Irony

The irony is a literary device that refers to a contrast or discrepancy between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs or is said. It is often used to create a humorous or dramatic effect and can take many forms, including verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony.

Verbal irony occurs when a speaker says something that is the opposite of what they actually mean. For example, if someone says “Great weather we’re having!” on a rainy and stormy day, that is verbal irony.

Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. For example, a fire station burning down would be an example of situational irony.

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in a story do not. For example, in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the audience knows that Juliet is not really dead, but Romeo does not, leading to tragic consequences.

Irony is often used in literature and poetry to add depth and complexity to characters and situations, to create humor or tension, and to comment on larger themes or ideas.