Surprises, Twists, and Mysteries

Meaning – When the audience expects something to happen and the opposite occurs.
There are three types of Irony.
1.
Verbal Irony
2.
Situational Irony
3.
Dramatic Irony

Examples
1.
If a mayor was elected because people thought that he was honest and he gets caught stealing, it would be ironic.
2.
If a floored boxer lifts his head from the ground and says, “I think I’ve got him worried.”

Meaning – Verbal Irony is used when someone says one thing but means the opposite.
Example
• The big bad wolf tells the three little pigs, “I would love to have you over for dinner.”

Meaning – An event that is not just surprising, but actually contrary to what the reader or audience should expect

Meaning – When the audience or reader knows what will happen to a character, but that character does not

Meaning – when there are several different meanings or possible outcomes to an event in a story

• Rick wants his coworker Gina’s job. Gina happily unloads her work on Rick. Is Gina overworked or lazy?
▫ (ambiguity)
• After Rick leaves Gina’s office with a stack of work, Gina makes a phone call to a friend to report that she has just won the lottery and will be quitting any day now.
▫ (dramatic irony)
• Rick convinces his boss that he can do Gina’s job. The boss fires Gina and tells Rick to do both jobs.
▫ (situational irony)
• Rick then thanks his boss and says, “I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”
▫ (verbal irony)