Literary Irony: Types and Examples

What is the primary function of irony in literary settings?

What type of irony occurs when someone pretends ignorance to reveal someone else's ignorance or inconsistency?

What is the purpose of using irony in literary works?

What literary device is used when a diplomat says 'We have reached an impasse' to emphasize the breakdown of talks?

In Oedipus Rex, what type of irony is used to emphasize the nature of hubris?

What is the effect of combining irony with other literary devices?

What type of irony is used in a story with an unreliable narrator?

What is the term for saying something opposite of its literal meaning, usually for humor?

What literary device is used to depict characters who are controlled by fate or the gods?

What is the main theme of the story 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant?

What is the irony depicted in the story about Yoebright and her son?

What type of irony is demonstrated in the phrase 'It's to die for' spoken by Scar in The Lion King?

In 'The Story of an Hour', what is the irony in Mrs. Mallard's death?

In Romeo and Juliet, what type of irony occurs when Juliet takes the sleeping potion?

What is the irony in the story about the husband and wife getting vaccinated?

Irony is a literary device used to convey a meaning opposite of what is stated or expected.
It can be humorous or highlight the difference between appearance and reality.

Verbal Irony: When the speaker means the opposite of what is stated.
- Examples: Socratic irony, sarcasm, understatement, and hyperbole.
Situational Irony: When the outcome is different from what is expected.
- Examples: Unexpected endings in stories, like "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Necklace".
Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows something the characters do not.
- Examples: Tragic irony, structural irony, and cosmic irony.
- Types of dramatic irony:
  - Tragic Irony: Used to emphasize hubris, like in Oedipus Rex.
  - Structural Irony: When the narrator has limited understanding, like in The Go-Between.
  - Cosmic Irony: When characters are controlled by fate or indifferent forces, like in Return of the Native.

Verbal Irony: Scar's phrase "It's to die for" in The Lion King.
Situational Irony: Mrs. Mallard's death in "The Story of an Hour" due to the return of her husband.
Dramatic Irony: Romeo and Juliet's tragic ending due to miscommunication.
Real-Life Irony: A husband and wife's experience with a life-saving vaccine, where the wife dies despite being vaccinated, and the husband remains healthy without being vaccinated.

Irony is used to criticize, mock, and show contempt, and can be used as a social critique.
Examples of irony in literature: The Hunger Games, The Gift of the Magi, The Necklace, Oedipus Rex, The Go-Between, and Romeo and Juliet.
Examples of irony in real life: Margaret Bourke-White's photo and the pandemic's effect on the Mona Lisa's smile.