IronyAll irony has to do with expectations and contrasts. There are three basic types of irony: verbal, dramatic, and situational. Verbal irony is like sarcasm--when you say something that is opposite of what you really mean. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that a character in the story does not. Situational irony is when what happens is the opposite of what would be expected or desired.
Authors can use irony to make their audience stop and think about what has just been said, or to emphasize a central idea. The audience's role in realizing the difference between what is said and what is normal or expected is essential to the successful use of irony. |
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