Irony and Ambiguity?Surprises, Twists, and Mysteries

1. IronyMeaning – When the audience expects

something to happen and the opposite occurs.

There are three types of Irony.1.Verbal Irony2.Situational Irony3.Dramatic Irony

Examples

1.If a mayor was elected because people thought that he was honest and he gets caught stealing, it would be ironic.

2.If a floored boxer lifts his head from the ground and says, “I think I’ve got him worried.”

2. Verbal Irony

Meaning – Verbal Irony is used when someone says one thing but means the opposite.

Example•The big bad wolf tells the three little pigs,

“I would love to have you over for dinner.”

3. Situational IronyMeaning – An event that is not just surprising, but

actually contrary to what the reader or audience should expect

4. Dramatic IronyMeaning – When the audience or reader

knows what will happen to a character, but that character does not

5. AmbiguityMeaning – when there are several different

meanings or possible outcomes to an event in a story

Review• Rick wants his coworker Gina’s job. Gina happily

unloads her work on Rick. Is Gina overworked or lazy?▫ (ambiguity)

• After Rick leaves Gina’s office with a stack of work, Gina makes a phone call to a friend to report that she has just won the lottery and will be quitting any day now.▫ (dramatic irony)

• Rick convinces his boss that he can do Gina’s job. The boss fires Gina and tells Rick to do both jobs.▫ (situational irony)

• Rick then thanks his boss and says, “I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” ▫ (verbal irony)