LHE3253 Teaching the Language of Drama

Irony, foreshadowing, flashback

Dr. Habsah Hussin

Sat. September 10, 2011

• Irony• Irony is the contrast between what is

expected and what actually occurs. • A statement in which the intended meaning is

the opposite of the literal meaning.

• 3 types of Irony• 1. Verbal irony• 2. Dramatic irony• 3. Situational irony

• Verbal irony• A statement• Meaning sharply contrasted with the meaning

expressed• Usually involves explicit expression of one

attitude/evaluation• But with indications – the speaker intends a

very different (often the opposite ) attitude or evaluation

• Verbal irony (2)• Make light of a circumstance or subject• A disparity of expression and intention: when

a speaker says one thing but means another• The literal meaning is contrary to its intended

effect• E.g. the statement “what a lovely day” when

it is raining.

• Verbal irony (3)• “Way to go, Einstein” when someone makes a

mistake• We know that these utterances are ironic

because of our familiarity with the situation, the tone of voice, facial or bodily expressions which show the discrepancy/contrast

• Verbal irony: 2 kinds

• Understatement:• - minimizes the nature of something• - Overstatement:• - exaggerates the nature of something

• Dramatic Irony• Device of giving a piece of information that at

least one of the characters in the narrative is unaware of (at least consciously)

• Allowing the audience to know s/thing in order to create tension before a character becomes aware of it.

• Thus, the audience is a step ahead of at least one of the characters.

• Dramatic Irony (2)• Contrast between what the character thinks to

be true and what we (the reader) know to be true.

• Because we know s/thing the character does not, we read to discover

• - how the character will react when he/she learns the truth of the situation

• E.g. Oedipus the King

• Dramatic Irony (3)• When a character states s/thing that he

believes to be true• But the reader knows is not true• Key to dramatic irony is the reader’s

information or foreknowledge of coming events

Examples:

• Romeo and Juliet• Everyone thinks Juliet is dead • But the audience knows she took a sleeping

potion.• Oedipus the King• The reader knows that Oedipus himself is the

murderer that he is seeking;• But Oedipus, Creon and Jocasta do not

• Dramatic Irony – Summary• The audience knows s/thing that one or more

of the characters in the play is not aware of.• Disparity of expression and awareness• When words and actions possess a significance

that the listener or audience understands, but the speaker or character does not.

• When a character says to another “I’ll love you until I die” not realizing a piano is about to crush them

Situational Irony

• A sharp contrast between reality and human ideals

• Or contrast between intentions and actual results

• When things do not work out as planned, but go according to the situation, and the characters involved are unaware of the fact.

• Situational Irony (2)• Contrast between what happens and what

was expected• When the results of an action is contrary to

the desired or expected effect.• Irony of situation is often humorous, e.g. a

prank backfires on the prankster

• E.g. a person places a bucket of water over the door to pull a prank on his friend

• -he forgets it later and gets drenched himself.

Foreshadowing

• The dramatist hints at, or implies what is to come in the play later on, before the actual event takes place, through the dialogues of the characters, the incidents taking place now and details that are included.

• Foreshadowing gives the audience clues of upcoming events in the play.

Flashback

• A flashback is an interruption in the current action to include something that happened at an earlier time by

• -switching the scene to a past scene, • -creating a different setting• -characters (different or the same ones) under

different circumstances• Have a character recall and review an incident

from the past

• Flashback (2)• Is used to provide the reader with b/ground

information to facilitate greater u/standing of the characters or the action in the play