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20 Irony Examples: In Literature and Real Life

By Millie Dinsdale

Irony occurs when what happens is the opposite from what is expected.

Writers use irony as a literary technique to add humor, create tension, include uncertainty, or form the central plot of a story.

We will be looking at the four types of irony (three common and one uncommon) and providing examples and tips to help you identify and use them in your work.

Quick Reminder of What Irony Is

Irony examples in literature, irony examples in real life, which scenario is an example of irony.

Irony is a rhetorical device in which the appearance of something is opposite to its reality .

There are four main types of irony: verbal irony, dramatic irony, situational irony, and Socratic irony . Socratic irony is not a literary device, and therefore we will not be looking at examples, but it is worth being aware of.

• Verbal Irony is when a speaker says one thing but means something entirely different. The literal meaning is at odds with the intended meaning.
• Dramatic Irony is when the audience knows something that the characters don’t.
• Situational Irony is when what happens is the opposite of what you expect.
• Socratic Irony is when a person feigns ignorance in order to get another to admit to knowing or doing something. It is named after Socrates, the Greek philosopher, who used this technique to tease information out of his students.

Why is irony important to understand? Along with being a key rhetorical device, irony can also be very effective when used correctly in writing.

To demonstrate this fact we have selected ten examples of irony usage from popular literature. Warning: this list includes a few spoilers.

1) The main characters’ wishes in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are a perfect example of situational irony .

The characters go on a quest to fulfill their hearts’ desires and instead of doing so they realize that they already had what they wanted all along. It is unexpected because the reader might assume that all of their desires will be gifted to the four main characters but, in the end, it’s unnecessary.

2) The conclusion between the two primary opponents in The Night Circus contains a large amount of situational irony .

The reader is led to expect that either Marco or Celia will win but, in the end, they both end up working together to keep their creation alive. The competition is not as black and white (pardon the pun) as it initially seems.

3) The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is full of verbal irony . A great example of this is when Dr Jekyll says “I am quite sure of him,” when referring to Mr Hyde.

This is verbal irony because the reader finds out that Hyde is actually Jekyll’s alter ego, so it would be expected that he knows himself well.

4) Shakespeare creates dramatic irony in the prologue of Romeo and Juliet through the line: “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”

This well-known example is ironic because the reader knows from the very beginning that their romance will end in death, but they don’t yet know how.

5) Alice’s changing relationship with the Bandersnatch in Alice in Wonderland is situationally ironic .

When we first meet the Bandersnatch, he is ferocious and attempts to harm Alice. When Alice returns his eye, they become friends and the two work together to defeat the Jabberwocky. The audience expects to see an enemy but are instead presented with an ally.

6) George Orwell masters situational irony in Animal Farm through the animals’ endless and fruitless battle to obtain freedom.

All of the animals work together to escape the tyranny of the humans who own them. In doing so they end up under the even stricter rule of the pigs.

7) Roald Dahl’s short story A Lamb to a Slaughter is full of dramatic irony .

A housewife kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb when he asks for a divorce. The police come looking for evidence and unknowingly dispose of it when they are fed the murder weapon for dinner.

8) The repeated line “May the odds be ever in your favor” in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is verbally ironic .

Everyone from district 1 through 12 can be offered as a child sacrifice and has a 1/24 chance of surviving. Even if they do survive they are then delivered back under the control of the Capitol, so the odds are in nobody’s favor.

9) The disparity between children and adults in Roald Dahl’s Matilda is situationally ironic .

Most of the adults in Matilda’s life are hot-headed, uneducated, and unreasonable, while she as a six-year old is more mature than most of them. The traditional roles of child and adult are unexpectedly flipped on their heads.

10) The hit-and-run in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is situationally ironic .

Daisy Buchanan kills Myrtle when Myrtle runs in front of Gatsby’s car. It is ironic because Myrtle is Tom Buchanan’s mistress but Daisy does not know this. She unintentionally killed her husband's mistress.

Irony works so well in literature because it is so common in real life. Have you ever found yourself saying “well that’s ironic” to a situation in your life?

You could be talking about verbal, situational, or dramatic irony. Let’s take a look at a few everyday examples of each type.

11) When you find out that your pulmonologist (lung doctor) smokes.

This is situationally ironic because you’d expect this doctor of all people to avoid smoking because they understand all of the risks.

12) When someone falls over for the tenth time while ice-skating and says “I meant to do that.”

This person cannot be intending to fall over all the time but they are using verbal irony to make light of a possibly painful situation.

13) Your dog eats his certificate of dog-training obedience.

You would expect that in the process of having obtained an obedience certificate, the dog would also have learnt not to eat random objects. This is an example of situational irony .

14) The fire hydrant is on fire.

This is situationally ironic because the last thing that you would expect to be on fire is the object that is designed to fight fires. A similar example to this would be if a fire station were on fire.

15) A girl is teasing her friend for having mud on his face but she doesn’t know that she also has mud on her face.

From the point of view of the friend, this is an example of dramatic irony because he knows something that she does not.

16) Your mom buys a non-stick pan but has to throw it away because the label is so sticky she cannot get it off.

You would predict that the pan was completely non-stick but are proven wrong at the first hurdle, which is situationally ironic .

17) When someone crashes into a “thank you for driving carefully'' sign.

The vision of a car crashed into the sign makes it clear that they did not drive carefully at all, which is situationally ironic .

18) Buying your English teacher a mug that reads “your the best teacher ever.”

The poor English teacher may feel like they have failed in their job in this situationally ironic situation where their student has bought them a mug with a grammar mistake.

19) When a child says “I want crisps now!” and the parent says: “Thank you so much for using your good manners.”

The child is being impolite and the parent is not actually congratulating the child on their manners in this example of verbal irony . They mean the exact opposite.

20) You can’t open your new scissors because you don’t have any scissors to cut through the plastic.

This example of situational irony is far too common. In buying scissors, it can be expected that you do not have any, so it is ironic that the packaging is designed for someone who already has a pair.

Are you ready for a quick quiz to test your knowledge of irony? The test is split into the three types of irony.

Which of These Are Examples of Situational Irony?

1) A police station is robbed.

2) A child loses his rucksack after being told to take care not to lose it.

3) A person eats sweets while preaching about healthy eating

Only 1) and 3) are examples of situational irony. Sentence 2) is not a situational irony example because it could be expected that the child might lose the rucksack and that is why they were told to take care.

It would, however, be ironic if he subsequently lost his “Most Organized in 2nd Grade” certificate five minutes after being awarded it.

Which of These Are Examples of Verbal Irony?

1) Saying “The weather is lovely today” while it is hailing.

2) “Wow that perfume is so lovely, did you bathe in it?”

3) Saying “Thank you so much for your help” after someone has crushed your new glasses while helping to look for them.

Only example 1) is verbally ironic, the other two are sarcastic comments.

Verbal irony and sarcasm are often confused but there is one big difference between them: verbal irony is when what you say is the opposite of what you mean while sarcasm is specifically meant to embarrass or insult someone.

Which of These Are Examples of Dramatic Irony?

1) A small ship without life boats is stuck in a monumental storm in the middle of the Atlantic.

2) Three characters are killed and a fourth seems to be going the same way.

3) A girl walks down the same alley we have just seen a known murderer walk down.

Only option 3) is an example of dramatic irony because the audience knows that the murderer is down the alley but the girl does not.

Although the other two examples are undeniably dramatic, there is no inherent irony because the audience has no more knowledge about what will happen than those involved.

Why Should You Use Irony in Your Writing?

Irony can be an effective tool to make a reader stop and think about what has just happened.

It can also emphasize a central theme or idea by adding an unexpected twist to the events of the story.

What brilliant examples of irony in literature have we missed? Share your favorites in the comments.

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Millie Dinsdale

Millie is ProWritingAid’s Content Manager. As an English Literature graduate, she loves all things books and writing. When she isn’t working, Millie enjoys adding to her vast indoor plant collection, dancing, re-reading books by Daphne Du Maurier, and running.

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20 Irony Examples from Classic Literature

Learning how to define irony and studying irony examples from literature can make your writing more impactful.

Irony is a type of figurative language or literary device that happens when the speaker or writer uses words to express something that is the opposite of the literal meaning. It gets the reader to stop and take a closer look at what the writer said. Irony happens often in real life as well, and strong writers need to understand how to use it.

To better understand this literary device, writers can look at irony examples in popular works of literature. 

Irony Examples Highlighting Three Main Types of Irony

Examples of irony in literature, 1. harry potter by j. k. rowling.

• 2. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

3. “Messy Room” by Shel Silverstein 

• 4. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

5. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

6. great expectations by charles dickens, 7. the necklace by guy de maupassant, 8. a modest proposal by johnathan swift, 9. pride and prejudice by jane austen, 10. the rime of the ancient mariner by samuel taylor coleridge, 11. julius caesar by william shakespeare, 12. “the cask of amontillado” by edgar allan poe.

• 13. Lemony Snicket: An Unauthorized Autobiography by Lemony Snicket 

14. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

15. romeo and juliet by william shakespeare, 16. macbeth by william shakespeare .

• 17. Othello by William Shakespeare
• 18. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

19. A Doll’s House by Henrick Ibsen

20. “my last duchess” by robert browning, a final word on irony examples, what is the definition of irony, what are some other forms of irony.

Irony can show up in literature in many ways. If the author has an incongruity between the written word and the intended meaning, it is likely an example of irony. Still, irony tends to fall into one of three main categories:

• Situational irony  – This occurs when the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs, such as taking an umbrella on a day that ends up being sunny and bright.
• Verbal irony  – This occurs when what a speaker says is the exact opposite of what the speaker means, such as when someone says “it’s such a beautiful day” on a rainy day.
• Dramatic irony  – This occurs when the audience or reader knows what is ironic in the situation, but the character does not, such as when Snow White innocently eats an apple the reader knows is cursed.

Check out our guide on how to define premise in literature .

To further understand the different types of irony, take a look at these examples of irony in classic literature. Our selection crosses many book genres .

Remember, reading a book is different to understanding how the author created it. If you need help, we also cover how to analyze a book .

Examples of Situational Irony

Situational irony is a common literary device used to make writing more interesting, as these examples show:

Throughout the Harry Potter books, Professor Snape expresses his dislike of the main character because of popularity and fame. This is situational irony because it was Snape’s actions before the start of the books that jump-started the boy’s fame.

• Philosopher's Stone
• School Days

2.  The Gift of the Magi  by O. Henry

This short story is a classic example of tragic irony that is also situational. When the main characters lovingly sell their most treasured possessions to buy something for their lover, only to discover that the item they bought is unusable because of that sale, the reader is left to ponder what sacrificial love looks like.

• Hardcover Book
• Henry, O. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 40 Pages - 09/09/2008 (Publication Date) - Candlewick (Publisher)

In this classic children’s poem, the speaker waxes eloquently about how messy a child’s room is. At the very end, the poet reveals that it is, in fact, the speaker’s room in an example of situational irony.

4. The Wizard of Oz  by L. Frank Baum

Throughout this classic children’s book, the characters show situational irony. Dorothy travels to see the Wizard to get home, only to find she had the power to do so on her own, while the other characters ask for character qualities, like courage or brains, that they already had. 

• Baum, L. Frank (Author)
• 147 Pages - 02/05/2021 (Publication Date) - East India Publishing Company (Publisher)

This ironic tale tells of the main character who hears that her husband has died. She starts to imagine what her life of freedom will look like. When she returns home in just an hour, she finds him alive and well, shocking herself and the reader.

• Chopin, Kate (Author)
• 32 Pages - 09/15/2024 (Publication Date) - Perfection Learning (Publisher)

In this story, the audience and Pip do not know who the benefactor is, and the story makes it seem that Miss Havisham is the benefactor. When the true benefactor, Magwich, is revealed, it clashes with the beliefs of the audience and main character in a classic example of situational irony.

• Dickens, Charles (Author)
• 328 Pages - 12/04/2020 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)

Here, the main character borrows jewelry from a wealthy friend, only to lose the necklace. She spends a fortune to replace the jewels, putting herself in a destitute situation. in the end, she learns the jewels she replaced were actually fake costume jewelry.

• Guy de Maupassant (Author)
• 128 Pages - 02/05/1992 (Publication Date) - Dover Publications (Publisher)

Examples of Verbal Irony

Verbal irony comes in the form of written or spoken statements that have a completely different meaning. This can often be similar to sarcasm. Here are some examples: 

This essay shows an example of verbal irony when the author starts by earnestly pleading for the plight of destitute children in America, only to twist the writing to imply that children should be healthy enough to be cooked and eaten. Though the author was not actually advocating for cannibalism, this use of verbal irony gets the attention of the reader to make them think about the social issue at hand. 

• Swift, Jonathan (Author)
• 25 Pages - 11/20/2020 (Publication Date) - East India Publishing Company (Publisher)

In her iconic novel, Jane Austen opens with a verbally ironic statement, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Austen specifically structured the sentence to make the reader think about whether or not the man wants a wife, or he has a fortune because he does not have one.

• Great product!
• Austen, Jane (Author)
• 448 Pages - 12/31/2002 (Publication Date) - Penguin Books (Publisher)

In the famous line “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” Coleridge provides use of irony that is one of the most iconic in literature. While the character is dying of thirst, he is surrounded by water he simply cannot drink.

• Coleridge, Samuel Taylor (Author)
• 100 Pages - 10/01/2018 (Publication Date) - Digireads.com Publishing (Publisher)

In this play, Mark Antony says, “But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man.” In fact, Antony is implying that Brutus is not ambitious nor honorable with this sneaky statement. 

• Shakespeare, William (Author)
• 110 Pages - 02/22/2016 (Publication Date) - Digireads.com (Publisher)

In this poem, unsuspecting Fortunato is being led to his death by an acquaintance, Montresor. Montresor comments on Fortunato’s cough, to which he replies “I shall not die of a cough.” This is true, but also ironic because Montresor intends to kill Fortunato at the end.

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13 . Lemony Snicket: An Unauthorized Autobiography by Lemony Snicket 

Lemony Snicket is a master at using verbal irony. One statement from this book says:

Today was a very cold and bitter day, as cold and bitter as a cup of hot chocolate if the cup of hot chocolate had vinegar added to it and were placed in a refrigerator for several hours.”

Obviously hot chocolate is neither cold nor bitter, and that is what makes this statement so ironic.

• Snicket, Lemony (Author)
• 240 Pages - 05/06/2003 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher)

In Pygmalion , Professor Higgins says, “I swear! I never swear. I detest the habit. What the devil do you mean?” In this statement, immediately after saying he hates swearing, he says, “What the devil,” which at the time was considered a swear word.

• George Bernard Shaw (Author)
• 96 Pages - 10/20/1994 (Publication Date) - Dover Publications (Publisher)

Examples of Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience is aware of a plot twist the characters are not, and this drives the plot along. Here are some examples:

Shakespeare was excellent at weaving dramatic irony into his plays, and  Romeo and Juliet  is a classic example of dramatic irony. When Romeo poisons himself, thinking Juliet is dead, the audience knows the tragic reality that she is just drugged. This is also a form of tragic irony as the end result is heartbreak.

• 92 Pages - 02/15/2021 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)

In Macbeth , Duncan expresses his complete trust in Macbeth, even though the audience knows that witches prophesied that Macbeth would kill the king to take his place. When the king says:

“He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust”

The audience knows better.

• 304 Pages - 07/01/2003 (Publication Date) - Simon & Schuster (Publisher)

17.  Othello  by William Shakespeare

Another example from the great English playwright, Othello shows dramatic irony when Iago manipulates the main character, even though the audience knows about the deception. Othello’s trust in the deceptive friend drives the drama forward.

• William Shakespeare (Author)
• 314 Pages - 07/01/1993 (Publication Date) - Simon & Schuster (Publisher)

18.  Oedipus Rex  by Sophocles

In Oedipus Rex , the main character attempts to solve a riddle by exposing the murderer of King Laius. Unbeknownst to him, but known to the audience, Oedipus himself is the killer. 

• Sophocles (Author)
• 64 Pages - 06/01/1991 (Publication Date) - Dover Publications (Publisher)

In A Doll’s House , Nora, the main character, is striving to pay her debt to attain freedom. Yet the audience quickly sees that the freedom she craves is actually a type of bondage, and that is the irony of the story.

• Henrik Ibsen (Author)
• 80 Pages - 02/21/1992 (Publication Date) - Dover Publications (Publisher)

In this poem, a duke describes his former wife who died of what the reader believes to be natural causes. However, throughout the poem, he reveals clues that he actually murdered her out of jealousy.

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Looking at examples of irony in high school or college literature class can help you become a better writer. By incorporating irony in your own fiction writing , you can improve the impact of your writing. This literary technique gets people to think, and that makes writing work.

If you like this article, check out our guide to symbolism in literature .

FAQs About Irony Examples

Irony is  defined as  “the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.”

In addition to verbal, situational, and dramatic irony, writers may use: 1. Socratic irony  – This form of irony occurs when a character feigns ignorance in order to get the other person to reveal their knowledge. 2. Cosmic irony  – Common in Greek plays, this irony occurs when a god figure intervenes to create an ironic situation. 3. Tragic irony  – This is a form of dramatic irony when the ironic situation creates a tragedy.

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Definition of Irony

Common examples of irony, verbal irony, situational irony, examples of irony in plot, real life examples of irony, difference between verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony, writing irony, plot device, method of reveal, difference between irony and sarcasm, use of irony in sentences, examples of irony in literature, 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!”

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 thought And not waving but drowning .

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 .

Example 4: 1984 by George Orwell

War is Peace ; Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength .

Synonyms of Irony

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The Best Short Stories for Teaching Irony

Teaching irony but don’t know where what texts to use? Short stories to the rescue! Here’s my roundup of 11 engaging short stories for teaching irony in secondary ELA that are sure to captivate even your most reluctant readers.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years of dealing with reluctant readers, students are suckers for a good plot twist. And that gives me the upper hand when teaching irony in secondary ELA.

Of course, irony is about more than endings that leave readers saying, “OMG, I didn’t see that coming.” Some plot twists are only so for the characters in the story while the reader is aware of the situation all along. In other cases, irony appears in the author’s carefully selected words.

Regardless of how an author employs irony in their writing, one thing cannot be denied: irony is a powerful literary device. My favorite way to teach irony? Short stories, of course! That’s why I’ve dedicated this post to sharing why I recommend using short stories for teaching irony and giving you a list of stories perfect for getting the job done. But, first, let’s take a step back and review the basics of irony in literature.

What is Irony in Literature?

In the simplest of terms, literary irony is a rhetorical technique that involves a stark contrast between what is expected t o happen and what actually does happen, disrupting the reader’s expectations. Suddenly, the reader is left to reconsider their assumptions and interpretations. Cue the critical thinking!

Authors use irony to add a sense of conflict or suspense in their writing. It can be used to spark empathy for a character or add a touch of humor. By highlighting disparities between expectation and reality, authors can skillfully enhance character and thematic development. No matter how it is used, irony adds layers of complexity and depth to a story, giving your students plenty to think about and discuss!

What are the Three Main Types of Irony in literature?

Before diving into using short stories to teach irony, it’s important to ensure students understand the three main styles of irony: 

• Situational Irony is when something happens that sharply contrasts what was anticipated or intended. In other words, it’s when you expect one thing to happen only to be surprised when the opposite occurs. To help students spot situational irony, have them look for unexpected plot twists or events that challenge conventional expectations.
• Dramatic Irony is when a reader knows something that a character in the story does not. Cue the building of suspense and anticipation! The readers is privy to information that the characters remain unaware of, creating a sense of tension as the plot unfolds. To help students identify dramatic irony, encourage them to look for instances where the audience’s knowledge differs significantly from that of the characters.
• Verbal Irony refers to when words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. This usually results in humor or sarcasm as authors highlight discrepancies between what is said and what is meant. Ironically (see what I did there?) verbal irony is the type of irony that students are most familiar with–without even realizing it! So, to help them recognize it in literature, instruct them to pay close attention to the context, tone, and intention behind the speaker’s words.

11 Engaging Short Stories for Teaching Irony in Secondary ELA

It’s time to put those definitions of irony to good use! Consider using the short stories below to teach irony to your students: 

1. “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury

Students love this chilling tale of the Hadley family and their (ironically named) “Happylife Home.” The story’s unexpected ending begs some intriguing and highly relevant questions. How much technology is too much? What would happen if our love for and dependence on technology were to backfire? This story serves as a powerful example of situational irony as Mr. and Mrs. Hadely’s attempt to protect their children from the negative influence of technology completely backfires.

2. “Click Clack the Rattle Bag” by Neil Gaiman

Another eerie short story with an ironic plot twist of an ending? Coming right up! On the surface, this story appears to revolve around a rather mundane conversation between a man and a young child during bedtime. While the child admits to being afraid of the “click clack” sounds from the monsters in their closet, the reader realizes that the child may not be so innocent after all and that the adult may be in grave danger. While the story’s ending leaves the adult protagonist’s fate ambiguous, the situational irony cannot be denied!

3. “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

Della and Jim, a young married couple, each sacrifice their most prized possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other. After all their efforts, they realize their gifts are useless due to the sacrifices they each made. Cue the situational irony! In an ironic twist, Della and Jim’s loving and selfless acts lead to an awkward yet sweet gift exchange.

4. “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

The joke is on the main character, Mathilde Loisel, in this story! She borrows an expensive necklace from her wealthy friend in hopes of fitting in at a fancy party—and it works! All is swell until she loses the piece of jewelry. After spending years paying for a replacement, she learns that the exquisite diamond necklace that made her feel on top of the world was a fake. Talk about situational irony and a tough lesson for Mathilde Loise!

5. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

The irony begins with the title itself, as the story that unfolds has a more Hunger Games vibe than Who Wants to Be a Millionaire . Students will be shocked by what the winner in this small town’s annual lottery gets in return for their “good” fortune. Jackson masterfully employs all types of irony in this one! It’s definitely worth a close reading.

6. “Charles” by Shirley Jackson

Jackson shows off a lighter, more humorous side of irony with this short story, making it a perfect contrast to “The Lottery.” In the story, young Laurie tells his parents about his classmate who does nothing but engage in mischief and cause trouble. It isn’t until Laurie’s parents attend a parent-teacher conference that the situational irony is revealed—the infamous student is none other than Laurie’s “alter ego,” whom he calls Charles.

7. “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O’Henry

In O’Henry’s story, two thieves kidnap a 10-year-old boy, hoping to receive a two thousand dollar ransom. Instead, they find themselves dealing with a real pain in the butt. In fact, the boy becomes such a handful that they agree to pay his father to take him back. The fact that the kidnappers’ plan completely backfires has situational irony written all over it!

8.  “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs

At first, the White family is thrilled by the idea of having a magical monkey’s paw with the power to grant them three wishes. However, they quickly learn the meaning of “Be careful what you wish for.”  After ignoring the warnings of the paw’s powers, the Whites find themselves living more of a nightmare than a dream. As the story builds toward its suspenseful (and unfortunate) ending, students can experience Jacobs’ use of situational irony in full force!

9. “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl

A young man checks into a quaint bed and breakfast run by a friendly, albeit slightly eccentric, landlady—what could go wrong? As the young man takes notice of the landlady’s fascination with taxidermy, readers begin to catch onto the situational and dramatic irony Dahl intertwined in the story. While the landlady appears warm and welcoming, her sense of hospitality is nothing but a cover for her true (and rather creepy) intentions. As it turns out, the landlady is hiding a dark secret, and the young man is about to meet his (unfortunate) fate.

10. “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty

Set during the Irish Civil War, the protagonist, a Republican sniper, engages in an intense (and, ultimately, deadly) rooftop battle with an enemy sniper. In the wake of his victory, the Republican sniper discovers that the enemy sniper was his brother. While the story serves as a powerful commentary on the devastating nature of war, it also showcases a strong example of situational irony. This story will have even your most reluctant readers on the edge of their seats until the very end when the protagonist realizes he killed his own flesh and blood.

11. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

A classic Poe story for a classic example of dramatic and situational irony! As an unnamed narrator details the murder they committed to the reader, they swear by their sanity as they (ironically) slip deeper into guilt-ridden madness. While the narrator may not be able to face the facts, the truth is written on the wall for the reader very early—and only continues to become more obvious as the story unfolds. Ultimately, the sound of the victim’s heartbeat consumes the narrator, leading to their confession to the police.

Whether you choose one or several of the titles above, these short stories offer the opportunity to engage students in analyzing the impact and effect of literary irony. And who knows? You may just experience a plot twist of your own as even your most reluctant readers enjoy the irony these short stories offer.

Ready, Set, Start Using Short Stories for Teaching Irony!

Teaching irony encourages students to become stronger readers, more critical thinkers, and, in turn, better writers. However, no matter which texts you use, teaching irony helps boost students’ critical thinking and analysis skills. However, I have found that short stories are a great tool for encouraging active reading and analysis while keeping students engaged. If you’ve made it this far, I hope you’re as excited about using short stories for teaching irony as I am!

Using short stories as teaching tools provides an engaging and accessible way to introduce students to irony. Not only will these ironic short stories keep students engaged, but they will lay the foundation for students to have a deeper appreciation for storytelling and author’s craft .

Looking for more? Read all about how to teach irony here.

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Irony Definition

What is irony? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition, don't worry—it is. Irony is a broad term that encompasses three different types of irony, each with their own specific definition:  verbal irony ,  dramatic irony , and  situational irony . Most of the time when people use the word irony, they're actually referring to one of these specific types of irony.

Some additional key details about irony:

• The term "irony" comes from the ancient Greek comic character called the "eiron," who pretends ignorance in order to deceive an opponent. 
• Irony overlaps with, but is not identical to, sarcasm and satire . 
• In the last twenty years or so, the term "ironic" has become popular to describe an attitude of detachment or subversive humor, like that of someone who wears a Christmas sweater as a joke. This more recent meaning of ironic is not entirely consistent with the original meaning of irony (a fact which itself might be described as being somewhat ironic). 

Irony Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce irony: eye -run-ee

Irony in Depth

The term "irony" usually refers to three particular types of irony:

• Verbal irony is a figure of speech in which the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. For example, if someone has a painful visit to the dentist and when it's over says, "Well, that was pleasant," they are using verbal irony because the intended meaning of their words (that it  wasn't at all  pleasant) is the opposite of the literal meaning of the words. Verbal irony is the most common form of irony. In fact it is so common that when people mention "irony," they often are actually referring to verbal irony. 
• Dramatic irony  Is a plot device that highlights the difference between a character's understanding of a given situation, and that of the audience. When the audience watching a movie know what's behind that door, but the character in the movie has no idea... that's dramatic irony. 
• Situational irony  refers to an unexpected, paradoxical, or perverse turn of events. It is an example of situational irony when, in the O. Henry story " The Gift of the Magi ," a young wife cuts off her hair in order to buy her husband a chain for his prized watch, but the husband sells his watch to buy his wife a comb for her beautiful hair. 

Although these three kinds of irony may seem very different at first glance, they all share one important quality: a tension between how things appear and how they really are. For a more in-depth look at each of these devices, please visit their individual pages.

Also, it's worth knowing that sometimes instances of irony don't quite fit into any of these categories, and instead align with the more general definition of irony as something that seems to be one way, but is in fact another way. Put more broadly: sometimes irony is verbal irony, sometimes it's dramatic irony, sometimes it's situational irony, and sometimes it's just irony. 

Irony, Sarcasm, and Satire

Besides the three main types of irony described above, two other literary devices—sarcasm and satire—share a lot in common with irony:

• Sarcasm is a bitter, cutting, or mocking taunt used to denigrate a particular person, place, or thing. It can sometimes take the form of verbal irony. For instance, if you were to say to someone who had just cut you in line, "What a polite, civilized person you are!" that would be sarcasm in the form of irony, since your meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning of your words. Sarcasm very often involves irony. However, it doesn't always have to use irony. For instance, when Groucho Marx says "i never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception," he is being sarcastic, but his words, however witty they are, mean exactly what they say. 
• Satire is a form of social or political critique. Like sarcasm, it often makes use of irony, but it isn't always ironic.

You can get more details on both sarcasm and satire at their specific pages.

Irony Examples

All three forms of irony are used very frequently in literature, theater, and film. In addition, sometimes the irony found in any of these mediums is broader and doesn't fit into any of the specific categories, and is instead just general irony. 

Irony in "The Sell Out"

" The Sell Out " by Simon Rich is a short story recently published in the New Yorker that is full of irony. The story is narrated by a Polish Jew named Herschel, who lives in Brooklyn in the early twentieth century. Herschel accidentally preserves himself in brine for one hundred years, and when he is finally discovered, still alive, in 2017, he is introduced to his great-great-grandson, a young man who lives in present-day Brooklyn. On Herschel's first day, the great-great-grandson Simon tells Herschel about computers. Herschel describes the scene (note that Hershel's English isn't all that great):

It takes him long time, but eventually Simon is able to explain. A computer is a magical box that provides endless pleasure for free. Simon is used to constant access to this box—a never-ending flow of pleasures. When the box stops working—or even just briefly slows down—he becomes so enraged that he curses our God, the one who gave us life and brought us forth from Egypt.

This description is a great example of irony in the most general sense. The humor stems from the disparity between what seems to be true to Herschel (that computers are magic pleasure boxes) and what is actually true (that computers are, well, computers, and that people are kind of stupidly addicted to them). The use of irony is effective here because Hershel's description, as outlandish as it is, actually points to something that is  true about the way people use computers. Therefore, the disparity between "what is" and "what appears to be" to Herschel isn't merely a comical error; rather, it's ironic because it actually points to a greater truth about its subject.

Verbal Irony in Don Quixote

One famously ironic work is Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote .   At one point, the book's narrator states: 

… historians should and must be precise, truthful and unprejudiced, without allowing self-interest or fear, hostility or affection, to turn them away from the path of truth, whose mother is history.

We can identify the above quotation as an example of verbal irony if we consider that the book's hero, Don Quixote, is fundamentally incapable of distinguishing truth from fiction, and any historian of his life would have to follow a double track of reality and fantasy which continuously overlaps, tangles, and flips. One of the most basic premises of the book is that truth is more difficult to identify than it may seem. Therefore, when the narrator vows to follow the single path of truth, he is being ironic; in reality, he believes this to be impossible. 

Dramatic Irony in Othello

The device of dramatic irony is especially well-suited to the theater, which displays constantly shifting sets, scenes, and characters to a stationary audience that, therefore, often has a more complete or "omniscient" perspective compared to any of the characters. One excellent example of dramatic irony can be found in Shakespeare's  Othello . 

Through the play, the audience watches as Iago plots against his commander Othello, and seeks to make Othello believe that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. The audience watches as Iago plots to himself and with others. Sometimes Iago even directly reveals his plans to the audience. Meanwhile, Othello continues to trust Iago, and the audience watches as the the plan they know that Iago is pursuing slowly plays out just as he intended, and Othello eventually murders the entirely innocent Desdemona. The way that the play makes the audience aware of Iago's plot, even as Othello is not, means that the play is full of dramatic irony almost for its entire length. 

Situational Irony in The Producers

In this classic film, two friends come up with a complicated money-making scheme in which they put on a play that they think is absolutely certain to fail. Their plan backfires when the play, entitled "Springtime for Hitler," is so shockingly bad that people think it's a comedy and come to see it in droves. This is an example of situational irony because the outcome is the exact opposite of what the play's producers expected.

Why Do Writers Use Irony?

Irony is a tool that can be used for many different purposes. Though sarcasm and satire are two ways of using irony that are primarily negative and critical, ironic statements can also underscore the fragility, complexity, and beauty of human experience.

• Situational irony often demonstrates how human beings are always at the mercy of an unpredictable universe—and that life can always take an unexpected turn.
• Dramatic irony emphasizes that human knowledge is always partial and often incorrect, while giving the reader or viewer the satisfaction of a more complete understanding than that of the characters.
• In dialogue, verbal irony can display one character's sparkling wit, and another character's thickheadedness. Verbal irony can also create a connection between people who  get  the irony, excluding those who don't.

Ultimately, irony is used to create meaning—whether it's humorous or profound—out of the gap between the way things appear and how they actually are.

Other Helpful Irony Resources

• The Wikipedia page on irony : A helpful overview.
• The dictionary definition of irony : A basic definition, with a bit on the etymology.
• The comedian George Carlin explaining the difference  between situational irony and mere coincidence.
• A site with a helpful index of examples of different types of irony in television, film, video games, and other media.

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• “The Story of an Hour”: Irony

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is not only full of symbols but also ironic situations and comments, making it having multiplicity of meanings.

Introduction to Analysis of “The Story of an Hour”

Besides superficial meanings, a literary piece has deeper meanings to tell like Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” which is not only full of symbols but also ironic situations and comments. From the face, it seems a very simple story of a lady who receives the news of the death of her husband and feels depressed. When the same news transpires the wrong report, she immediately dies due to cardiac failure. Yet deeper meanings are not the same as superficial ones. They show not only the character of a woman of the 19 th century but also the social and financial circumstances in which she lives and how marriage traps her. Kate Chopin uses multiple symbols and ironies to convey the real meanings of false love, marriage, and social issues related to the 19 th century through her story “The Story of an Hour.”

Spotting Themes in “The Story of an Hour”

My first reaction to the story is that of stupefaction. I, at once, realized the irony and its symbolical value when I read the last sentence. The heart vulnerable to suffering in the first line stops working due to happiness. What a symbol of the fickleness of mind that the writer uses! It is also that the story has several symbols used dexterously by Kate Chopin to make her meanings clear. The story opens with the mention of heroin. The stress is upon her heart as if she is suffering from some cardiac issue, but also that she has heart problems. It has both meanings that she is an amalgamation of not only physical but also emotional problems. The story shows “Mrs. Mallard … afflicted with a heart trouble” (Chopin) which is the major reason for the great care the news breaker has taken. This heart is also a symbol of society as marriage is the heart of any society and if society must have strong foundations, the marriage institution must get strengthened. Her heart may show the situation of the peril that the family institution faced in the 19 th century. This opens up another debate when the story ends where it shows that she has died due to cardiac arrest but not on account of sorrow but happiness.

Symbolism in “The Story of an Hour”

Kate Chopin has also used symbols such as time, patches of sky, and the chair. Some of them are even personifications. The time is of spring as Kate Chopin states about her that she could watch the “trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life” (Chopin). All the next sentences show her jubilation over the situation she finds herself in. She thinks that now she is seeing all spring and no more autumn as she is going to free herself from the clutches of her marriage. In fact, spring is a symbol of happiness and shows how she views life. In this happiness, she sees all things expressing her feelings such as the patches of the blue sky. It is also a symbol of happiness and freedom. Earlier she thought of ending her life, but now the symbols have changed. Similarly, the chair has also become a significant symbol. The chair is personified when she hears the news of the death of her husband and sinks into it, but when this is over, she relaxes in it.

Irony in “The Story of an Hour”

As far as irony is concerned, Kate Chopin has used both situational as well as dramatic irony . The mere coming back of the dead husband is an example of situational irony. It is highly ironic that a person who is supposed to be dead and going through rituals comes alive home and is hardly aware of his own death. The second situational irony is that Mr. Mallard who should have come home dead, comes alive and Mrs. Mallard who is going to live a new life, dies on the spot. The greatest irony is that Mrs. Mallard is feeling happy and free, while others are worried that she might go into a comma or that this grief may cost her life. However, when the situation turns, they see that she, instead of dying of a heart attack, dies due to excessive happiness. Just read what the story says at the end, “When the doctors [states that it is] joy that kills” (Chopin). The other form is that of dramatic irony which is both when she cries though actually, she is happy that she is now free from her marriage locks. She is, in fact, thinking how wonderful life would be for her, while it is not the case for others who are thinking that life would be difficult for her and taking steps to make her comfortable. Her situation is that she is taking to her fancy imagining good old days of freedom, while her sister is taking care of her by clasping “her sister’s waist (Chopin) so that she should be consoled in any way. This shows how pretension and artificiality have been dominant in the 19 th century and how ladies are fickle-minded.

Conclusion of Analysis of “The Story of an Hour”

In short, Kate Chopin suggests the meanings through symbols and irony in this story. All the symbols used in this story have different meanings that correlate with the ironic situations and remarks. It shows that life in the 19 th century was witnessing fast transformations – the result of fast progress and modern ideas creeping into society. Marriage and false love were destroying social relationships which different symbols amply demonstrate here.

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour . n.d. VCU. <http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/hour/>. Accessed 12 Mar. 2020.

You may read more on Shorty Essays Below:

• “Everyday Use” and “A Man Who Was…”: African American Culture
• “Sweat” and “Everyday Use”: Feminism
• “The Cask of Amontillado”: Revenge

Related posts:

• “Araby” by James Joyce: Modernist Story
• Humanity in “The Cabuliwala”

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Last updated on Nov 03, 2022

3 Types of Irony: Tell Them Apart With Confidence (+ Examples)

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About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Irony is when the opposite of what is expected happens. In writing, there are three types of irony — verbal, situational, and dramatic.

• Verbal irony is when a person says one thing but means the opposite;
• Situational irony is when the opposite of what is expected happens; and
• Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that characters do not.

The term “irony” comes from the Greek word eironeia , meaning "feigned ignorance," and many storytellers of all stripes like to employ different forms of irony as the central conceit in a plot.

To help you make heads or tails of this technique, this article will dig into the three common types of irony.

1. Verbal irony

Verbal irony is where the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of what is actually said. People and literary characters alike use it to express amusement, emphasize a point, or to voice frustration or anger. In literature, verbal irony can create suspense, tension, or a comic effect. 

Verbal irony is actually the type of irony most used in everyday conversation, and can take the form of sarcasm — which is almost always used to denigrate someone or something. Regardless, the two are not the same thing, though many people conflate the concepts. 

To illustrate, here are a few common phrases that perfectly exemplify how verbal irony works — many of them similes comparing two entirely unlike things:

• "Clear as mud."
• "Friendly as a rattlesnake."
• "About as much fun as a root canal."

Understating and overstating

Broadly speaking, verbal irony works by either understating or overstating the gravity of the situation. 

An ironic understatement creates contrast by undermining the impact of something, though the thing itself will be rather substantial or severe. For example, in The Catcher in the Rye , Holden Caulfield casually says, "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain." Of course, Holden is lying here, which is why he can be so cavalier — and the nonchalant way he downplays something as serious as a brain tumor is ironic.

On the other hand, an ironic overstatement makes something minor sound like a much bigger deal to emphasize a quality it lacks. For example, say you win $5 in a lottery where the grand prize is $100 million. A friend asks you if you won anything, and you say, "Yeah, total jackpot" — that's an ironic overstatement.

💡 Note: Don’t confuse ironic overstatements with hyperbole , which are exaggerated statements . If a character says "I'm so tired, I could sleep for a million years,” and they are genuinely tired, that isn’t ironic — just exaggerated.

Highlighting a fallacy

Verbal irony is often used for satirical purposes, exaggerating or underplaying descriptions to reveal a deeper truth. Viewed through a lens of overstatement or understatement, the reader can see how flawed the original concept might be.

Verbal irony can be found in the very first lines of Romeo and Juliet (a play riddled with irony).

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Though the first line may sound respectful, we can see by the end of this verse that Shakespeare doesn’t actually mean to say that both households are alike in their great dignity. Instead, these lines imply the total opposite — that both households are equally un dignified. This irony also serves another purpose: notifying first-time readers that not all that glitters is gold. While both families might technically be considered nobility, their shared inability to act nobly toward one another ultimately leads to a bitter end for our tragic heroes.

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Providing insight into characters

Dialogue is an incredible tool for revealing what a character is like as how they choose to say something can speak volumes about who they are. Very often, people who use verbal irony tend to be highly self-aware.

For example, in Casablanca, the corrupt (yet charming) police captain Louis Renault follows instructions from German officials  to order a raid on Rick's nightclub under the pretext of closing an illegal gambling den. "I'm shocked — shocked! — to find that gambling is going on in here!" Renault exclaims while thanking Rick’s croupier for bringing him his winnings. This knowing overstatement of 'shocked' reveals a lot about his cheerfully cynical worldview.

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Creating a comic effect

Of course, verbal irony can also be used for a simple comic result. Whether it's to highlight a witty character, lighten tension during a dark or difficult scene, or just to make people laugh, verbal irony can provide a much-needed moment of humorous relief. As you might expect, verbal irony is a common joke component.

For example, in Notting Hill , when love interests Anna and Will first meet at his bookshop , he confronts a man who’s trying to steal a book, and very politely threatens to call the police. When he returns to the till to help Anna, she hands over the book she’d like to buy and says “I was gonna steal one, but now I’ve changed my mind.” Obviously, the statement isn’t true — she’s using verbal irony to make light of the situation, diffusing awkwardness and showing her friendly inclination.

2. Situational irony

In literature, situational irony is a literary or plot device occurring when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. You can use it to create suspense, humor, and surprise in your writing.

You can think of it as “the irony of events” to distinguish from the other types of irony, but it is not the same as coincidence or bad luck (apologies to Alanis Morrisette ). If you buy a new car and then accidentally drive it into a tree, that is coincidental and unlucky, but not ironic. However, if a professional stunt driver crashes into a tree on their way home from receiving a "best driver" award, that is situationally ironic. 

Within the context of a story, why might a writer use situational irony?

Creating a good ol’ fashioned twist

Authors can draw strong reactions from their readers by presenting them with carefully executed twists and turns. A plot twist is all the more delicious when it's the polar opposite of what you'd typically expect. Storylines based on or containing situational irony inherently possess an element of surprise, so they're common in the comedy, thriller, crime, and mystery genres.

In Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest , for example, Jack proposes to Gwendolen under his fake name of Ernest, hoping to share the truth about his name once he’s been accepted. His plan is quickly thwarted when she accepts him because of his name, telling him that her “ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest.” When he asks her what he thinks of “Jack” as a name, she declares that “The only really safe name is Ernest” — so his plan to reveal the truth is suddenly turned on its head, and he resolves to get christened as soon as possible. 

Emphasizing a theme or moral lesson

Steering readers to an unexpected destination in a story can also emphasize a theme or moral lesson — often reminding readers that an expected outcome is not always guaranteed. And because situational irony can urge readers to think twice about their own assumptions, authors often deploy it in fables or morality tales.

In Aesop's 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' for example, the unexpected outcome teaches us that slow and steady wins the race . Or perhaps the real moral is that you shouldn't be complacent and take naps during races.

Situational irony creates a contrast between appearances and underlying truths. When done properly, this can significantly alter a reader's interaction with, expectations of, and insight into a story. But irony must be used with care: without the help of intonation and body language, it requires people to read between the lines to understand its intentions; a reader who doesn’t see the irony will take these words at face value.

3. Dramatic irony

Dramatic irony occurs when the reader or viewer knows something that the characters in the story do not. This can create a sense of unease or anticipation as the audience waits to see how the characters will react to the situation they are in. 

So, to what effect can dramatic irony be used in a story?

Building fear and suspense

When readers or viewers know more than the characters do, they’re often left on pins and needles, waiting for the other shoe to drop or for an inevitable plot point to appear. Will the character discover the secret we already know? What will happen when they find out the truth? What if they find out the truth too late? Subconsciously, all of these questions run through their minds as the story unfolds, contributing to page-turning suspense.

The Hobbit contains a perfect example of dramatic irony — when Bilbo happens upon the ring while lost on a mountain, he puts it in his pocket and soon afterward encounters Gollum.

At this point, readers understand the significance of the ring and its importance to Gollum. However, Gollum does not yet realize he has lost the ring, and Bilbo doesn’t yet know who the ring belongs to. For this reason, the scene where Bilbo and Gollum engage in a game of riddles becomes more stressful for the audience who understands what’s at stake. 

📚 For some truly impressive suspense-building, check out this list of the 50 best suspense books of all time.

Eliciting sympathy for a character

If a character is happy but we know that tragedy lies ahead, we can’t help but sympathize with them. If the reader or audience is already "rooting for" the characters, they will hold on to the hope that things will turn out okay for them. And whatever the end result is — pain or relief —  the reader is likely to feel it twofold.

The audience knew all along! (image: Touchstone Pictures)

In the modern-day Shakespeare adaptation Ten Things I Hate About You , for example, bad-boy transfer student Patrick is paid by his classmate to woo the cold and aloof Kat. The audience knows that Kat will eventually discover the truth. The deception will wound her, and Patrick will (justifiably) lose her trust. This dramatic irony gives the scenes where they fall in love a bittersweet edge, making us sympathize with both characters. 

In fact, many romance tropes rely on dramatic irony, like the hate-to-love trope — just on account of the characters existing in a romance novel, readers know they're going to end up together . This results in that “slow burn” anticipation where readers are dying to see the characters confess their feelings, but have to live with their impatience as the romance slowly runs its course.

Setting up comical misunderstandings

A lot of comedy comes out of misunderstandings — where a character believes something that the audience knows not to be true, or doesn’t yet know something important. The dramatic irony turns into comedic tension as the character obliviously digs themselves (or other characters) into a deeper hole.

To give you an example of how this works: in a season one episode of Friends , Joey tried to win back his ex-girlfriend Angela by arranging a double date. He brings Monica but  tells her that Angela’s new boyfriend, Bob, is actually her brother — making it seem as though Bob is Monica’s date. This misunderstanding turns to hilarious confusion as Monica is creeped out by how 'close' Bob and Angela seem to be.

Want more examples and in-depth explanation of any of these types of irony? We’ve spent some time breaking them down even further in the next posts in this guide — starting with verbal irony.

3 responses

Katharine Trauger says:

08/08/2017 – 05:39

I once received a birthday card telling me that irony is the opposite of wrinkly. But I do have a question: I believe, as you related to Hitchcock and I think about his works, that he used irony extensively, even more than one instance in a piece. It's a lot to remember and I've certainly not examined his works to verify that. However, I wonder if, although his works were beyond successful and loved by many, just how much irony is acceptable in today's writing. I agree it is a great device, but can it be overdone? Also, I am writing a piece which has what I believe an ironic ending. Is that a bad place to put a huge departure from the expected? I think O'Henry did that a lot, like when the man sells his watch to buy combs for his wife, and she sells her hair to buy a chain for his watch... But today, how much is too much and will readers come back for more?

↪️ Jim Morrison replied:

20/06/2018 – 21:42

While irony can be overused, it is not a bad thing to use irony - even to end a book. "Story" by Robert McKee discusses irony as an ending and explains how to use it and when to use it. As to your question about how much irony is accepted in today's society, I would say that it is more acceptable than before. With today's writing - particularly in theater - irony is a heavily used element. Thor: Ragnarok, for example, is dripping with ironic situations. Satire, the personal wheelhouse of Vonnegut and Heller, is not only a highbrow version of sarcasm, it is also heavy on the irony. So I say, personally, be as ironic as you want, just, as mentioned in the blog, be careful you don't overuse it to the point that the use of irony becomes ironic (i.e. you lose the audience). Cheers and happy writing.

Naughty Autie says:

30/05/2019 – 15:37

There is a blog which does not allow comments, yet it's called 'The Conversation'. Funny, I always thought that a conversation always took place between multiple people.

Comments are currently closed.

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How to Write About Irony in a Literary Essay

Irony is used across literary genres to a variety of effects. There are two main steps to writing about irony in a literary essay. First, there’s the definition: You’ll need to recognize irony in the text and figure out what type of irony it is. Second, there’s the interpretation: You’ll comment on how that specific type of irony contributes to the overall meaning of the larger text.

Verbal Irony

In general, you can think of irony as occurring when an outcome undermines someone’s expectations. Verbal irony happens when conversational expectations are undermined. When another person listens to you speak, he usually assumes you’re saying what you mean. If you use verbal irony, you say something that you don’t want a listener to take literally. Sarcasm is one kind of verbal irony: If it’s storming, you might say, “Oh, what perfect weather for a picnic!” but expect your friend to realize that you mean just the opposite. Overstatement ( hyperbole ) and understatement (litotes) are also types of verbal irony. As is probably clear, verbal irony is heavily context dependent -- listeners or readers must know something about the speaker’s situation to interpret it correctly.

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that a character doesn’t know. Usually, this “something” is a crucial piece of information for a decision that the character has to make. (This is the kind of irony that makes you scream at an unsuspecting heroine, “Don’t go out the back door-- the killer’s waiting there!”) For example, in William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, but mistakenly believes that she is dead and, in great distress, commits suicide. The gap between Romeo’s perspective -- that Juliet is dead -- and the audience’s perspective -- that Juliet is merely feigning death -- constitutes dramatic irony.

Situational Irony

Situational irony happens when a text’s plot takes a completely different turn than both the characters and the audience expect. For instance, In “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,” the story’s hero, Luke Skywalker, learns that the evil Darth Vader is really his father -- and the audience is just as surprised as he is. Situational irony is also sometimes called “cosmic irony” or “irony of fate.”

Interpreting Irony

Once you pinpoint and define irony, in your literary essay, you can show how irony is working to create, reinforce or undermine an overall theme of the text. For instance, in the example of dramatic irony from “Romeo and Juliet,” you could argue that Romeo’s hasty actions in response to his assumption comment on a larger theme of the play: the feud between his and Juliet’s parents. Although we might understand a smitten young lover’s rash decision to join his sweetheart in death, we can contrast his excusable immaturity with the parents’ inexcusable immaturity in holding a grudge that costs many lives. The dramatic irony of the death scene heightens our emotional response to the unnecessary nature of the lovers’ deaths. That emotion then makes us more invested in the play’s resolution, when the feuding families reconcile, and helps us to internalize one of the play’s messages: Bitter hate wounds the hater most deeply. As in all literary essays, make sure to discuss plenty of quotations (here, the ironic passages) as well as the textual and historical context to demonstrate irony’s role in the text as a whole.

• Kansas State University: Critical Concepts: Verbal Irony; Lyman Baker

Elissa Hansen has more than nine years of editorial experience, and she specializes in academic editing across disciplines. She teaches university English and professional writing courses, holding a Bachelor of Arts in English and a certificate in technical communication from Cal Poly, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Wyoming, and a doctorate in English from the University of Minnesota.

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What Is Irony? Definition and 5 Different Types of Irony to Engage Readers

by Fija Callaghan

Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and writing workshop leader. She has been recognized by a number of awards, including being shortlisting for the H. G. Wells Short Story Prize. She is the author of the short story collection Frail Little Embers , and her writing can be read in places like Seaside Gothic , Gingerbread House , and Howl: New Irish Writing . She is also a developmental editor with Fictive Pursuits. You can read more about her at fijacallaghan.com .

Most of us are familiar with irony in our day to day lives—for instance, if you buy a brand new car only to have it break down on its very first ride (situational irony). Or if someone tells you they love your new dress, when what they actually mean is that it flatters absolutely no one and wasn’t even fashionable in their grandparent’s time (verbal irony).

Ironic understatement and ironic overstatement make their way into our conversations all the time, but how do you take those rascally twists of fate and use them to create a powerful story?

There are countless examples of irony in almost all storytelling, from short stories and novels to stage plays, film, poetry, and even sales marketing. Its distinctive subversion of expectation keeps readers excited and engaged, hanging on to your story until the very last page.

What is irony?

Irony is a literary and rhetorical device in which a reader’s expectation is sharply contrasted against what’s really happening. This might be when someone says the opposite of what they mean, or when a situation concludes the opposite of how one would expect. There are five types of irony: Tragic, Comic, Situational, Verbal, and Socratic.

The word irony comes from the Latin ironia , which means “feigned ignorance.” This can be a contradiction between what someone says and what they mean, between what a character expects and what they go on to experience, or what the reader expects and what actually happens in the plot. In all cases there’s a twist that keeps your story fresh and unpredictable.

By using different kinds of irony—and we’ll look at the five types of irony in literature down below—you can manage the reader’s expectations to create suspense and surprise in your story.

What’s not irony?

The words irony and ironic get thrown around a fair bit, when sometimes what someone’s really referring to is coincidence or plain bad luck. So what constitutes irony? It’s not rain on your wedding day, or or a free ride when you’ve already paid. Irony occurs when an action or event is the opposite of its literal meaning or expected outcome.

For example, if the wedding was between a woman who wrote a book called Why You Don’t Need No Man and a man who held a TEDtalk called “Marriage As the Antithesis of Evolution,” their wedding (rainy or not) would be ironic—because it’s the opposite of what we would expect.

Another perfect example of irony would be if you listened a song called “Ironic,” and discovered it wasn’t about irony after all.

Why does irony matter in writing?

Irony is something we all experience, sometimes without even recognizing it. Using irony as a literary technique in your writing can encourage readers to look at your story in a brand new way, making them question what they thought they knew about the characters, theme, and message that your story is trying to communicate.

Subverting the expectations of both your readers and the characters who populate your story world is one of the best ways to convey a bold new idea.

Aesop used this idea very effectively in his moralistic children’s tales, like “The Tortoise and the Hare.” The two title characters are set up to race each other to the finish line, and it seems inevitable that the hare will beat the tortoise easily. By subverting our expectations, and leading the story to an unexpected outcome, the author encourages the reader to think about what the story means and why it took the turn that it did.

The 5 types of irony

While all irony functions on the basis of undermining expectations, this can be done in different ways. Let’s look at the different types of irony in literature and how you can make them work in your own writing.

1. Tragic irony

Tragic irony is the first of two types of dramatic irony—both types always show the reader more than it shows its characters. In tragic dramatic irony, the author lets the reader in on the downfall waiting for the protagonist before the character knows it themselves.

This is a very common and effective literary device in many classic tragedies; Shakespeare was a big fan of using tragic irony in many of his plays. One famous example comes at the end of Romeo and Juliet , when poor Romeo believes that his girlfriend is dead. The audience understands that Juliet, having taken a sleeping potion, is only faking.

Carrying this knowledge with them as they watch the lovers hurtle towards their inevitable, heartbreaking conclusion makes this story even more powerful.

Another example of tragic irony is in the famous fairy tale “Red Riding Hood,” when our red-capped heroine goes to meet her grandmother, oblivious of any danger. The reader knows that the “grandmother” is actually a vicious, hungry wolf waiting to devour the girl, red hood and all. Much like curling up with a classic horror movie, the reader can only watch as the protagonist comes closer and closer to her doom.

This type of irony makes the story powerful, heartbreaking, and deliciously cathartic.

2. Comic irony

Comic irony uses the same structure as dramatic irony, only in this case it’s used to make readers laugh. Just like with tragic irony, this type of irony depends on allowing the reader to know more than the protagonist.

For example, a newly single man might spend hours getting ready for a blind date only to discover that he’s been set up with his former girlfriend. If the reader knows that both parties are unaware of what’s waiting for them, it makes for an even more satisfying conclusion when the two unwitting former lovers finally meet.

TV sitcoms love to use comedic irony. In this medium, the audience will often watch as the show’s characters stumble through the plot making the wrong choices. For example, in the TV series Friends , one pivotal episode shows a main character accepting a sudden marriage proposal from another—even though the audience knows the proposal was made unintentionally.

By letting the audience in on the secret, it gives the show an endearing slapstick quality and makes the viewer feel like they’re a part of the story.

3. Situational irony

Situational irony is when a story shows us the opposite of what we expect. This might be something like an American character ordering “shop local” buttons from a factory in China, or someone loudly championing the ethics of a vegan diet while wearing a leather jacket.

When most people think about ironic situations in real life, they’re probably thinking of situational irony—sometimes called cosmic irony. It’s also one of the building blocks of the twist ending, which we’ll look at in more detail below.

The author O. Henry was a master of using situational irony. In his short story “ The Ransom of Red Chief ,” two desperate men decide to get rich quick by kidnapping a child and holding him for ransom. However, the child in question turns out to be a horrendous burden and, after some negotiating, the men end up paying the parents to take him off their hands. This ironic twist is a complete reversal from the expectation that was set up at the beginning.

When we can look back on situational irony from the past, it’s sometimes called historical irony; we can retrospectively understand that an effort to accomplish one thing actually accomplished its opposite.

4. Verbal irony

Verbal irony is what we recognize most in our lives as sarcasm. It means saying the opposite of your intended meaning or what you intend the reader to understand, usually by either understatement or overstatement. This can be used for both tragic and comic effect.

For example, in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar , Mark Anthony performs a funeral speech honoring the character Brutus. He repeatedly calls him “noble” and “an honorable man,” even though Brutus was actually involved in the death of the man for which the funeral is being held. Mark Anthony’s ironic overstatement makes the audience aware that he actually holds the opposite regard for the villain, though he is sharing his inflammatory opinion in a tactful, politically safe way.

Verbal irony is particularly common in older and historical fiction in which societal constraints limited what people were able to say to each other. For example, a woman might say that it was dangerous for her to walk home all alone in the twilight, when what she really meant is that she was open to having some company.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice , the two younger girls wail that they’ve hurt their ankles, hoping to elicit some sympathy from the strong arms of the men. You can use this kind of rhetorical device to enhance your character development.

5. Socratic irony

Socratic irony is actually a little bit like dramatic irony, except that it happens between two characters rather than between the characters and the reader. This type of irony happens when one character knows something that the other characters don’t.

It’s a manipulative technique that a character uses in order to achieve a goal—to get information, to gain a confession, or to catch someone in a lie. For example, police officers and lawyers will often use this technique to trip someone up: They’ll pretend they don’t know something and ask questions in order to trick someone into saying something they didn’t intend.

Usually Socratic irony is used in a sly and manipulative way, but not always; a teacher might use the Socratic irony technique to make a child realize they know more about a subject than they thought they did, by asking them leading questions or to clarify certain points. Like verbal irony, Socratic irony involves a character saying something they don’t really mean in order to gain something from another character.

Is irony the same as a plot twist?

The “plot twist” is a stylistic way of using situational irony. In the O. Henry example we looked at above, the author sets up a simple expectation at the start of the story: the men will trade in the child for hard cash and walk away happy. Alas, life so rarely goes according to plan. By the time we reach the story’s conclusion, our expectation of the story has been completely twisted around in a fun, satisfying way.

Not all situational irony is a plot twist, though. A plot twist usually comes either at the end or at the midpoint of your story. Situational irony can happen at any time as major plot points, or as small, surprising moments that help us learn something about our characters or the world we live in.

You’ll often see plot twists being compared to dramatic irony, because they have a lot in common. Both rely on hidden information and the gradual unfurling of secrets. The difference is that with a plot twist, the reader is taken by surprise and given the new information right along with the characters. With dramatic irony, the reader is in on the trick and they get to watch the characters being taken off guard.

Both dramatic irony and plot twists can be used quite effectively in writing. It’s up to you as the writer to decide how close you want your readers and your characters to be, and how much you want them to experience together.

How to use irony in your own writing

One of the great advantages of irony is that it forces us to look at things in a new way. This is essential when it comes to communicating theme to your reader.

In literature, theme is the underlying story that’s being told—a true story, a very real message or idea about the world we live in, the way we behave within it, or how we can make it a better place. In order to get that message across to our readers, we need to give them a new way to engage with that story. The innate subversion of expectations in irony is a wonderful way to do this.

For example, the classic fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” uses irony very effectively to communicate its theme: don’t judge a person by their appearance.

Based on our preconceptions of this classic type of fairy tale, we would go in expecting the handsome young soldier to be the hero and the beastly monster to be the adversary. We might also expect the beautiful girl to be helpless and weak-spirited, waiting for her father to come in and save her. In this story, however, it’s the girl who saves her foolish father, the handsome soldier who shows himself to be the true monster, and the beast who becomes a hero to fight for those he cares about.

Not only do these subversions make for a powerful and engaging story, they do something very important for our readers: they make them ask themselves why they had these preconceptions in the first place. Why do we expect the handsome soldier to be noble and kind? Why do we expect the worst from the man with the beastly face before even giving him the chance to speak?

It’s these honest, sometimes uncomfortable questions, more than anything else, that make the theme real for your reader.

When looking for ways to weave theme throughout your story, consider what preconceived ideas your reader might be coming into the story with that might stand in the way of what you’re trying to say. Then see if you can find ways to make those ideas stand on their head. This will make the theme of your story more convincing, resonant, and powerful.

The one mistake to never make when using irony in your story

I’m going to tell you one of life’s great truths, which might be a bit difficult for some people to wrap their heads around. Embrace it, and you’ll leave your readers feeling a lot happier and more satisfied at the end of your story. Here it is:

You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room.

Have you ever been faced with a plot twist in a story and thought, “but that doesn’t make any sense”? Or realized that a surprising new piece of information rendered the events of the plot , or the effective slow build of characterization, absolutely meaningless?

These moments happen because the author became so enamored with the idea of pulling a fast one on the reader, revealing their cleverly assembled sleight-of-hand with the flourish of a theater curtain, that they forget the most important thing: the story .

When using irony in your work, the biggest mistake you can make is to look at it like a shiny, isolated hat trick. Nothing in your story is isolated; every moment fits together as a thread in a cohesive tapestry.

Remember that even if an ironic turn is unexpected, it needs to make sense within the world of your story. This means within the time and place you’ve created—for instance, you wouldn’t create an ironic twist in a medieval fantasy by suddenly having a character whip out a cellphone—but also within the world of your characters.

For example, if it turns out your frail damsel in distress is actually a powerful sorceress intent on destroying the hero, that’s not something you can just drop into your story unannounced like a grenade (no matter how tempting it might be). You need to begin laying down story seeds for that moment right from the beginning. You want your reader to be able to go back and say “ ohhh , I see what they did there. It all makes sense now.”

Irony—in particular the “twist ending”—can be fun, surprising, and unexpected, but it also needs to be a natural progression of the world you’ve created.

Irony is a literary device that reveals new dimension

To understand irony, we need to understand expectation in our audience or readers. When you’re able to manipulate these expectations, you engage your audience in surprising ways and maybe even teach them something new.

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When and How to Use Irony

• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Use Irony

How to Use Irony

Irony can be tough to write because first you have to notice something ironic to write about a situation, which is a kind of insight . That’s also why it’s a fairly impressive writing technique. So the trick is not to practice writing irony but to practice noticing it. Look around you every day, and you will see plenty of ways in which ordinary expectations are contradicted by what happens in the real, unpredictable world.

As you look around for irony, take care to avoid the pitfall of confusing irony with coincidence . Often coincidences are ironic, and often they are not. Think of it this way: a coincidence would be if firemen, on the way home from putting out a fire, suddenly got called back out to fight another one. Irony would be if their fire truck caught on fire. The latter violates our expectations about fire trucks, whereas the former is just an unfortunate (but not necessarily unexpected) turn of events.

Another way of putting it is this: coincidence is a relationship between  facts (e.g. Fire 1 and Fire 2), whereas irony is a relationship between a fact and an expectation and how they contradict each other.

When to use irony

Irony belongs more in  creative writing than in formal essays . It’s a great way of getting a reader engaged in a story, since it sets up expectations and then provokes an emotional response. It also makes a story feel more lifelike, since having our expectations violated is a universal experience. And, of course, humor is always valuable in creative writing.

Verbal irony is also useful in creative writing, especially in crafting characters or showing us their mind and feelings. Take this passage as an example:

Eleanor turned on her flashlight and stepped carefully into the basement. She kept repeating to herself that she was not afraid. She was not afraid. She was not afraid.

Even though the author keeps repeating “she was not afraid,” we all know that Eleanor was afraid. But we also know that she was trying to convince herself otherwise, and this verbal irony gives us additional psychological insight into the character. Rather than just saying “Eleanor was afraid of the basement,” the author is giving us information about how Eleanor deals with fear, and the emotions she is feeling as she enters the basement.

In formal essays , you should almost never  use irony, but you might very well point it out . Irony is striking in any context, and a good technique for getting the reader’s attention. For example, a paper about the history of gunpowder could capture readers’ interest by pointing out that this substance, which has caused so much death over the years, was discovered by Chinese alchemists seeking an elixir of immortality.

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t express your own thoughts by using verbal irony in a formal essay – a formal essay should always present exactly what you mean without tricks or disguises.

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Kate Chopin’s The Story of An Hour: Irony & Analysis

• Kate Chopin’s The Story of…

In Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour,” there is much irony. The first irony detected is in the way that Louise reacts to the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. Before Louise’s reaction is revealed, Chopin alludes to how the widow feels by describing the world according to her perception of it after the “horrible” news.

Louise is said to “not hear the story as many women have heard the same.” Rather, she accepts it and goes to her room to be alone. Now the reader starts to see the world through Louise’s eyes, a world full of new and pure life. In her room, Louise sinks into a comfortable chair and looks out her window.

Immediately the image of comfort seems to strike an odd note. One reading this story should question the use of the word “comfortable” and why Louise is not beating the furniture instead.

Next, the newly widowed women are looking out of the window and see spring and all the new life it brings. The descriptions used now are as far away from death as possible. “The delicious breath of rain…the notes of a distant song…countless sparrows were twittering…patches of blue sky….”

All these are beautiful images of life, the reader is quite confused by this most unusual foreshadowing until Louise’s reaction is explained. The widow whispers “Free, free, free!” Louise realizes that her husband had loved her, but she goes on to explain that as men and women often inhibit each other, even if it is done with the best of intentions, they exert their own wills upon each other.

She realized that although at times she had loved him, she has regained her freedom, a state of being that all of God’s creatures strive for. Although this reaction is completely unexpected, the reader quickly accepts it because of Louise’s adequate explanation. She grows excited and begins to fantasize about living her life for herself.

With this realization, she wishes that “life might belong,” and she feels like a “goddess of Victory” as she walks down the stairs. This is an eerie foreshadowing for an even more unexpected ending. The reader has just accepted Louise’s reaction to her husband’s death when the most unexpected happens; her husband is actually alive and he enters the room shocking everyone, and Louise especially, as she is shocked to death.

The irony continues, though, because the doctors say she died of joy when the reader knows that she actually died because she had a glimpse of freedom and could not go back to living under her husband’s will again. In the title, the “story” refers to Louise’s life. She lived in the true sense of the word, with the will and freedom to live for only one hour.

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• Edna's Relationships in Kate Chopin's The Awakening

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• What Is Irony? | Examples, Types & Definition

What Is Irony? | Examples, Types & Definition

Published on June 20, 2024 by Magedah Shabo .

Irony occurs when events or words are the opposite of what is expected, creating a sense of surprise, humor , or deeper meaning in literature, rhetoric, and everyday situations.

Table of contents

What is irony, 3 types of irony, irony vs sarcasm, frequently asked questions about irony.

Irony involves a clear contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually happens or is expressed. It reveals unexpected outcomes or contradictions that challenge conventional expectations, prompting deeper thought and emotional responses.

As a rhetorical and literary device, irony plays an essential role in enriching narratives, conveying complex ideas, and engaging audiences by adding layers of meaning and nuance to communication and storytelling.

There are three common types of irony:

Situational irony

Verbal irony, dramatic irony.

Situational irony occurs when events starkly contrast with expectations. As a literary plot device, it is often used to emphasize the difference between appearance and reality, surprising the audience and creating memorable plot twists.

The effects of situational irony include provoking thought and evoking a range of emotions, from humor to tragedy. Situational irony can occur in literature, film, and theater to engage audiences and enhance storytelling.

Verbal irony occurs when someone says something dramatically different from what they mean. As a literary and rhetorical device, it is used to convey sarcasm, humor, or criticism by contrasting the literal meaning of the words with the intended message.

The effects of verbal irony include adding layers of meaning, provoking thought, and evoking a range of emotions from amusement to disdain. Verbal irony is commonly found in literature, everyday conversation, and speeches to engage audiences and enhance communication.

Dramatic irony is a plot device that involves revealing information to the audience that some or all of the characters do not know. This technique can create humor, suspense, or emotional impact.

In tragedy, dramatic irony is also called “tragic irony,” and it serves to heighten emotions such as fear, sympathy, or a sense of impending doom. In comedy, dramatic irony often involves humorous misunderstandings.

Irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality. It can be situational, dramatic, or verbal.

Sarcasm is a specific type of verbal irony that conveys mockery or disdain by saying the opposite of what one means.

While irony is a technique used in satire, satire is a broad genre that aims to provoke thought and promote change.

• Irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality, highlighting discrepancies through situational irony, verbal irony , or dramatic irony.
• Satire uses humor , irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize and expose the flaws or vices of individuals, societies, or institutions. It aims to provoke thought and promote change.

An example of irony in literature is in O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi,” where Jim and Della each sacrifice their most prized possession to buy a gift for the other: Della sells her hair for a chain, and Jim sells his watch for combs.

The situational irony lies in the fact that Jim and Della’s well-intentioned sacrifices make their gifts useless. This irony highlights the idea that the true value of gifts lies in the love and sacrifice they represent.

Socratic irony is the technique of posing simple questions, as if one were ignorant, to expose the ignorance or flaws in others’ arguments. The irony lies in the fact that by feigning ignorance, you can lead people to reveal their own misunderstandings or contradictions, encouraging deeper reflection and critical thinking. This method is a key part of the Socratic method of teaching and dialogue.

Example : In Plato’s dialogues, Socrates questions Euthyphro about the nature of piety. Socrates pretends not to understand what piety is and asks Euthyphro to explain it. Through a series of questions, Socrates exposes the inconsistencies in Euthyphro’s definitions, showing that Euthyphro does not actually understand the concept as well as he claims.

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Essay Samples on Irony

A sound of thunder: the importance of a wary treatment of technological progress.

In the short story A Sound of Thunder, author Ray Bradbury’s main argument is that the decisions that may seem irrelevant at first can end up being far more serious than expected. In the story, the main character Eckles, pays $10,000 to travel back in...

• A Sound of Thunder

Exploring the Human Experience in "Looking for Alaska"

Looking for Alaska, a novel written by John Green, explores the intricacies of life and how it shapes us through the experiences of its protagonist, Miles "Pudge" Halter. The novel's themes of love, loss, and friendship are conveyed through various literary techniques, including symbolism, foreshadowing,...

• Literary Devices
• Looking For Alaska

The Real ‘Innocent’ Figures in Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton was an American author and Pulitzer Prize winner whose personal life and passion influenced her writing (Cliffsnotes, 2018). Edith Wharton was the author of the novel of ”The Age of Innocence' which was published in 1920. In this novel, many issues were brought...

• The Age of Innocence

The Third-Party Perception of the Society in Good Country People

‘Good Country People’ is comes out as an ironic title that Flannery O’Connor uses a part of the collection of short stories dubbed ‘A good man is hard to find.’ Thus from the overall theme in the short stories depicting the difficulty of finding a...

• Good Country People

The Comparative Analysis Research of O’Connor’s Stories

The O’Connor stories are about showing us the way humanity is with others and mankind’s nature, she explains these in her works. “Most readers characterize clichéd speech as “empty” or “dead” and see the characters’ attempts at communicating by such speech as failed.” Not many...

• Human Nature

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The Use of Verbal and Dramatic Irony in the Poem "Ozymandias"

Besides the poetic devices and smart diction in the poem, irony is also used to give the audience a contrast between the prosperous past and bleak present which emphasizes the futility of arrogance and past grandeur. Ozymandias was once believed as a mighty emperor, the...

The Theme Of Over-Reliance On Technology In “The Veldt”

Theme in a story is its underlying message or big idea which can be expressed in many ways. The Happylife Home is a home with the greatest technology. In “The Veldt”, Ray Bradbury effectively utilizes foreshadowing and irony to simultaneously develop the theme of over-reliance...

• Virtual Reality

The Functions of Humor, Irony and Satire in the Literature of the Shoah

According to a famous quote by Theodor W. Adorno, “Writing poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric”. While this quote is debatable in itself, another question arises concerning the topic which is no less problematic: but what about humor? As a matter of fact, Jewish humor existed...

Analysis of Stylistic Devices Used in Eliot's "Silas Marner"

Introduction One crucial component of any literature text is the associated literary devices used by the author. Stylistic devices, also known as figures of speech, refer to the vital tools of writing that are employed in literary works to create lively and interesting texts. They...

The Rhetorics and Irony in Alighieri's Inferno and More’s Utopia 1

Irony is a conventional rhetorical device used by authors to convey to their readers an incongruity with the aim to relay humor or ridicule, or to depreciate an idea. Thomas More's Utopia and Dante Alighieri's Inferno present perfect examples where irony is used to influence...

• Thomas More

The Irony of Socrates' Prose 'Apology'

In this narrative, I will attempt to explain the Apology, by Socrates. He proclaimed his innocence of charges that he had suborned the youth men Of Athens and he would attempt to plead his case in front of several Athenian Council members (Alan De Botton,...

• The Apology

Analysis Of Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal

Suggesting the nation alleviate its issue of poverty by using the children of the underprivileged Irish population as livestock to feed the rich - making the starving children in Ireland useful members of the commonwealth in a cheap and easy fashion. Crude commentary on England’s...

• A Modest Proposal

Best topics on Irony

1. A Sound of Thunder: The Importance of a Wary Treatment of Technological Progress

2. Exploring the Human Experience in “Looking for Alaska”

3. The Real ‘Innocent’ Figures in Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence

4. The Third-Party Perception of the Society in Good Country People

5. The Comparative Analysis Research of O’Connor’s Stories

6. The Use of Verbal and Dramatic Irony in the Poem “Ozymandias”

7. The Theme Of Over-Reliance On Technology In “The Veldt”

8. The Functions of Humor, Irony and Satire in the Literature of the Shoah

9. Analysis of Stylistic Devices Used in Eliot’s “Silas Marner”

10. The Rhetorics and Irony in Alighieri’s Inferno and More’s Utopia 1

11. The Irony of Socrates’ Prose ‘Apology’

12. Analysis Of Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal

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• The Great Gatsby Symbolism
• The Red Badge of Courage

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