Irony in Motion

1. #1 Clip from Frozen

• Situational and Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational and Verbal

• Dramatic and Verbal

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

#2 Clip from Mulan

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

Mulan is a woman disguised as a man, which is unknown to Captain Li Shang and the other soldiers. The song's lyrics emphasize masculinity and the traditional attributes of a male warrior, with lines like "Be a man" and discussing traits such as strength and courage typically associated with male warriors. Meanwhile, Mulan, a female character, is successfully undertaking the same challenges and proving herself in a traditionally male role.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

#3 Clip about Buzz from Toy Story

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

Buzz Lightyear believes himself to be a real space ranger, while the audience is fully aware that he is just a toy.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

#4 Clip from Mean Girls

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

 Regina George's statement is ironic because she expresses admiration ("I like your skirt") when she actually dislikes it. It demonstrates the discrepancy between what Regina says and what she actually means.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

#5 Clip from Moster's Inc with Roz

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

• Verbal and Situational

Answer explanation

Throughout most of the movie, the audience, along with the main characters Mike and Sulley, perceives Roz as merely a stickler for paperwork and rules, often causing minor annoyances to them. There's no hint to the audience that she plays a more significant role. However, towards the end of the film, it's revealed that Roz is actually the key undercover agent for the CDA, having been closely monitoring the situation regarding the handling of human children in the monster world. This revelation is ironic because it completely subverts the expectations set up by her earlier portrayal. Instead of being just a mundane, bureaucratic figure, she turns out to be an integral part of the plot and a much more complex character than initially assumed.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

#6 Clip from Beauty and the Beast

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

Belle's words - "I just don’t deserve you" - can be interpreted as ironic because she is saying the opposite of what she actually means. Gaston, being self-absorbed and conceited, might interpret her words literally, as if she's saying she isn't good enough for him. However, the audience and Belle herself understand that the reality is quite different. Belle does not think highly of Gaston; she finds his arrogance and superficiality unattractive. Her statement, "I just don’t deserve you," is laced with sarcasm, subtly implying that Gaston is not worthy of her, not the other way around.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

#7 Clip from Enchanted

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

In Enchanted, Giselle, a character from a fairy tale world, finds herself in the real world of New York City. However, she continues to interpret and interact with her surroundings as if she were still in a magical, fairy tale realm. The audience is fully aware that Giselle is no longer in her fairy tale world but in a modern, real-world city that does not operate under fairy tale rules and norms.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

#8 Clip from Monsters, Inc with the scaring children scene

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

#9 clip from Tangled

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

In Tangled, the audience is introduced to the tavern known as the Lucky Duckling, which is frequented by characters who appear to be rough and tough criminals. The expectation, based on their rugged appearances and the tavern's reputation, is that these individuals would have typical 'criminal' aspirations or no higher aspirations at all. However, the ironic twist occurs when Rapunzel and Flynn Rider discover that these seemingly hardened criminals have gentle, uncharacteristic dreams like being concert pianists, singing show tunes, making love connections, and baking. This revelation is unexpected and contrasts sharply with the audience's initial assumptions about these characters. The situational irony here lies in the juxtaposition of the characters' tough exterior with their tender, even whimsical, inner aspirations and dreams, challenging the stereotypes and expectations about how such characters should behave and what they should aspire to.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

#10 Clip from The Emperor's New Groove

• Dramatic

• Verbal

• Situational

Answer explanation

• Comment on Pacha's Size: When Kuzco says, “It’s a good thing you’re not a big guy because then this would be really difficult,” it is verbally ironic because the situation is already difficult due to Pacha's weight and size. Kuzco's statement contradicts the reality of their struggle, making it an example of verbal irony used to highlight the challenge they are facing in a sarcastic way.

Comment on Urgency: Similarly, when Kuzco says, “Take your time, no hurry here,” in a dangerous situation where urgency is actually needed, it's another instance of verbal irony. This statement is the opposite of what the situation demands, as they are indeed in a hurry to get out of a perilous position. The irony here lies in Kuzco's casual and relaxed words clashing with the urgent and dangerous nature of their predicament.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3