Irony is a figure of speech that is used to make a point by using words that mean the opposite of what they normally mean. There are three main types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
Verbal irony is when a speaker says one thing but means another. For example, if someone said “Great job on flunking that test!” they would be using verbal irony. The speaker’s words (Great job!) mean the opposite of what they actually feel (displeasure or disappointment).
Situational irony is when the opposite of what is expected occurs. For example, if you brought an umbrella to school because the forecast said it would rain, but it turned out to be a sunny day, that would be situational irony.
Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not. For example, in the movie The Sixth Sense, the character Cole knows he is dead, but the other characters do not know this until the very end of the movie.
Irony is often used by authors to create suspense, humor, or to make a point.
Other related questions:
What is irony examples for kids?
One example of irony for kids is when someone says one thing but means the opposite. For example, if a child says “I’m not tired,” when they are actually yawning and rubbing their eyes, that would be an example of irony.
What is irony simple literature?
Irony is often used in literature to make a point or to create a humorous effect. It occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. There are three main types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
What is irony in literature and examples?
Irony is a figure of speech that is used to express a meaning that is the opposite of what is actually said. For example, if someone were to say “I’m not very smart,” this would be an example of irony because the person is actually saying that they are not smart.
What is a simple example of irony?
An example of irony would be if someone said they “hate” surprises, but then their face lit up when they were presented with a gift.