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What does irony mean?
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1. a. : 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. c. : an ironic expression or utterance. 2. a (1) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result. (2)
noun. the humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean. an instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality. incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity. See dramatic irony.
- Irony Definition
- Irony in Depth
- Irony Examples
- Why Do Writers Use Irony?
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What is irony? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Some additional key details about irony: 1. The term "irony" comes from the ancient Greek comic character called the "eiron," who pretends ignorance in order to deceive an opponent. 2. Irony overlaps with, but is not identical to, sarcasm and satire. 3. In the last twenty years or so, the term "i...
The term "irony" usually refers to three particular types of irony: 1. 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 ver...
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 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. 1. Situational irony often demonstrates how human beings are always at the mercy of an unpredic...
a situation in which something which was intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result: The irony ( of it) is that the new tax system will burden those it was intended to help. Fewer examples. With inevitable irony, it was Smith who scored the winning goal against his former team.
Definition of Irony. Irony is a literary device in which contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true. There are many forms of irony featured in literature. The effectiveness of irony as a literary device depends on the reader’s expectations and understanding of the disparity between ...
- 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...
As a literary device, irony is a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality. This can be a difference between the surface meaning of something that is said and the underlying meaning. It can also be a difference between what might be expected to happen and what actually occurs.
Definition of irony. as in contradiction. a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what is expected We got a good chuckle seeing their tow truck being towed away, but our friends failed to see the irony. Synonyms & Similar Words. Relevance. contradiction. amusement. paradox. absurdity.
