Irony:

As Seen in The Crucible

ELA 11 & AP ELA 11

March 26/27

I. Three types of Irony

A. Verbal

1. Occurs when someone states one thing and means another; often recognized as sarcasm.

a. Examples:

i. “That dog is as friendly as a rattlesnake.”

ii. Snowing in May: “Wow, the weather is very spring-like today!”

Verbal Irony

2. With verbal irony, the speaker intends others to know that what he or she means is different or opposite

from what is said.

I absolutely love my haircut and feel sensational!

Situational

B. Situational

1. When a situation turns out differently than expected.

2. One must have expectations for an outcome for a situation to be ironic.

a. Example:

i. A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking tickets.

Is this situational irony?

Answer: Yes, it is!

The audience expects for the person to be safe since he’s wearing protective armor. There is a reversal of expectations—meaning that the situation turned out differently than expected.

Is this situational irony?

Answer: No, it is not!

This is just an unfortunate circumstance. Just because there is a drawer in a kitchen does not mean you will find any knives in it!

Something to remember: Situational Irony = Bad Luck

Situational Irony

Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn’t pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with “return to sender” stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.

What was expected? Was there a reversal of expectations? Is it ironic?

Dramatic

C. Dramatic

1. Occurs when a reader knows more about a situation or a character in the story than the characters do.

a. Example:

i. When Romeo goes to see Juliet she has taken a poison that makes her appear dead. Seeing her lying “dead” he takes his own life because he cannot live without her. Upon waking from her poisoned state she sees him dead and takes her own life – for reals this time.

Dramatic Irony

Watch the video

After watching the video, write the example of dramatic irony shown.

What kind of Irony is it? 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFvyc61a40I

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uif8LiXwPBs

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ylpYeRScpU

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmSBrmgdKts

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OZjHjJToVo

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgvyparsP0c

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIwTYL1fwJk

9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F1JSXYFBQE

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3gI9ms8Fdc