What is the literary definition of irony?

What is the literary definition of irony?

In simplest terms, irony occurs in literature AND in life whenever a person says something or does something that departs from what they (or we) expect them to say or do. Just as there are countless ways of misunderstanding the world [sorry kids], there are many different kinds of irony.

What is the best definition for irony?

Full Definition of irony 1a : the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning. b : a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony. c : an ironic expression or utterance.

What are the three definitions of irony?

Definition: There are three types of irony: verbal, situational and dramatic. Verbal irony occurs when a speaker’s intention is the opposite of what he or she is saying. Situational irony occurs when the actual result of a situation is totally different from what you’d expect the result to be.

What is an example of a literary irony?

For example, in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we the readers know that Juliet has taken a sleeping potion to fake her death, but this is unbeknownst to Romeo, who believes she is really dead and proceeds to actually kill himself. Dramatic irony fills readers with anticipation and heightens their interest.

What is linguistic irony?

irony, linguistic and literary device, in spoken or written form, in which real meaning is concealed or contradicted. It is a form of indirection that avoids overt praise or censure, as in the casual irony of the statement “That was a smart thing to do!” (meaning “very foolish”).

What is the definition of irony and examples?

a situation in which something which was intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result: The irony (of it) is that the new tax system will burden those it was intended to help. More examples. With inevitable irony, it was Smith who scored the winning goal against his former team.

What is the sentence of irony?

I failed to detect any irony in his tone. He loved the irony of the situation. In an irony of war, they were shelled by their own artillery. I appreciated the irony of his response when he said, “Lucky us,” when he learned we would have to work all weekend.

What are the 4 types of irony and definitions?

In literature, irony is a deliberate gap between the language used and what is being discussed. Irony results when there is a difference in point of view between a character and the narrator or reader. There are four major types of irony: verbal, dramatic, situational, and cosmic.

Why is irony called irony?

The term irony has its roots in the Greek comic character Eiron, a clever underdog who by his wit repeatedly triumphs over the boastful character Alazon. It derives from the Latin ironia and ultimately from the Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía, meaning ‘dissimulation, ignorance purposely affected’.

Which of the following is an example of irony?

when the exact opposite of what is meant to happen, happens. when a TV weather presenter gets caught in an unexpected storm, it is ironic because he or she is expected to know the exact weather changes. Verbal Irony is “I aced that!” Student fails the exam and then says “I aced that!”

How do you find irony?

Ask yourself if the character is saying something that matches the situation, mood, or surroundings. If there is no incongruity, that is if things match up – then there is no verbal or situational irony. See if the statement made by the character conflicts with the setting intentionally or unintentionally.

What are irony 5 examples?

Common Examples of Situational Irony

• A fire station burns down.
• A marriage counselor files for divorce.
• The police station gets robbed.
• A post on Facebook complains about how useless Facebook is.
• A traffic cop gets his license suspended because of unpaid parking tickets.
• A pilot has a fear of heights.

What is the meaning of irony of situation?

This is an irony of situation, or an irony of existence; it is as though human life and its understanding of the world is undercut by some other meaning or design beyond our powers. . . . The word irony refers to the limits of human meaning; we do not see the effects of what we do, the outcomes of our actions, or the forces that exceed our choices.

What is irony in English grammar?

Similarly, irony may be a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Adjective: ironic or ironical. Also known as eironeia, illusio, and the dry mock. The Three Kinds of Irony

What is the meaning of heavy irony?

1 : the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny a writer known for her clever use of irony “What a beautiful view,” he said, his voice dripping with irony, as he looked out the window at the alley. She described her vacation with heavy irony as “an educational experience.”

What is the meaning of cosmic irony?

The word irony refers to the limits of human meaning; we do not see the effects of what we do, the outcomes of our actions, or the forces that exceed our choices. Such irony is cosmic irony, or the irony of fate.