IRONY in Romeo and Juliet
History: In __________________ comedy, the character called ____________________ was a “dissembler” who characteristically spoke
in ______________________________ and deliberately pretended to be less __________________________ than he was, yet he
______________________. In most of the modern critical uses of the term irony, there is still a sense of dissembling or hiding
what is actually the case, but NOT in order to deceive. Now we use irony to achieve
_________________________________________________________.
Types of Irony:
Verbal: a statement in which the _________________________ that a speaker ____________________ differs sharply from the meaning
that is _________________________. In other words, ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ ,
Situational/Structural: The author introduces a situational/structural feature which serves to sustain
________________________________________ and evaluation throughout the work. Situational irony exists when there is an
incongruity between ________________________________________ and what actually ____________________ due to forces beyond human
comprehension or control. In other words,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
Dramatic: involves a situation in a play or narrative in which the ______________________________ shares with the author
_________________________ of present or future circumstances of which a character is _________________________; in that situation, the
character ____________________________________ in a way we recognize to be grossly inappropriate to the actual circumstances, or
____________________________________ of what we know that fate holds in store, or __________ something that anticipates the actual
outcome, but not at all in the way that the character intends. In other words,
_______________________________________________________ .
Definitions: Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 6th edition. Orlando: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. 1993. 98-99.
Irony in Romeo and Juliet:
Quotation from Romeo and Juliet
I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh,
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
That in thy likeness thou appear to us. (II.i.20-24)
Blind is his love and best befits the dark. (II.i.35)
…Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself. (II.ii.50-52)
Type of Irony and Explanation
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say, “it lightens.” (II.ii.124-127)
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard,
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering sweet to be substantial. (II.ii.146-148)
Irony in real life:
Example from real life
Type of Irony and Explanation
Verbal Irony:
Situational Irony: