Irony

Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or event characterized by an incongruity, or contrast, between what the expectations of a situation are and what is really the case, often with a humorous or sarcastic twist.

Definition and classification

Irony can be categorized into different types, including: verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony. Verbal irony is a figure of speech that occurs when a person says one thing but means the opposite. Dramatic irony is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play. Situational irony is an occurrence in which the outcome is significantly different from what was expected or considered appropriate.

Verbal irony

Verbal irony is part of the modern irony types, but it has been used for hundreds of years. Chaucer used irony in the Canterbury Tales. Also, the Greek comedy writer Aristophanes used irony in his work.

Dramatic irony

Dramatic irony is a form of irony that is expressed through a work’s structure: an audience’s awareness of the situation in which a work’s characters exist differs substantially from that of the characters’, and the words and actions of the characters therefore take on a different—often contradictory—meaning for the audience than they have for the work’s characters.

Situational irony

Situational irony is a relatively modern use of the term, and describes a sharp discrepancy between the expected result and actual results in a certain situation.

See also

• Sarcasm
• Satire
• Paradox

References

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