Irony occurs when what happens is the opposite from what is expected. Writers use irony as a literary technique to add humor, create tension, include uncertainty, or form the central plot of a story.
Irony Definition: What is Irony in Literature? Irony occurs when a moment of dialogue or plot contradicts what the audience expects from a character or story. In other words, irony in literature happens when the opposite of what you'd expect actually occurs.
Most forms of irony display a disparity between what the characters think can, should, or will happen and what actually transpires. This can spark strong feelings in the reader and serve as a way to teach practical or moral lessons.
Writers use dramatic irony as a plot device to create conflict, suspense, empathy, and humour. When the audience knows more than the characters, it forces them to anticipate and fear the moment, and to hope that the character might find out the truth sooner. It creates an intense empathy with the character's situation.
At its core, irony is the contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs. By creating irony in a story, authors can highlight subtle truths that traditional narratives may overlook. Using irony to twist the expectations of characters leads to unexpected plot developments that captivate readers.
Irony is a multi-faceted literary device that a writer uses to point out the discrepancy between reality and how things appear or what was expected. When a writer uses irony in a work, there is incongruity in regards to the behavior of characters, the words that they say, or the events that take place.
The author relies on the reader's expectations, such as the expectation that a near-fatal car accident would change someone for the better, and flips these expectations to create irony.
Irony results when there is a difference between what appears to be happening and what is actually happening. For example, when a character or reader expects or assumes one thing and the opposite is true, the writer has created irony.
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.
“Irony is to point out the absurdity of something. Sarcasm is meant to wound. That's the difference.”
Verbal irony is when your speaker says something that's the opposite to what they mean. While it sounds similar to sarcasm, it's not exactly the same. People usually use sarcasm to attack something, but that's not always the case with irony.
In an ironic phrase, one thing is said, while another thing is meant. For example, if it were a cold, rainy gray day, you might say, “What a beautiful day!” Or, alternatively, if you were suffering from a bad bout of food poisoning, you might say, “Wow, I feel great today.”
She described her vacation with heavy irony as “an educational experience.” It was a tragic irony that he made himself sick by worrying so much about his health. That's just one of life's little ironies. The irony of the situation was apparent to everyone.
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows more than the character. It creates tension and suspense. Situational irony occurs when there is a difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality. For example, the difference between what something appears to mean versus its literal meaning. Irony is associated with both tragedy and humor.
In an ironic phrase, one thing is said, while another thing is meant. For example, if it were a cold, rainy gray day, you might say, “What a beautiful day!” Or, alternatively, if you were suffering from a bad bout of food poisoning, you might say, “Wow, I feel great today.”
a situation in which something which was intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result: The irony (of it) is that the new tax system will burden those it was intended to help. With inevitable irony, it was Smith who scored the winning goal against his former team.
Like when two people are walking in the rain and one person says to the other, “Well, at least the weather is nice.” Or when someone says something is “as clear as mud.” That's verbal irony.
Example Sentences
She described her vacation with heavy irony as “an educational experience.” It was a tragic irony that he made himself sick by worrying so much about his health. That's just one of life's little ironies. The irony of the situation was apparent to everyone. He has a strong sense of irony.
In simplest terms, irony occurs in literature AND in life whenever a person says something or does something that departs from what they (or we) expect them to say or do.
As defined, Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of what is actually said. In this situation, the driver was mad and irritated at what happened. But instead of directly expressing his anger, the driver used Irony i.e. thanking the officer for getting his license.