What is the basic definition of irony?

Full Definition of irony 1a : the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning. b : a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony. c : an ironic expression or utterance.

How do you identify irony?

See if there is incongruity between action and structure in a drama or film, or a text like a poem or narrative.

  1. If it is occurring in a dramatic or filmic text, then it is dramatic irony.
  2. If it is occurring in a novel, poem, or narrative text, then it is structural irony.

What is often mistaken for irony?

Coincidence. Often mistaken for irony, the term coincidence involves a great deal of luck, or chance.

Which is the best definition of the word irony?

Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition, don’t worry—it is. Irony is a broad term that encompasses three different types of irony, each with their own specific definition: verbal irony , dramatic irony, and situational irony.

What is the difference between irony and humour?

It refers to ‘an ability to perceive and express a sense of the clever or amusing’ thing. Humour consists principally in the recognition and expression of incongruities or peculiarities present in a situation or character. Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.

How is irony used in Socratic and dramatic irony?

Socratic irony is a tool used in debating; dramatic irony is what happens when the audience realizes that Romeo and Juliet’s plans will go awry. The third, and debated, use of irony regards what’s called situational irony.

Is the word irony synonymous with bad luck?

Irony is not synonymous with sarcasm, coincidence, or bad luck. While these concepts can have ironic characteristics, they’re not interchangeable. More on that later. Irony creates contrast between how things seem and how they really are beneath the surface.