Which is the correct definition of the word irony?
Updated June 04, 2018. Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Similarly, irony may be a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Adjective: ironic or ironical.
When does Jonathan Swift use the word irony?
The use of words to mean something very different from what they appear on the surface to mean. Jonathan Swift uses irony in “ A Modest Proposal ” when he suggests the eating of babies as a solution to overpopulation and starvation in Ireland.
Which is the best definition of situational irony?
Situational irony involves a striking reversal of what is expected or intended: a person sidesteps a pothole to avoid injury and in doing so steps into another pothole and injures themselves.
Who is the author of the book Irony?
Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning.
When is irony the same as coincidence and bad luck?
When the truth contradicts an expected outcome, it’s situational irony — also known as “the irony of events.” Again, just to clarify, irony is not the same as “coincidence” and “bad luck.”. If you buy a new car and then accidentally drive it into a tree, that is both coincidence and bad luck.
When do you use the word ironic in a sentence?
Critics claim the words irony and ironic as they are used in cases lacking a striking reversal, such as “Isn’t it ironic that you called just as I was planning to call you?,” are more properly called coincidence.
What’s the difference between irony, sarcasm and ridicule?
Irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit. In sarcasm ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive purposes.
What is the dark irony of the police?
The dark irony is that, when people take to the streets to protest racism in policing, some police have used cutting-edge tools with a known racial bias against those assembled. It may be fun and it may get them paid, until oversaturation ruins our sense for irony and destroys the market for it.
What is the difference between verbal irony and situational irony?
Essentially, verbal and situational irony are each a violation of a reader’s expectations and conventional knowledge. When it comes to verbal irony, the reader may be expecting a character’s statement or response to be one thing though it turns out to be the opposite.
When does irony become a stream of consciousness?
— Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 27 June 2021 The irony of the moment: As originally planned, Black was pre-taping a big musical number that involved a lot of physicality. — NBC News, 25 June 2021 Her latest, accordingly, comes on in a swirl of internet age irony and remove: less stream of consciousness than a series of small, heady whirlpools.
Which is an example of unironic song about irony?
It is, of course, ironic that ‘Ironic’ is an unironic song about irony. Bonus irony: ‘Ironic’ is widely cited as an example of how Americans don’t get irony, despite the fact that Alanis Morissette is Canadian.”
How is irony used as a rhetorical device?
“Irony may be used as a rhetorical device to enforce one’s meaning. It may be used . . . as a satiric device to attack a point of view or to expose folly, hypocrisy, or vanity. It may be used as a heuristic device to lead one’s readers to see that things are not so simple or certain as they seem, or perhaps not so complex or doubtful as they seem.
How does irony make a work of literature more intriguing?
It makes a work of literature more intriguing, and forces the readers to use their imaginations to comprehend the underlying meanings of the texts. Moreover, real life is full of ironical expressions and situations. Therefore, the use of irony brings a work of literature to the life.
How is irony used in situational and dramatic irony?
In situational irony, both the characters and the audience are fully unaware of the implications of the real situation. In dramatic irony, the characters are oblivious of the situation, but the audience is not.
Which is the best example of dramatic irony?
Example of dramatic irony: The Hobbit. Dramatic irony doesn’t necessarily need to underline the entire storyline of a novel; it can also be used briefly to add punch to certain scenes. The Hobbit contains a perfect example of this, when Bilbo happens upon the ring while lost on a mountain.
Is the word irony synonymous with the word incongruous?
This sense, however, is not synonymous with “incongruous” but merely a definition of dramatic or situational irony. It is often included in definitions of irony not only that incongruity is present but also that the incongruity must reveal some aspect of human vanity or folly.
What is the difference between irony 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: is a bitter, cutting, or mocking taunt used to denigrate a particular person, place, or thing. Satire is a form of social or political critique.
Which is an example of irony in dialogue?
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.