What exactly is irony?

Here’s a quick and simple definition: 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.

What is cosmic irony in literature?

The expression cosmic irony or “irony of fate” stems from the notion that the gods (or the Fates) are amusing themselves by toying with the minds of mortals with deliberate ironic intent. Closely connected with situational irony, it arises from sharp contrasts between reality and human ideals, or between human intentions and actual results.

What is irony according to Schopenhauer?

Schopenhauer, in The World as Will and Representation, Volume 2, Chapter 8, claimed that the complete and total opposition between what is thought and what is seen constitutes irony. He wrote: “… if with deliberate intention something real and perceptible is brought directly under the concept of its opposite, the result is plain, common irony.

What is situational irony?

Situational irony involves a striking reversal of what is expected or intended: a person sidesteps a pothole to avoid injury and in doing so steps into another pothole and injures themselves.

How is irony used in the assertion of truth?

Verbal, dramatic, and situational irony are often used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth.

What is the irony of anthracite?

— Amanda Bower, Time, 20 Aug. 2001 The great irony of anthracite is that, tough as it is to light, once you get it lit it’s nearly impossible to put out. — Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods, 1999

Which is the best example of verbal irony?

Verbal irony 1 “Clear as mud.” 2 “Friendly as a rattlesnake.” 3 “About as much fun as a root canal.” 4 “Thank you so much” (about something bad). 5 “Fat chance!” More

What is irony according to Henry Watson Fowler?

Henry Watson Fowler, in The King’s English, says, “any definition of irony—though hundreds might be given, and very few of them would be accepted—must include this, that the surface meaning and the underlying meaning of what is said are not the same.”

What’s the origin of the phrase’as Nice as ninepence’?

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘As nice as ninepence’? The variants, ‘as right as ninepence’ and ‘as neat as ninepence’ are just as common as the ‘nice’ version (also, less commonly, ‘as clean as ninepence’ and ‘as grand as ninepence’) and it isn’t clear which came first.

What is the irony in the song’Well Isn’t this nice’?

When the man (in the song) whose plane is going down says “Well, isn’t this nice”, it’s clearly in the form of verbal irony. He’s not actually happy that the plane’s about to crash, so his statement is the opposite of what he means.

What does as fine as fippence as neat as nine pence?

“As fine as fippence, as neat as nine pence.” The ‘fippence’ (five pence) here makes it clear that the reference is to money rather than to skittles. For it to appear in a list of sayings viewed as proverbial it must have been in existence for some time before 1659.

What is an example of irony in the gift of Magi?

One of the most famous examples of irony in literature comes from The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. In this story, a newly married couple decides independently to sacrifice and sell what means most to themselves in order to purchase a Christmas gift for the other.

What is the (awful/bitter) irony in this passage?

The (awful/bitter) irony is that in trying to forget her, he thought of her even more. See More Examples That’s just one of life’s little ironies. The irony of the situation was apparent to everyone. He has a strong sense of irony.

What is irony according to Socrates?

[Socratic] irony [is] the infinite absolute negativity. It is negativity, because it only negates; it is infinite, because it does not negate this or that phenomenon; it is absolute, because that by virtue of which it negates is a higher something that still is not.

What did Jonathan Tittler conclude about the meaning of irony?

In light of these different varieties of irony, Jonathan Tittler has concluded that irony “has meant and means so many different things to different people that rarely is there a meeting of minds as to its particular sense on a given occasion.”

What is an example of dramatic irony in The Hobbit?

Dramatic Irony Example: The Hobbit. The Hobbit contains a perfect example of this when Bilbo happens upon the ring while lost in a mountain. He puts it in his pocket and soon after encounters Gollum. At this point, readers are aware of the significance of the ring and of its importance to Gollum.

Is irony a sign of 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.

What is an example of verbal irony in literature?

For example, if someone has a painful visit to the dentist and when it’s over says, “Well, that was pleasant,” they are using verbal irony because the intended meaning of their words (that it wasn’t at all pleasant) is the opposite of the literal meaning of the words. Verbal irony is the most common form of irony.

Is the irony of events the same as coincidence?

To clarify: “the irony of events” is not the same as “coincidence” and “bad luck” (apologies to Alanis Morrisette ). If you buy a new car and then accidentally drive it into a tree, that is coincidental and unlucky, but not ironic.

What is an example of tragic irony?

2: a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected It was a tragic irony that he made himself sick by worrying so much about his health. The (awful/bitter) irony is that in trying to forget her, he thought of her even more. See More Examples.

What is the medical definition of overdistension?

Medical Definition of overdistension. : excessive distension gastric overdistension overdistension of the alveoli.

What is the meaning of Sullivan’s irony?

Sullivan, whose real interest was, ironically, serious music, which he composed with varying degrees of success, achieved fame for his comic opera scores rather than for his more earnest efforts. The American Heritage Dictionary ‘s secondary meaning for irony: “incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs”.

What is incongruity in the definition of irony?

It is often included in definitions of irony not only that incongruity is present but also that the incongruity must reveal some aspect of human vanity or folly.

What is the meaning of virilization?

Definition of virilization. : the production of male secondary sex characteristics (such as facial hair) in a female also : the masculinization especially of the urogenital tract of a developing female fetus.

Does VETEMENTS have a strong sense of irony?

He has a strong sense of irony. Recent Examples on the Web Vetements’s tongue-in-cheek irony, which defined the brand’s early days, feels right again, too. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2022 Her light irony, delightfully conveyed by Croft’s translation, infuses many of the sections.

What is the meaning of Winker?

Definition of winker 1 : one that winks 2 : a horse’s blinder Examples of winker in a Sentence

How does irony play upon the innocence of a character?

Third, irony plays upon the innocence of a character or victim. “Either a victim is confidently unaware of the very possibility of there being an upper level or point of view that invalidates his own, or an ironist pretends not to be aware of it.”