Situational irony is a key factor for a dramatic, two sided story. To use situational irony tells the reader to expect the unexpected, to think beyond enemy lines. Just like in the thrilling short stories in O. Henry’s “The Necklace” and Guy De Maupassant’s “The Ransom of Redchief.” Situational irony shows that things do not always go the way you think they will. But why does the author make the reader almost feel sorry for the antagonists in the story. Most of all, the author has to show the character’s emotions in a way that almost feels real. The definition of situational irony is, irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what is intended. Therefore, authors need to have many situations involving
Near the end of the book on page 106 it says “‘Why’ said Montag slowly ‘we’re stopped in front of my house.’” Montag being a fireman makes this ironic because of his pursuit of knowledge was his downfall. The point is that he went against the world he knew to find out that the world he got in return was worst. At the beginning of the book “It was a pleasure to burn.” Montag thinking this at the very beginning without knowledge he truly believes it is a pleasure to burn. At the end on the other hand the end with all the knowledge he has gained he realizes that it isn’t that he would rather be a criminal than a respected fireman. The Irony just like symbolism helps shape the world of Fahrenheit 451 and its theme.
Situational irony is a noun meaning “an outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected, the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does” (Dictionary.com). Many events that contain situational irony are present in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This book is a story narrated by Death about a girl named Liesel and her experiences during World War II. She is givin up by her mother to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann and she eventually has a wonderful life in her new home. She loves to spend time with her best friend Rudy Steiner and she even becomes friends with the Jewish man hiding in her basement, Max. The Book Thief is a complicated story showing how some events can be unexpected, but can end up being good in the end. To show this, Markus Zusak uses situational irony first when a Jewish man shows up at the Hubermann’s door, again when Death is actually caring and kind, and finally when a basement that was not supposed to be safe actually saved Liesel 's life.
Irony may appear in difference ways within literature. Irony changes our expectations of what might happen. It can create the unexpected twist at the end of a story or anecdote that gets people laughing or crying. Verbal irony is intended to be a humorous type of irony. Situational irony can be either funny or tragic. Dramatic irony is usually an over the top, tragic form of irony. Both Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” are great examples of an ironic situation. Every expresses the common theme in their own way. Although both of these literally pieces provide us with the theme of irony, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" gives the reader a sense of suspense with the irony that proves to be more effective.
Montag encounters situational irony at the end of The Sieve and the Sand. At the end of part two Montag stands in front of his house and realizes that they have “stopped in front of my house” (Bradbury 106). His house is burned down, due to the fact that he had a collection of books stashed in his house. This is ironic because firemen are supposed to burn down any house that has books in it and he is a fireman. Another form of irony is verbal irony. Montag provides verbal irony when he is explaining to Clarisse that “Kerosene is nothing but perfume to me” (Bradbury 4). This is ironic, because kerosene can potentially be lethal if inhaled enough. Finally, Montag is involved in dramatic irony when Beatty visits him when he is sick. Right before Beatty arrived, Montag was reading a book. When Montag realizes, Beatty is at his house, he stuffs the book under his pillow. After entering Montag’s house, Beatty gives Montag a lecture about a fireman system and why it is the way it is. At the end of his lecture, Beatty advises Montag that “Every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Montag, take my word for it, the books say nothing” (Bradbury 59). This is a perfect example of dramatic irony, because the reader knows the book is under Montag’s pillow, but not Mildred or
What is irony? People thinks is just misfortune, but the truth is, it’s not. Irony is a situation which was intended to have a particular result, but has the opposite or different result. Situational irony is used in all three examples Situational irony is when the exact inverse of what you would expect to happen, comes about. The first situational irony example is a fantastic clip from the movie The Emperor's New Groove. The second situational irony example is a photo that shows exceptional evidence of irony. The third situational irony example is a text that shows superb evidence of irony.
In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury the character known as Montag is ironic. On the first page of the novel, it states “With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world,...” This shows irony because Montag is introduced to the readers as a fireman. This quote explains to us that Montag is the one shooting venomous kerosene at the world, or in other words he is the one making the fire. Montag’s wife, Mildred however does not show irony, but shows lackadaisical behavior. Mildred states "How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth wall-TV put in? When Mildred overdosed and was in recovery, all she cared about was getting a new parlor wall. All she does is watch tv all day. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury uses foreshadowing and irony to discuss the theme of burning knowledge.
In the story, "Flowers for Algernon, Part 1", One example of irony in this story was when Charlie had reacted to his inkblots tests. The reason I choose this was ironic is because of his responses. He saw that there was nothing in the inkblots, but when everyone else could see stuff in them he saw nothing wrong with that. This was situational irony. Another example is when Charlie writes down the words the doctors are saying, but he is not understanding them. This is irony because everyone else do understand the words. He is the only one. This irony is called dramatic irony. The last example I have is when Ms.Kinnian ran out of the room, this irony because Ms. Kinnian knows why she ran
“You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me of the babe.” These were David Bowie's famous words and conversation between a goblin in the movie Labyrinth. Jim Henson uses three different types of irony, which is a commonly used literary device, in the Labyrinth to convey the feeling of surprise in the viewer. How is surprise created in a motion picture? The author uses the literary device of irony. The three main types of irony are verbal, dramatic, and situational irony. Verbal irony is when a character says something but does the opposite. Dramatic irony is when the viewer/reader knows something that the characters don’t. Situational irony is when there is a
loving his job to rethinking of his job. Montag came in mind that his job not only hurt him but
Edgar Allan Poe creates horror and suspense in his use of irony -including verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony-in his short story “ The Tell-Tale Heart”. Verbal irony is when something that is said means the opposite of what is meant. Poe uses verbal irony when he states, “ I loved the old man.” Situational irony is similar. It is defined as when what happens is different from or even the opposite of what we expected. Poe use situational irony when he describes that he pitied the old man, although he chuckled at heart. This is situational irony because Edgar Allen Poe was planning to murder the old man and when he stated that he pited the old man, the audience became surprised because that is the opposite of what we expected
A good example of dramatic irony occurs when Montresor explains to Fortunato that he is also a mason. Then, Fortunato asks for a sign. Next, Montresor replies, “It is this, I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire trowel.” (239). Although Fortunato does not understand that Montresor has lured him into the catacombs of his home with the intentions of murdering him, but the reader knows
Irony is often used in literature to illustrate certain situations to the audience. In some pieces of literature that might be pointing out an unjust system, in others that might be to add a comedic effect, but whatever situation the author wants to illustrate, irony is very beneficial. Through small and witty, one-liners, or a bigger dramatic irony situation contrasting two very different situations, irony can be very beneficial for the reader to understand the story. Both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins have a corrupt dystopian society. Through the use of irony, the author can portray the corruptness to the audience. Transition!!! Irony is used in both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger
Desiree’s Baby is a short story by Kate Chopin. “Desiree’s Baby” takes place before the Civil War in a time when black people were neglected and mistreated by the whites. Desiree was abandoned and left behind by her parents when she was a toddler by a big stone pillar. She was found and declared adopted by Madame and Monsieur Valmonde. Armand a man that was really harsh to blacks falls in love with Desiree and gets married with her without knowing anything about her ancestry. They end up having a kid but the boy turns out to be not white. Armand angry and upset kicks out both Desiree and her baby because of her mixed race. That night, Armand burns all of Desiree’s possessions. While doing this, he finds a letter that his mother wrote to his
In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag and Beatty are viewed as foil characters. Montag is seen as the protagonist who believes there is something important inside of a book, as he says in page 48, “There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine.” He feels there is something he needs to learn and follow. As Montag's job as a fireman he sets books to fire, then he eventually learns fire is a destruction and there’s no beauty to it. Throughout the story as Montag's beliefs shift, he starts to feel a void in his life that his happiness is deteriorating. In page 62 he admits “I’m not happy”, he knows there is something missing but he doesn’t know what. On the other hand, Captain Beatty is seen as the antagonist his beliefs contrast from