Jump to Section:
Irony is a rhetorical device in the literature that is different from what it appears and what it means. It tends to appear something on the surface but in actual it is completely different.
Description of Irony in Literature
The irony is used when the author intends to indicate some other meaning rather than the literal meaning which is written. It is sometimes referred to as the gap in reality and expectation. It shows two contrasting images of the same event, characters, images, and situations in a story. The irony is mostly used for humour, affection, or depiction of varied emotions in prose, poetry, novels, essays, and dramas. They also form a much-used figure of speech in the everyday speech of human beings. In some places, the irony is also used to add a critical approach towards an event, situation, or character in literature.
The term “Irony” was derived from a Greek character “Eiron” who pretends to be ignorant to fool his opponent.
Irony overlaps with but is not the same as satire and sarcasm. The concept of irony in recent times has come to mean a state of humour or detachment from what appears to be.
Types of Irony
The irony is mainly of three types in literature. Verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony.
Verbal Irony
It is a figure of speech in which the literal meaning of a person’s conversation is exactly opposite to what the person wants to convey. Verbal irony is the most frequently used form of irony in literature. For example, if someone has a painful experience after going to a doctor and says that the experience was pleasant when asked. That is an example of verbal irony because he says just the opposite of what he means. This reminds us of sarcasm since one speaks just contrary to what one means.
Situational Irony
This is the form of irony that takes place when there is a certain turn of events that is unexpected or paradoxical. The events in a situation irony come out to be completely different from what was expected.
The situation irony in the story “The Gift of the Magi” by O.Henry strikes us hard. The woman cuts off her hair to gift her husband a chain for the watch. The husband on contrary sells off his watch to buy her wife the comb she wished for.
Dramatic Irony
It is the form of irony in which there is a difference in the understanding of the situation by a character and the audience. While the audiences or the readers know what happens actually behind the superficial occurrence of things, the character is completely ignorant about it. Dramatic irony had its origin in Greek tragedies and generally has a sad ending. Dramatic irony has three stages, installation, exploitation, and resolution.
The best instance of dramatic irony was in the work of Shakespeare in Othello. The readers know that Othello’s best friend Iago is villainous in character and Desdemona is faithful to Othello. But the character Othello is ignorant about these. The readers and the audiences are completely aware of the arriving disastrous happenings in the play.
Other Forms of Irony
Cosmic irony – this is also called “the irony of fate”. Cosmic irony explains the agendas of Gods in turning the expectations of the humans. Fate completely changes what the character planned for his life. This kind of irony is used in Greek legends.
Historical Irony-This refers to the historical events or happenings that had a completely different outcome when contrasted to what was predicted to have happened.This is referred to real-life events in history.
Socratic Irony– this was found mainly in the writings of Plato. Socrates usually pretended to know less or pretended to be ignorant of the topics which were under discussion. He did so to bring out the arguments of his opponents. This is an example that also falls under dramatic irony.
5 Tips of using Irony in Creative Writing
- Before writing an irony or including one in your writing. One should concentrate on paying attention to ironies used in various literature.
- One should use an omniscient point of view while writing irony.
- Having clarity in one’s perspective is very necessary while writing irony.
- Inclusion of an otherwise event or using meanwhile in your writing may help in creating an irony successfully in your literature.
- One can use flashbacks scene in making irony more powerful.
Purpose of Using Irony in Literature and Creative Writing
Irony creates contrast in writings. They differentiate between the discrepancy and the realities is what the author wants the readers to perceive.
This is a very powerful tool that creates suspense and humour in the narrative. Irony gives the readers an idea about the weaknesses in the characters of literature.
The readers understand the main theme of the narrative. They leave a huge influence on the minds of the readers. They help readers evaluate their expectations, realities, and knowledge.
Irony Examples in Literature
- We come across irony in O. Henry’s story The Gift of the Magi. In the story, the husband sells his watch to buy a beautiful comb for his wife as a Christmas gift. On the other hand, the wife cuts her hair and sells it to buy a chain for her husband’s watch for Christmas. The story is a perfect example of situational irony.
- Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story full of verbal and situational irony. Even the main character whose name is Fortunato is an irony since the story gives instances of his unfortunate life all through.
- The line of the poem by Samuel Coleridge “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a beautiful example of irony. “Water, water everywhere, nor any a drop to drink” means that the sailor while sailing is dying of thirst on his boat while he is surrounded by water from all sides.
- One of the most famous works of irony includes Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Here there is a fantastic irony which describes the differentiation between reality and fantasy.
What Is the Difference Between Irony and Sarcasm?
Sarcasm is a conversational device characterized by saying the opposite of what one means. Sarcasm comes from the Greek “sarkázein,” meaning to “tear flesh” and indeed, sarcasm is deployed in a mocking, sneering, and often witty tone. This means it can be self-deprecating, with the speaker mocking themselves; or aimed at someone else, in a teasing manner.
The key difference between irony and sarcasm is that sarcasm characterizes someone’s speech. Irony can additionally describe situations or circumstances. There are some cases in which someone could say something that is considered both ironic and sarcastic, but sarcasm is not a literary device.
What Is Dramatic Irony?
Dramatic irony is a form of irony. It is both a literary and theatrical device in which the reader or audience knows more than the characters they are following. The characters’ actions have a different meaning for the audience than they do for the actors or characters, and this device often lends itself to tragedy.
What Is the Difference Between Dramatic Irony, Situational Irony, and Verbal Irony?
Dramatic irony is different from situational irony, in which what you expect to happen does not happen, and verbal irony, in which words do not mean what they seem to mean.
5 Tips for Creating Dramatic Irony in Writing
- Create a more complex, multi-layered narrative by letting different characters know different types or amounts of information. The audience will see how the characters interact with each other and make choices based on the information that they have.
- Generate interest by allowing the reader to know more than the hero. For example, your hero is waiting for his spouse to arrive, but she was murdered in a previous chapter. The reader is now filled with dread and expectation for what they know is coming: the hero’s shock at the news of his wife’s death.
- Instead of telling the story from the point-of-view of your hero, consider exploring the point of view of the antagonist of the story. This will give your reader insights that the protagonist does not have, creating dramatic irony and suspense.
- Build turning points in your story around ironic statements by your characters to emphasize and heighten dramatic irony. For example, in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, the character of John Hammond repeatedly says he “spared no expense” in building the park. The irony of this statement only becomes clear when things begin to fall apart.
From https://literarydevices.net/irony/
Common Examples of Irony
Many common phrases and situations reflect irony. Irony often stems from an unanticipated response (verbal irony) or an unexpected outcome (situational irony). Here are some common examples of verbal and situational irony:
Verbal Irony
- Telling a quiet group, “don’t everybody speak all at once”
- Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it’s great to be back”
- Telling a rude customer to “have a nice day”
- Walking into an empty theater and asking, “it’s too crowded”
- Stating during a thunderstorm, “beautiful weather we’re having”
- An authority figure stepping into the room saying, “don’t bother to stand or anything”
- A comedian telling an unresponsive audience, “you all are a great crowd”
- Describing someone who says foolish things a “genius”
- Delivering bad news by saying, “the good news is”
- Entering a child’s messy room and saying “nice place you have here”
Situational Irony
- A fire station that burns down
- Winner of a spelling bee failing a spelling test
- A t-shirt with a “Buy American” logo that is made in China
- Marriage counselor divorcing third wife
- Sending a Christmas card to someone who is Jewish
- Leaving a car wash at the beginning of a downpour
- A dentist needing a root canal
- Going on a blind date with someone who is visually impaired
- A police station being burglarized
- Purchasing a roll of stamps a day before the price to send a letter increases
Examples of Irony in Plot
Irony is extremely useful as a plot device. Readers or viewers of a plot that includes irony often call this effect a “twist.” Here are some examples of irony in well-known plots:
- The Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum): the characters already have what they are asking for from the wizard
- Time Enough at Last (episode of “The Twilight Zone”): the main character, who yearns to be left alone to read, survives an apocalyptic explosion but breaks his reading glasses
- Oedipus Rex (Sophocles): Oedipus is searching for a murderer who, it turns out, is himself
- The Cask of Amontillado (Edgar Allan Poe): the character “Fortunato” meets with a very unfortunate fate
- Hansel and Gretel (Grimm fairy tale): the witch, who intended to eat Hansel ad Gretel, is trapped by the children in her own oven
Real Life Examples of Irony
Think you haven’t heard of any examples of irony in real life? Here are some instances of irony that have taken place:
- It is reported that Lady Nancy Astor once said to Winston Churchill that if he were her husband, she would poison his tea. In response, Churchill allegedly said, “Madam, if I were your husband, I’d drink it.”
- Sweden’s Icehotel, built of snow and ice, contains fire alarms.
- Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the official name for fear of long words
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is considered an anti-censorship novel, and it is one of the most consistently banned books in the United States.
- A retired CEO of the Crayola company suffered from colorblindness.
- Many people claimed and/or believed that the Titanic was an “unsinkable” ship.
- There is a hangover remedy entitled “hair of the dog that bit you” that involves consuming more alcohol.
- George H.W. Bush reportedly stated, “I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don’t always agree with them.”
Writing Irony
Overall, as a literary device, irony functions as a means of portraying a contrast or discrepancy between appearance and reality. This is effective for readers in that irony can create humor and suspense, as well as showcase character flaws or highlight central themes in a literary work.
It’s essential that writers bear in mind that their audience must have an understanding of the discrepancy between appearance and reality in their work. Otherwise, the sense of irony is lost and ineffective. Therefore, it’s best to be aware of the reader or viewer’s expectations of reality in order to create an entirely different and unexpected outcome.
Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating irony into their work:
Plot Device
Irony in various forms is a powerful plot device. Unexpected events or character behaviors can create suspense for readers, heighten the humor in a literary work, or leave a larger impression on an audience. As a plot device, irony allows readers to re-evaluate their knowledge, expectations, and understanding. Therefore, writers can call attention to themes in their work while simultaneously catching their readers off-guard.
Method of Reveal
As a literary device, irony does not only reveals unexpected events or plot twists. It serves to showcase disparity in the behavior of characters, making them far more complex and realistic. Irony can also reveal preconceptions on the part of an audience by challenging their assumptions and expectations. In this sense, it is an effective device for writers.
Examples of Irony in Literature
Irony is a very effective literary device. Here are some examples of irony and how it adds to the significance of well-known literary works:
Example 1: The Necklace (Guy de Maupassant)
“You say that you bought a necklace of diamonds to replace mine?”
“Yes. You never noticed it, then! They were very like.”
And she smiled with a joy which was proud and naïve at once.
Mme. Forestier, strongly moved, took her two hands.
“Oh, my poor Mathilde! Why, my necklace was paste. It was worth at most five hundred francs!”
In his short story, de Maupassant utilizes situational irony to reveal an unexpected outcome for the main character Mathilde who borrowed what she believed to be a diamond necklace from her friend Mme. Forestier to wear to a ball. Due to vanity and carelessness, Mathilde loses the necklace. Rather than confess this loss to her friend, Mathilde and her husband replace the necklace with another and thereby incur a debt that takes them ten years of labor to repay.
In a chance meeting, Mathilde learns from her friend that the original necklace was fake. This outcome is ironic in the sense that Mathilde has become the opposite of the woman she wished to be and Mme. Forestier is in possession of a real diamond necklace rather than a false one. This ending may cause the reader to reflect on the story’s central themes, including pride, authenticity, and the price of vanity.
Example 2: Not Waving but Drowning (Stevie Smith)
Nobody heard him, the dead man,But still he lay moaning:I was much further out than you thoughtAnd not waving but drowning.This stanza reflects Smith’s many uses of dramatic irony in her poem. The reader is aware that the “dead” man is actually still alive, though “nobody” hears him. In addition, the reader has the understanding and knowledge that the man in the poem was not waving as those who saw him believed him to be. Instead, the man was signalling for help because he was drowning.The dramatic irony in this poem is significant on many levels. The reader is fully informed as to the situation of the dead man, yet is powerless to influence the people around him to understand the situation. Therefore, this irony reflects the poem’s portrayal of the consequences of miscommunication and misunderstanding among people.
Example 3: A Modest Proposal (Jonathan Swift)
A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.
Swift makes use of verbal irony in his essay in which he advocates eating children as a means of solving the issue of famine and poverty. Of course, Swift does not literally mean what he is saying. Instead, his verbal irony is used to showcase the dire situation faced by those who are impoverished and their limited resources or solutions. In addition, this irony is meant as a call to action among those who are not suffering from hunger and poverty to act in a charitable way towards those less fortunate.
Related posts:
- 15 Irony Examples in Disney Movies
- 12 Thought Provoking Examples of Irony in History
- Dramatic Irony
- Situational Irony
- Verbal Irony
- 10 Examples of Irony in Shakespeare
- 11 Examples of Irony in Children’s Literature
- Brevity is the Soul of Wit
- To Thine Own Self Be True
- Frailty, Thy Name is Woman
- My Kingdom for a Horse
- Lady Doth Protest too Much
- The Quality of Mercy is Not Strain’d
- Ignorance is Strength
From https://www.tckpublishing.com/irony/
Can you guess what type of irony is being used in the following examples?
Example 1: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, three of the supporting characters, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, all wish for traits that they already possess.
Scarecrow thinks he’s unintelligent, but by the end discovers he is actually a genius; Tin Man wishes for a heart, but comes to realize he is very much capable of love; Lion seems cowardly, but turns out to be extremely courageous.
This is an example of:
A. Verbal Irony
B. Situational Irony
C. Dramatic Irony
Example 2: Othello by William Shakespeare
Othello trusts Iago, who has become his main advisor. Unbeknownst to Othello, however, Iago has long despised him, claiming he was unfairly passed over for a promotion to the rank of Othello’s lieutenant.
The audience knows that Iago is manipulating Othello and plotting against him, but Othello does not see this.
This is an example of:
A. Verbal Irony
B. Situational Irony
C. Dramatic Irony
Example 3: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
In his speech, Marc Antony refers to Brutus several times as an “honorable man,” knowing that Brutus aided in the murder of Caesar.
This is an example of:
A. Verbal Irony
B. Situational Irony
C. Dramatic Irony
Example 4: Beauty and the Beast
In the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast, viewers know that the Beast is actually a prince who was once very handsome, but Belle has no idea that this is the case.
This is an example of:
A. Verbal Irony
B. Situational Irony
C. Dramatic Irony
Example 5: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, firefighters burn books rather than extinguishing fires.
(Also ironic? This book, which makes a statement about the perils of censorship, was banned for a time in the United States.)
This is an example of:
A. Verbal Irony
B. Situational Irony
C. Dramatic Irony
Quiz Answers: 1.B; 2.C; 3.A; 4.C; 5.B.
Ways to Use Dramatic Irony
Try to incorporate at least one of these examples of dramatic irony into your story.
You can easily change or modify these examples to suit your story.
A. For Suspense
1. Framed. Jill thinks that she was responsible for the car accident that hurt her sister, an all-star cheerleader whose career came to an end. The readers have known all along that the accident was deliberately caused by a jealous rival on the cheerleading squad.
2. Jack is accused of a crime he did not commit. He fakes his death and assumes another identity in order to find out who tried to frame him. The readers have known all along that Jack’s best friend Bob is actually his worst enemy.
3. During a thunderstorm, the audience sees lightning strike a tree in Billy’s backyard. The audience sees that the lightning has cracked an important branch in the tree. Billy loves to climb trees. Each time Billy steps on the branch, it becomes weaker.
4. Jill is writing in her diary. She has a crush on Jack but thinks Jack likes someone else. She writes down some of the conversations she has had with Jack and tells how Jack has helped her with her homework and has given her lifts to her after school job. [From Jack’s words and these favors, the readers can tell that Jack likes Jill, but Jill does not realize it.]
B. For Humor:
1. Jack is telling a lie and the readers know it is a lie, but Frank believes it.
2. Billy thinks one thing to himself, but says another thing aloud to someone else. Wow, that hairdo looks hideous, Billy thought. Aloud, Billy asked politely to Jill, “Hey, who is your hairdresser?”
3. Eddie Haskell is a bully and a liar to his classmates. Around adults, he is extremely polite and respectful. The adults believe “he is such a nice boy.”
4. A character pretends to be something he is not. Jack pretends to be very smart in order to impress Jill who is in all the honors courses. The readers know that Jack struggles academically, but Jill believes his act until ….
5. Pranks are a form of dramatic irony and can be funny if no one gets seriously hurt.
6. A student enters a classroom and does not notice the teacher. The student begins an elaborate and humorous imitation of the teacher.
KC Storytellers 