Irony
Situational Irony – This is when
something happens in a story that is
“the opposite of what we would
normally expect to happen or would
find appropriate” (Holt Literature
and Language Arts, Fourth Course
316).
Irony
Situational Irony often creates the
surprise ending of a story, or the
unexpected twist in a plot.
Sometimes it’s humorous, and
sometimes it’s not.
A Don Martin cartoon from Mad
Magazine
Irony
How is the above cartoon an example of
situational irony?
Irony
Dramatic Irony – This is where the
reader or audience has information
that some or all of the characters do
not have.
Irony
Reference.com says this about
dramatic irony: “irony that is
inherent in speeches or a situation of
a drama and is understood by the
audience but not grasped by the
characters in the play.”
Irony
Because of their lack of knowledge,
characters may say or do things that
are contrary to what a situation
would ordinarily demand. The
audience knows what is about to
happen, but the characters do not.
Irony
Dramatic irony often generates humor.
Much of the humor you see in
situational comedies is based on
dramatic irony. (The entire premise
of Three’s Company is based on
dramatic irony.) However, dramatic
irony is not always humorous, as the
following example from Romeo and
Juliet illustrates.
Romeo and Juliet by William
Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet by William
Shakespeare
When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged
sleep, he assumes her to be dead and
kills himself. The audience knows that
Juliet is not dead, but has taken a drug
that mimics death. Upon awakening to
find her dead lover beside her, Juliet
then kills herself.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
1. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare,
Macbeth plans the murder of Duncan (the king
and his brother) whilst feigning loyalty. Duncan
does not know of Macbeth’s plans but the
audience does.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
1. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare,
Macbeth plans the murder of Duncan (the king
and his brother) whilst feigning loyalty. Duncan
does not know of Macbeth’s plans but the
audience does.
Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
1. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare,
Macbeth plans the murder of Duncan (the king
and his brother) whilst feigning loyalty. Duncan
does not know of Macbeth’s plans but the
audience does.
Dramatic Irony
The audience knows what is going on, but
Duncan does not.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
Luke: “You killed my father.”
Darth Vader: “No, Luke, I am your father.”
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
Luke: “You killed my father.”
Darth Vader: “No, Luke, I am your father.”
Situational Irony
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
Luke: “You killed my father.”
Darth Vader: “No, Luke, I am your father.”
Situational Irony
To my fourteen-year-old brain in 1980, this
revelation was completely unexpected.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello
blames Desdemona (his wife) for cuckolding him
(being unfaithful to him) but the audience
knows that Othello is being deceived by Iago.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello
blames Desdemona (his wife) for cuckolding him
(being unfaithful to him) but the audience
knows that Othello is being deceived by Iago.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello
blames Desdemona (his wife) for cuckolding him
(being unfaithful to him) but the audience
knows that Othello is being deceived by Iago.
Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello
blames Desdemona (his wife) for cuckolding him
(being unfaithful to him) but the audience
knows that Othello is being deceived by Iago.
Dramatic Irony
The audience knows what is going on, but
Othello does not.
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
In front of DEMOCRACY, she printed WE ARE A.
“Now class, say it all together, ‘We are a
democracy.’” We said it. Then Miss Gates said,
“That’s the difference between America and
Germany. We are a democracy and Germany is a
dictatorship. Dictator-ship,” she said. “Over here we
don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution
comes from people who are prejudiced. Prejudice,”
she enunciated carefully. “There are no better
people in the world than the Jews, and why Hitler
doesn’t think so is a mystery to me.”
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
“Well, coming out of the courthouse that night
Miss Gates was—she was goin‘ down the steps
in front of us, you musta not seen her—she was
talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard
her say it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson,
they were gettin‘ way above themselves, an’ the
next thing they think they can do is marry us.
Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then
turn around and be ugly about folks right at
home—”
Situational Irony or Dramatic Irony?
Why?
The two excerpts above from To Kill a
Mockingbird, represent dramatic irony. The
reader can see Ms. Gates’ prejudice and
hypocrisy, but Ms. Gates cannot.