Irony in Matilda

The audience knows that Matilda has been going to the library for years, but her parents are unaware.

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

When Matilda's brother says, "Hey, Dip Face, have a marshmallow."

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

Matilda punishes her father by putting peroxide in his hair oil, which he uses to make his hair look better. He is unaware that his hair has been bleached blonde, and he looks ridiculous. Choose TWO!

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

when one outcome is logically expected, but something very different (usually opposite) happens

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

when someone says or writes one thing but means the opposite

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

when the audience knows something that the characters don't

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

A little girl with blonde pigtails is thrown dangerously over the fence by her hair. Everyone expects her to be hurt, but she lands safely in a garden of beautiful daisies.

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

Miss Honey goes to the Wormwoods' home to convince Matilda's parents that Matilda is special. Although the audience knows that Matilda's parents think negative thoughts about her, Miss Honey has no idea.

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

Matilda's parents, unlike most parents, demand that she not read and order her to watch TV with them instead.

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic

After Miss Honey tells Matilda's parents that she is reading college-level materials, Harry and Zinnia jokingly say, "College."

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

• not ironic