Irony is a literary device that surprises readers by sharply deviating from expectation. Irony is a masterful tool used by writers in poetry to shape themes and scenarios. It creates a stark contrast between expectation and reality, consistently surprising the…
Tag: irony
Situational Irony
Definition of Situational Irony Irony refers to an instance in which one thing appears to be true, but is actually the opposite. This type of contradiction appears often in literature and in many forms. Situational irony, as a literary device,…
Irony
Definition of Irony Irony is a literary device in which contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true. There are many forms of irony featured in literature. The effectiveness of irony as…
11 Examples of Irony in Children’s Literature
Irony in Children’s Literature Irony is one of those things that younger children don’t really understand. However, their books are filled with irony that makes only the adults laugh and will cause the children to look back on with wonder…
10 Examples of Irony in Shakespeare
Shakespeare is one of the prevailing masters of irony – he uses dramatic, situational, and verbal irony in such a way that few others have been able to replicate. Truly, when one talks about irony, if they do not talk…
Ignorance is Strength
Origin This phrase appears in George Orwell’s novel, 1984. The author has used it as the slogan of the Party in the very first part of the novel, where it reads, “War is Peace / Freedom is Slavery / Ignorance is Strength”…
The Quality of Mercy is Not Strain’d
Origin This phrase is taken from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. It occurs where Portia demands Shylock be merciful, stating that “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/Upon the place beneath” (Act-IV,…
Verbal Irony
Definition of Verbal Irony Verbal irony occurs when a speaker speaks something contradictory to what he intends to say. It is an intentional product of the speaker and is contradictory to his/her emotions and actions. To define it simply, it…
Dramatic Irony
Definition of Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony is an important stylistic device that is commonly found in plays, movies, theaters, and sometimes in poetry. Storytellers use this irony as a useful plot device for creating situations in which the audience knows…
12 Thought Provoking Examples of Irony in History
Irony doesn’t just exist in literature, it also exists in real life! We have a ton of really funny examples of irony lurking right in our history books. Take a look at funny examples of irony in history: 1. The…
15 Irony Examples in Disney Movies
What is Irony? Irony is a technique that writers of all kinds use, sometimes for laughs, to create an outcome that is contrary to what was, or might have been, expected. Disney movies are full of irony, and here are…
