Example: a fire station burns down

Definition: a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens contradiction between appearance and reality, between expectation and outcome, or between meaning and intention.

Situational: something happens that we wouldn’t expect to happen Example: a

fire station burns down

Dramatic: the reader knows something the characters do not

Verbal: what is said is different than what is meant

Home Alone: We know that Kevin has planted traps every where, but the thieves don’t!

“You got straight A’s on your report card? I’m so disappointed!”

Situational IronySituational Irony Occurs when something happens that contradicts our Occurs when something happens that contradicts our

expectation.expectation. Rock trio ZZ Top is famously associated with the chest-Rock trio ZZ Top is famously associated with the chest-

length beards of guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty length beards of guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. The group's drummer, who only has a mustache, Hill. The group's drummer, who only has a mustache, happens to be named Frank Beard. happens to be named Frank Beard.

A man jumps over a giant waterfall like Niagara Falls in a A man jumps over a giant waterfall like Niagara Falls in a barrel and survives, only to take a clean-up shower barrel and survives, only to take a clean-up shower where he slips on the soap and dies from trauma. where he slips on the soap and dies from trauma.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor famous for his violence Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor famous for his violence in film, campaigning against violence in video games in in film, campaigning against violence in video games in general - which ironically includes those featuring his general - which ironically includes those featuring his own characters. own characters.

Rapper Ice-T, once famous for his “Cop Killer” album, Rapper Ice-T, once famous for his “Cop Killer” album, now plays a cop on now plays a cop on Law & Order: SVULaw & Order: SVU..

An anti-technology website. An anti-technology website.

Verbal IronyVerbal Irony

Occurs when someone says something Occurs when someone says something that deliberately contradicts what that that deliberately contradicts what that person actually means.person actually means.

You have a six-foot tall friend who you call You have a six-foot tall friend who you call “shorty.”“shorty.”

You planned six months in advance for You planned six months in advance for good weather on your wedding day. It is good weather on your wedding day. It is suddenly raining and hailing. You step suddenly raining and hailing. You step outside and say, “Oh good! I was hoping it outside and say, “Oh good! I was hoping it would rain.”would rain.”

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony

In Cinderella, the prince goes searching for the “princess” who lost her slipper at the ball. The prince does not know that she is a poor girl, almost a slave to her stepsisters and stepmother. It is ironic because we know the owner of the shoe is Cinderella, a poor girl, but he thinks it is a girl that comes from great wealth.

Identify the following examples of Identify the following examples of irony as situational, dramatic, or irony as situational, dramatic, or

verbal…verbal…

George breaks a date with his George breaks a date with his girlfriend so he can go to a ball game girlfriend so he can go to a ball game with the guys. At the concession with the guys. At the concession stand, he runs into his girlfriend with stand, he runs into his girlfriend with another guy.another guy.

A: SITUATIONAL IRONYA: SITUATIONAL IRONY

We do not expect George to see his We do not expect George to see his girlfriend with another guy.girlfriend with another guy.

SITUATIONAL IRONYSITUATIONAL IRONY

We don’t expect a FITNESS CENTER to We don’t expect a FITNESS CENTER to have an escalator because they have an escalator because they cause you to burn FEWER calories.cause you to burn FEWER calories.

You are watching a horror movie. You are watching a horror movie. You know that the boogey man is You know that the boogey man is waiting for the main character in the waiting for the main character in the closet, but the character doesn’t closet, but the character doesn’t know and unknowingly opens the know and unknowingly opens the closet door.closet door.

A: DRAMATIC IRONYA: DRAMATIC IRONY

You, as the audience, know You, as the audience, know something that the main character something that the main character does not.does not.

A: Situational IronyA: Situational Irony

You wouldn’t expect to see a Pepsi You wouldn’t expect to see a Pepsi delivery man drinking a Coke!delivery man drinking a Coke!

As you walk outside into the pouring As you walk outside into the pouring rain, your friend sarcastically rain, your friend sarcastically comments, “What lovely weather comments, “What lovely weather we’re having today.”we’re having today.”

A: VERBAL IRONYA: VERBAL IRONY

Your friend is saying that it is lovely Your friend is saying that it is lovely weather but what she means is just weather but what she means is just the opposite. It is a very dreary day.the opposite. It is a very dreary day.

SITUATIONAL IRONYSITUATIONAL IRONY

The guy is calling the protestors The guy is calling the protestors stupid, but he spelled, “morons” stupid, but he spelled, “morons” wrong!wrong!

A police station gets robbed.A police station gets robbed.

A: SITUATIONAL IRONYA: SITUATIONAL IRONY

We wouldn’t expect a POLICE We wouldn’t expect a POLICE STATION to get robbed. They STATION to get robbed. They investigate robberies! investigate robberies!

SITUATIONALSITUATIONAL

The van drove into a “School of Safe The van drove into a “School of Safe Driving .” Hahahahahaha! We Driving .” Hahahahahaha! We wouldn’t expect that.wouldn’t expect that.

Your date for the school dance shows Your date for the school dance shows up in ripped jeans and a stained t-up in ripped jeans and a stained t-shirt. With a smirk, you say, “Oh! I shirt. With a smirk, you say, “Oh! I see you dressed up for the occasion.”see you dressed up for the occasion.”

A: VERBAL IRONYA: VERBAL IRONY

What you’ve said is different than What you’ve said is different than what you mean. You mean that your what you mean. You mean that your date hasn’t bothered to dress up at date hasn’t bothered to dress up at all, but that isn’t what you said!all, but that isn’t what you said!

SITUATIONALSITUATIONAL IRONYIRONY

It is ironic that a McDonald’s sign is It is ironic that a McDonald’s sign is beside a sign about obesity!beside a sign about obesity!

When watching a talk show, the When watching a talk show, the audience knows why a person has audience knows why a person has been brought on the show. been brought on the show. However, the person in the chair However, the person in the chair does not know that he/she is going does not know that he/she is going to be reunited with a long to be reunited with a long

lost friend.lost friend.

A: DRAMATIC IRONYA: DRAMATIC IRONY

The audience knows information that The audience knows information that a character does not! (We know why a character does not! (We know why the person has been brought on the the person has been brought on the show, but he/she doesn’t!)show, but he/she doesn’t!)

SITUATIONALSITUATIONAL

Would you expect someone that lives Would you expect someone that lives here to specialize in complete home here to specialize in complete home repair?repair?

The End!The End!