. How could this story illustrate the concept of irony?