How Does The Author Use Situational Irony In To Build A Fire

Short Story Irony

Multitudes of authors use different forms of irony to signify the opposite meaning and to entertain an audience such as situational, verbal, and dramatic irony. Situational irony is an event that occurs and is the opposite of what is expected as displayed in “To Build a Fire”. Moreover, verbal irony suggests the opposite of what is meant disclosed in “The Interlopers”. Finally, dramatic irony is when the reader knows something, but the character does not. Authors use irony to develop their respective themes in “To Build a Fire,” “The Interlopers,” and “The Necklace” by displaying, naturalism, sarcasm, and drama.

Undoubtedly, people are at the mercy of forces of which they have no control because of the naturalist idea of survival of the fittest. Survival of the fittest suggests anyone or anything best adapted to the environment will survive and those who do not will die. The dog "went quickly across the white, unbroken, surface. Suddenly it broke through ... It had wet its forefeet and legs, and almost immediately the water that clung to it turned to ice" (London 85). The dog had fallen through the ice but managed to survive by licking the ice off. Ultimately, people have no control over nature, and Jack London presents situational irony, events occur that directly contradict what is expected.

Ulrich Von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym are rivaling neighbors who are fighting over the dark forest and come across each other while hunting. Georg is trapped by a tree and Ulrich laughs ‘“So you’re not killed, as you ought to be, but you’re caught … There’s real justice for you!”’ (Saki 431). Ulrich is sarcastic towards Georg because they hate each other, and Ulrich is convincing himself the land is finally his. The rivals are sarcastic towards each other and their situation which indicates the ironic theme of sarcasm and