IRONY:

Irony is a special kind of

contrast between
appearance and reality –
usually one in which reality
is the opposite from what it
seems.
 3 TYPES OF IRONY

• SITUATIONAL
• DRAMATIC
• VERBAL
 SITUATIONAL IRONY

The contrast between

what a reader or
character expects,
and what actually exists
or happens.
 EXAMPLE:
In The Sniper, both the main
character and the reader are
surprised to learn the identity of
the “enemy.”
 DRAMATIC IRONY

Where the reader

or viewer
knows something that a
character does not know.
 EXAMPLE:
In the story of Little Red Riding Hood,
readers know and are aware
that the wolf is masquerading as Red
Riding Hood’s grandmother so that
he can catch Red Riding Hood off
guard and gobble her up.
 VERBAL IRONY:

When someone knowingly

exaggerates or says one
thing and means another.
 EXAMPLE #1:
The double entrendre (from the
French term that means hearing
something two different ways) is
one form of verbal irony, as in the
statement:
“ Continuing to smoke may have
grave consequences.”
 Example #2

Sarcasm is also a form of verbal

irony, as in:

“Wow, Jim, that was just a

brilliant idea!” (…not!)