Unit 5 Situational Irony Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of situational irony?

Type of irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

Why is the example 'A fire station burns down' considered situational irony?

This is unexpected because one would assume the fire chief would keep his own building safe.

Why is the example 'A marriage counselor files for divorce' considered situational irony?

This is ironic because the expectation is that a professional who coaches couples through rough patches would herself have a strong marriage.

Why is the example 'The police station gets robbed' considered situational irony?

The expectation is that professional crime fighters would be able to help themselves; in this case, by securing their own station. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A post on Facebook complaining how useless Facebook is' considered situational irony?

This is ironic because one would expect someone who dislikes Facebook to stay away from it instead of using it to make their point. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A traffic cop gets his license suspended because of unpaid parking tickets' considered situational irony?

Unexpected because the traffic cop is usually the one issuing tickets; most people would assume he always followed the rules. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A pilot has a fear of heights' considered situational irony?

This situation is ironic because airplane pilots spend most of their time at work high in the air. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A member of PETA wears leather shoes' considered situational irony?

PETA members work to protect animal rights; one would assume they would avoid products made from animal skins. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'The teacher fails the test' considered situational irony?

Teachers are usually the creators and givers of tests, so people assume they would be experts at passing tests. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A man is run over by the ambulance' considered situational irony?

An ambulance brings injured people to the hospital instead of causing an injury that requires someone to go to the hospital. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'An anti-technology group sets up a website to recruit new club members' considered situational irony?

People who dislike technology aren't likely to be looking for clubs on the internet; using technology to recruit is unexpected. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A child runs away from someone throwing a water balloon at him and falls into the pool' considered situational irony?

This is ironic because the child ends up wetter than he would have been, thwarting his expectations of what would happen when he ran away from the water balloon. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'The cobbler's children have no shoes' considered situational irony?

A cobbler is a professional shoemaker, so the expectation is that her own children would have many shoes, not zero. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'An officer is wounded when a bullet ricochets off his bulletproof vest and into his arm' considered situational irony?

You wouldn't expect a bulletproof vest to help a bullet hit someone. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A man leaps out of the road to avoid being hit by a car, only to have a tree branch fall on his head' considered situational irony?

This is not the outcome the man expected because he thought he would escape being hurt. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A mother complains about her lazy children, not realizing they have been secretly making her a birthday present' considered situational irony?

In this situation, the mother's ideas about her children are thwarted in an unexpected surprise. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A man works hard for many years to save for retirement; on his last day of work he is given a lottery ticket worth millions' considered situational irony?

The unexpected riches are ironic because the man lived a frugal life assuming he would have to work hard to earn enough to retire. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the example 'A husband realizes it's his wife's birthday and rushes to make dinner reservations, only to find that she has forgotten what day it is and stayed at work late' considered situational irony?

The husband expected to treat his wife, but the plans end up ruined anyway; it's only the reason why that's unexpected. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Situational Irony

Involves situations where actions lead to effects that are opposite of what was intended or expected.
Highlights the contrast between anticipated outcomes and actual results.

Examples of Situational Irony

A fire station burns down, contradicting the expectation that safety would be prioritized by fire professionals.
A marriage counselor files for divorce, surprising those who expect her to manage relationships effectively.
Police station gets robbed, violating the assumption that crime fighters could secure their own environment.
Complaining about Facebook on Facebook is ironic as it contradicts the action of using the platform one criticizes.
A traffic cop suspended for unpaid tickets defies common belief that enforcers of rules always abide by them.
A pilot being afraid of heights is surprising given their profession involves consistently being airborne.
PETA member wearing leather shoes contradicts expectations, as they advocate for animal rights.
A teacher failing a test challenges the assumption that educators would excel in assessments they design.
A man run over by an ambulance flips the expectation of ambulances being a source of help, not harm.
Anti-technology group using a website for recruitment is ironic; it contrasts their disdain for technology.
Child avoiding a water balloon ends up in a pool, resulting in him being even wetter than expected.
The cobbler’s children lacking shoes is unexpected, as their parent is supposed to provide them with footwear.
A bullet ricocheting off an officer's bulletproof vest to injure him contradicts the purpose of the vest.
A man dodging a car only to be struck by a falling branch illustrates the unpredictability of outcomes.
A mother’s complaint about lazy children is unexpectedly thwarted as they are secretly working on a birthday gift.
A hard-working man receives a lottery ticket worth millions on his last working day, contradicting his frugal preparation for retirement.
A husband rushes to make dinner plans for his wife’s birthday only to find she has forgotten, resulting in an anticlimactic moment.

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Explore the concept of situational irony through a series of flashcards that define its meaning and provide illustrative examples. Each card challenges you to explain why the scenarios illustrated exemplify situational irony, enhancing your understanding and critical thinking skills.