Irony Literary Definition

Irony Literary Definition

A child runs away from someone throwing a water balloon at him and falls into the pool. This is ironic because the child ends up wetter than he would have been, thwarting his expectations of what would happen when he ran away from the water balloon.

What is a simple definition of irony?

Definition of irony

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

What are the examples of irony in literature?

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.

How do you identify irony in literature?

See if there is incongruity between action and structure in a drama or film, or a text like a poem or narrative.
If it is occurring in a dramatic or filmic text, then it is dramatic irony.If it is occurring in a novel, poem, or narrative text, then it is structural irony.

What is irony give two examples?

Irony is a literary technique in which what is written or stated is different from or the opposite of what is expected. For example, verbal irony is when a person says the opposite of what they mean, often to sarcastic effect, such as when a customer says “Good job,” to a waiter who has dropped his tray.

When something is ironic?

In general, irony refers to a clash between expectations and outcomes. Typically, the outcome is the opposite of what someone wanted or hoped for. It’s ironic, for example, when your boss calls you into her office, and you’re expecting a promotion, but you instead find out you’ve been fired.

What is the sentence of irony?

Irony sentence example. I failed to detect any irony in his tone. He loved the irony of the situation. In an irony of war, they were shelled by their own artillery.

Which is an example of irony from The Great Gatsby?

In perhaps one of the great ironies of the novel, Daisy kills Myrtle when Myrtle runs in front of Gatsby’s car. It is a hit and run. The irony is that the wife kills her husband’s mistress without knowing that it’s his mistress.

How do you make irony?

Irony occurs when what actually happens turns out to be completely different from what would be expected. In writing or speaking, irony involves using words so the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning.

Elena Rostova
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Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.