Verbal Irony
The use of words to mean something different from what is actually said.
Example 1: "This car seat is as comfortable as a pile of rocks." Example 2: In Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" he suggests that people should eat babies as a solution to famine. Situational Irony
When what happens is opposite to what is expected to happen.
Example 1: A St. Bernard dog is trapped in an avalanche. Example 2: A marriage counselor gets a divorce. Example 3: Adrift in the middle of the ocean without any potable water. Dramatic Irony
When the full significance of a situation in a story is understood by the audience but not the characters themselves.
Example 1: In Romeo and Juliette, the audience knows Juliette isn't dead when Romeo poisons himself. Example 2: In a horror movie when a character goes into a house where the audience knows a murderer is waiting. |
Irony is the contrast between appearance and reality.
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