Different Types of Irony
A fishing boat in a harbor that says "No Fishing" is an example of situational irony.
Irony, which refers to a difference between the expected results of events and the actual outcome (or the actual
meaning of words and the implied meaning), is a common literary method, often used in theater. Understanding
different types of irony can make using it and seeing it at work easier for any writer or reader.
1. Verbal Irony
o Verbal irony occurs when the literal words spoken by an individual are meant to convey the
opposite of what they seem to say. An example of this would be if a date shows up in a jeans and
T-shirt and his partner says, "Well, you didn't have to dress up." This kind of irony is closely
associated with sarcasm.
Socratic Irony
o
Socratic irony involves a questioner feigning ignorance about a subject in order to make the
other person in the conversation explain the topic thoroughly, thereby revealing some flaw or
problem in their understanding. This method is named after Socrates, a fifth century B.C.
philosopher who used this method to disarm those who debated with him.
Dramatic Irony
o
Dramatic irony, also called tragic irony, is common in plays. This is an irony in which one
character does not understand that his actions or words reveal the true situation. With dramatic
irony, often the audience knows more than any of the other characters in the play. An example of
this is in "Oedipus Rex," which contains several scenes in which the audience, already aware that
Oedipus has killed his father and married his mother, sees Oedipus condemning himself to death
without realizing that he is the one responsible for his kingdom's problems.
Situational Irony
o
Situational irony occurs when events come together in an unexpected and surprising way.
Generally, this situation has some element of coincidence or connection. For example, a person
stepping out of the way of a water hose to avoid getting wet just to end up falling in a pool would
be an example of situational irony.
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