ELA 7

Perseverance: “The Ransom of Red Chief”

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to define irony.

• Students will be able to identify the three kinds of irony.

• Students will be able to evaluate a situation for irony.

A contradiction between what happens and what you expect to happen

Examples: A fireman is afraid of fire.

A dentist has crooked teeth and cavities galore.

You shout, “I’m not upset!” but your fists are clenched, your eyes look like they are ready to pop out, and your face is the color of tomato red.

1. Verbal Irony2. Dramatic Irony3. Situational Irony

saying one thing but meaning another the character and the reader are aware of

the irony

Examples: 1. As your teacher is signing detention forms for

students who did not complete their homework, she says in an irritated voice, “I just love when students don’t do their homework!”

1. It’s raining cats and dogs outside. You took the day off from work today to finally put up a fence post because of your annoying neighbors. You express, “This weather is just lovely.”

2. Your friend spoils the ending of a movie for you, and you comment in a haughty tone, “Thanks a lot!”

IMPORTANT: Verbal irony does not equal sarcasm!

sarcasm = the use of irony to mock or convey contempt

Ex: You see your co-worker sitting down reading the newspaper and drinking coffee, so you say, “Wow! You look really busy!”

Here, you are using verbal irony to express your irritation and discontent with your co-worker.

So, remember, sarcasm includes verbal irony, but not all verbal irony is sarcastic.

The reader/audience knows something about a character’s situation that a character does not know.

The reader/audience is aware of the irony.

The character is unaware of the irony.

Examples: In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, we know that Brutus

is plotting to kill Julius Caesar, but Julius Caesar does not know this. He thinks that Brutus is a loyal man to him.

In Cinderella, the prince goes searching for the “princess” who lost her slipper at the ball. The prince does not know that she is a poor girl, almost a slave to her stepsisters and stepmother. It is ironic because we know the owner of the shoe is Cinderella, a poor girl, but he thinks it is a girl who

comes from great wealth.

the outcome of a situation is inconsistent with what one expects would logically or normally occur

what actually happens is not what is expected to happen

the character and the reader are unaware of the irony

Example: You expect a prince to

rescue the princess locked in a tower and guarded by a dragon.

Therefore, in the movie Shrek, an ogre saving the princess is the opposite of what you expect to happen.

Something that is ironic is unexpected.

If everyone is aware, it’s verbal.If unexpected by a character, it’s

dramatic.If unexpected by everyone, it’s

situational.

Definition Example

Verbal Irony

Dramatic Irony

Situational Irony

Name:

Teacher:

ELA Period:

Date:

What is IRONY?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

What kind of irony is in the above cartoon? _____________________________________ Explain:

What kind of irony is in the above cartoon? _____________________________________ Explain:

Example Type of Irony Explanation

There is a rat infestation at the health department.

Mother: “I see you just ironed your shirt.”Son: “Huh? I just dug it out of the hamper.”

A person tweets about what a waste of time Twitter is.

The Emperor is parading through the town without any clothes. We know he is naked, but he thinks he has on a beautiful suit made of gold.

Verbal Irony

Dramatic Irony

Situational Irony