Recap and review
Last, last lesson: Introduction
Significance of the title
Plot
Characters
Last lesson: “Who killed Adeline Ng Ai Choo?”
The story is made up of different voices and texts.
The reader has to make sense of Adeline’s tragic death.
Although Adeline killed herself, there are indirect causes
that drove her to desperation.
Today:
Why “little ironies”? What is irony?
There’s something about
this picture…
Can you explain what is “wrong”
or funny about this picture?
Irony.
When the opposite of what is
expected actually happens.
Irony.
When the opposite of what is
expected actually happens.
Irony.
When the opposite of what is
expected actually happens.
How is this picture ironic?
Irony is when the opposite of what is expected actually happens.
What is expected?
What is actually happening?
How is this picture ironic?
We would usually expect a fitness centre to encourage people to be healthy, and we
would also expect users of a fitness centre to be active.
However, what is actually happening is that this fitness centre has two escalators, and
its users are taking the escalators instead of the short flight of stairs available.
They can easily exercise by using the stairs; instead they are taking the escalator and
paying money to exercise.
Because what is happening is the opposite of what we would expect, this picture is
ironic.
Irony of ironies
Explain the irony of this comic strip.
Explain the irony of this comic strip.
We would usually expect…
However, what is happening is that…
Because what is happening is different from what we
would expect, this comic strip is ironic.
There are three friends
walking down the street. Slim
weighs 90 kilograms, Stretch
is 1.4 metres tall and Sunny
suffers from depression.
Irony isdecides
James
NOT coincidence.
to commit a robbery. He
puts on a mask and walks into a
convenience
For
the samestore.
reason,
When
the little
he reaches
comic of
the
cashier,
an
iron saying,
he realizes
“Irony!!”
the person
is not ironic.
working
It’s
as the cashier
merely
coincidental
is his friend
– a visual
Mark.
pun.
The worst baseball team in
the league is playing against
the best team. On the way to
the game, the best team’s
bus breaks down, forcing
them to forfeit. As a result,
the worst team is declared
the winner of the game.
Guan works in a fire extinguisher factory.
Everyday he handles more than 300 fire
extinguishers. Guan does not own an
extinguisher, and one day his home
catches fire.
WHICH IS NOT IRONIC?
Select the odd one out.
Why is the concept of irony
important?
Irony allows us to say one thing and mean another.
Often this is humorous, but irony is likely to have a serious
purpose.
Consider the remark, “I shot myself in the foot.”
How can this be funny? How can it be serious as well?
In Literature, the effect of irony implies that a text may
appear to mean something, but the author actually means
the opposite.
As Literature students, we have to recognize that the
meaning of a text is usually hidden and ironic, and not
obvious and literal.
Irony expresses the fact that things are not what they seem.
Irony is when the opposite of what is expected actually happens.
What are some of the typical, obvious images about Singapore?
What are some of our common assumptions?
What hidden and ironic aspects about Singapore are revealed in the stories?
From the stories, what is actually happening in Singapore?
What is the significance of the title of Little Ironies?
LITTLE IRONIES:
STORIES OF SINGAPORE
Irony is when the opposite of what is expected actually happens.
What is unexpected about this story?
How does the story upset our expectations and assumptions?
What is the hidden meaning of this story?
What is ironic about this story?
‘ADELINE NG AI CHOO’
Overall, the story makes the ironic statement that although we would usually
assume the school and exam system to be effective and good for students, the
opposite is actually happening.
Looking through the text, how are these specific aspects ironic?
•The cause of Adeline’s death.
•Teachers do not show regret, and are discussing how to handle exams and
grades in the future.
•Parents do not realize what they could have done to prevent Adeline’s death.
•Adeline is troubled and tormented by grades to the point of committing
suicide.
(We would usually expect…
However what is actually happening is the opposite…)
What is ironic about this story?
‘ADELINE NG AI CHOO’
Recap & review
What is irony?
How do you explain why something is ironic?
Why is irony important?
What is the significance of the title Little Ironies?
What is ironic about the story ‘Adeline Ng Ai Choo’?