IRONY: IRONY: The incongruity The incongruity (disconnect) between (disconnect) between what is expected and what is expected and what really happenswhat really happens

Satire is a part of irony, Satire is a part of irony, especially especially Verbal IronyVerbal Irony

When the speaker says, "I appreciate your When the speaker says, "I appreciate your help.", when no help was provided to the help.", when no help was provided to the speaker, makes that comment sarcastic. speaker, makes that comment sarcastic.

Hyperbole (overstatement) - "There was never Hyperbole (overstatement) - "There was never anyone as brilliant." In describing someone anyone as brilliant." In describing someone who is a moron. who is a moron.

Understatement - When the speaker says, "It Understatement - When the speaker says, "It was a bit cold.", when he has lost a leg due to was a bit cold.", when he has lost a leg due to frost bite.frost bite.

Situational ironySituational irony

Example of situational irony — Example of situational irony — the juxtaposition of the sign and the juxtaposition of the sign and its surroundings is unexpected. its surroundings is unexpected.

Situational irony occurs when Situational irony occurs when the results of a situation are far the results of a situation are far different from what was different from what was expected. This results in a expected. This results in a feeling of surprise due to the feeling of surprise due to the odd situation.odd situation.

ExamplesExamples A shipboard scene of hope for a couple ends with the A shipboard scene of hope for a couple ends with the

camera pulling back to reveal a life preserver stenciled camera pulling back to reveal a life preserver stenciled ““RMS TitanicRMS Titanic.” .”

A situation immortalized in O. Henry's story A situation immortalized in O. Henry's story The Gift of the The Gift of the MagiMagi, in which a young couple is too poor to buy each other , in which a young couple is too poor to buy each other Christmas gifts. The man finally pawns his heirloom pocket Christmas gifts. The man finally pawns his heirloom pocket watch to buy his wife a set of combs for her long, prized, watch to buy his wife a set of combs for her long, prized, beautiful hair. She, meantime, cuts her hair to sell to a beautiful hair. She, meantime, cuts her hair to sell to a wigmaker for money to buy her husband a watch-chain. The wigmaker for money to buy her husband a watch-chain. The irony is two-fold: the couple, having parted with their irony is two-fold: the couple, having parted with their tangible valuables, is caused by the act to discover the tangible valuables, is caused by the act to discover the richness of the intangible. richness of the intangible.

A man goes over a giant waterfall in a barrel and survives, A man goes over a giant waterfall in a barrel and survives, only to take a cleanup shower where he slips on the soap only to take a cleanup shower where he slips on the soap and dies from trauma and drowning. and dies from trauma and drowning.

An anti-capitalist website sells anti-capitalism t-shirts for a An anti-capitalist website sells anti-capitalism t-shirts for a sweet profit. sweet profit.

Cosmic IronyCosmic Irony

The expression “irony of fate” stems from the notion The expression “irony of fate” stems from the notion that the gods (or the Fates) are amusing themselves that the gods (or the Fates) are amusing themselves by toying with the minds of mortals, with deliberate by toying with the minds of mortals, with deliberate ironic intent. It arises from sharp contrasts between ironic intent. It arises from sharp contrasts between human intentions and actual results. human intentions and actual results.

Minor examples are daily life situations such as the Minor examples are daily life situations such as the rain that sets in immediately after one finishes rain that sets in immediately after one finishes washing the car, destroying its cleanliness.washing the car, destroying its cleanliness.

A major example would be: Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet A major example would be: Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.

ExamplesExamples The artist Monet's loss of vision, but not hearing. The artist Monet's loss of vision, but not hearing. Ludwig van Beethoven’s loss of hearing, but not vision. Ludwig van Beethoven’s loss of hearing, but not vision. Mr. Hessee nearly getting in an auto accident while Mr. Hessee nearly getting in an auto accident while

attempting to buckle his seatbelt.attempting to buckle his seatbelt. American astronaut Gus Grissom's death inside Apollo 1 may American astronaut Gus Grissom's death inside Apollo 1 may

have been partly because of a spacecraft redesign that he have been partly because of a spacecraft redesign that he had recommended after the Mercury-Redstone 4 mission. had recommended after the Mercury-Redstone 4 mission. After a Mercury hatch opened prematurely, nearly causing his After a Mercury hatch opened prematurely, nearly causing his death, Grissom had recommended the Apollo hatch be made death, Grissom had recommended the Apollo hatch be made more difficult to open. The new hatch proved too difficult to more difficult to open. The new hatch proved too difficult to open. open.

At the turn of the 19th century, Charles Justice, a prison At the turn of the 19th century, Charles Justice, a prison inmate at the Ohio State Penitentiary, devised an idea to inmate at the Ohio State Penitentiary, devised an idea to improve the efficiency of the restraints on the electric chair. improve the efficiency of the restraints on the electric chair. After a parole, he was convicted in a robbery/murder and After a parole, he was convicted in a robbery/murder and returned to prison 13 years later under a death sentence. On returned to prison 13 years later under a death sentence. On November 9, 1911, he was electrocuted in the same electric November 9, 1911, he was electrocuted in the same electric chair that he had helped to improve. chair that he had helped to improve.

IRONY or NOT?IRONY or NOT?

A woman lost money in the stock market even A woman lost money in the stock market even though she was convinced that her stocks though she was convinced that her stocks would make her money.would make her money.

Ms. Schwab wrote one of her students a note Ms. Schwab wrote one of her students a note telling him to fix his terrible grammer. telling him to fix his terrible grammer.

An old man kills his neighbor, steals his lottery An old man kills his neighbor, steals his lottery ticket and winds up winning the jackpot only to ticket and winds up winning the jackpot only to die from a heart attack upon hearing the news. die from a heart attack upon hearing the news.

Rain on your wedding dayRain on your wedding day The time you arrived at school late on the day The time you arrived at school late on the day

when you were supposed to hand in an essay when you were supposed to hand in an essay and the car broke down.and the car broke down.

I once saw a random dog walking by and it looks I once saw a random dog walking by and it looks sadly at me after I had left my house without sadly at me after I had left my house without patting my own dog first.patting my own dog first.

A no smoking sign on your cigarette break.A no smoking sign on your cigarette break. At a special ceremony, two animals saved from At a special ceremony, two animals saved from

an oil spill were released back into the wild amid an oil spill were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later they were both eaten by a killer whale.later they were both eaten by a killer whale.