Aim: How does Golding use irony in Lord of the Flies to

emphasize his main messages or important ideas throughout

the book?

Do Now: Define Irony

Irony

There are three types of irony:

Verbal

Situational

Dramatic

Verbal Irony

A contrast between what is said and what is meant. In other words, sarcasm.

Can you think of examples of verbal irony?

Situational Irony

Irony of situation occurs when things turn out contrary to what the reader expected.

Can you think of examples of situational irony?

Dramatic Irony

This occurs when the reader or viewer is aware of something about which the character involved knows nothing about.

Irony is a common device is satire.

Why do you think this is the case? Take 2 minutes to write down your thoughts.

Some Ideas addressed in the novel

The nature of power; dominion over nature and other men

Civilization and order vs. savagery and chaos

The end of innocence

Violence and brutality

Fear and evil; what lurks within man’s heart

Appearance vs. reality

Inclusion and exclusion; being an outsider or outcast vs. belonging

Grand adventure vs. looming and dark reality

Example of Irony in the text

Can you identify the type of irony and explain how it is used to emphasize Golding’s message. Use may use, but are not limited to the ideas on the previous slide.

Example One:

The survivors of the plane crash are boys evacuated from the battle zone during the world war. However the society they form eventually breaks down, and the boys go to war once again.

Example Two

Piggy's eyesight is weak, but his insight is strong 

What kind of Irony?

How is it used to highlight messages in the novel?

Example ThreeThe British naval officer who arrives to rescue the boys at the end of the novel appears to represent civilization and sanity. But he and the society he represents are actually a mirror image, on a large scale, of the boys and their corrupt island society.

What kind of Irony?

How is it used to highlight messages in the novel?

Example 4When Jack sets a fire to roust Ralph from the forest, he unintentionally saves the lives of all the remaining boys. It was this fire that attracted the attention of the British ship.

What kind of Irony?

How is it used to highlight messages in the novel?

Find at least two examples of irony in the

text on your own.

Example One:

Example Two:

Looking Ahead Literary Element

paragraph about irony.

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Part of Speech Quiz: Tues/Wed: 12/11 and 12.