Search results
- These gods, or the Fates, may play with the lives of humans for their own amusement. The irony lies in contrast between what the humans expect and what actually happens. Though this is most common in Greek legends, it is also present in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles where the immortals play with Tess’s life.
literarydevices.com › irony
People also ask
What are some examples of irony?
What is the difference between irony and ironic?
What is dramatic irony?
Is irony a simple phenomenon?
A concise definition of Irony along with usage tips, a deeper explanation, and lots of examples.
Cosmic Irony: Cosmic irony, also known as “irony of fate”, is present in stories that contain gods who have different agendas than humans. These gods, or the Fates, may play with the lives of humans for their own amusement.
Irony often stems from an unanticipated response (verbal irony) or an unexpected outcome (situational irony). Here are some common examples of verbal and situational irony: Verbal Irony. Telling a quiet group, “don’t speak all at once” Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it’s great to be back”
- Difference Between Dramatic Irony and Situational IronyDramatic irony is frequently employed by writers in their works. In situational irony, both the characters and the audience are fully unaware of th...
- Short Examples of Verbal Irony1. The doctor is as kind hearted as a wolf. 2. He took a much-needed vacation, backpacking in the mountains. Unfortunately, he came back dead tired...
- Irony Examples in LiteratureWe come across the following lines in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene V:Juliet commands her nurse to find out who Romeo was, and says...
- Example #5: The Gift of The Magi (By W.H. Auden)This is an example of situational irony, in which the wife sells her most prized possession – her hair – to get her husband a Christmas present; an...
The word irony refers to the limits of human meaning; we do not see the effects of what we do, the outcomes of our actions, or the forces that exceed our choices. Such irony is cosmic irony, or the irony of fate. (Claire Colebrook, Irony: The New Critical Idiom, Routledge, 2004)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Irony (EYE-run-ee) is a literary device in which a word or event means something different—and often contradictory—to its actual meaning. At its most fundamental, irony is a difference between reality and something’s appearance or expectation, creating a natural tension when presented in the context of a story.
Learn about the 5 types of irony with definitions and examples from literature, as well as how to use irony effectively to create plot twists and themes, in this ultimate guide.
