Types of Irony

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What is irony?

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Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning is different from the actual meaning. It often highlights a contrast between expectations and reality.

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What is situational irony?

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Situational irony occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

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Example of situational irony: A pilot is afraid of heights.

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This is situational irony because a pilot, who is expected to be comfortable with heights, is actually afraid of them.

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What is verbal irony?

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Verbal irony is when a speaker says one thing but means another, often the opposite.

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Example of verbal irony: "That dog is as harmless as a fly."

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This is verbal irony because the speaker implies the dog is dangerous, despite the literal meaning suggesting it is harmless.

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What is dramatic irony?

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Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor.

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Example of dramatic irony: The audience knows the characters cannot hear the toys speaking, but the toys do not know.

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This is dramatic irony because the audience has knowledge that the characters lack.

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How does situational irony differ from verbal irony?

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Situational irony involves a contrast between expected and actual outcomes, while verbal irony involves a contrast between what is said and what is meant.

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Can you give an example of situational irony in everyday life?

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An example of situational irony is a fire station burning down, as one would expect a fire station to be the least likely place to catch fire.

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What is the purpose of using irony in literature?

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Irony is used in literature to create humor, emphasize a point, or provoke thought by highlighting contrasts.