THE G

IFT O

F TH

E MAGI

AN

ALY

ZI N

G I

RO

NY

FO

R C

ON

ST

RU

CT

ED

RE

SP

ON

SE

VERBAL IRONY

Example: At the end when Jim states, “They're too nice to use just at present.”

• What he actually means is that they simply cannot use them at present

• The narrator calls Jim and Della “foolish children” and then “wise”

DRAMATIC IRONY

Dramatic irony only applies here if the reader guesses that Jim has sol d the watch to buy the combs before it is revealed

In this case, the reader would know an event that Della does not know

SITUATIONAL IRONY

Example: • Jim has sold his prized possession (his pocket

watch) to buy Della expensive combs for her long hair that is now gone

• Della has sold her prized possession (her hair) to buy Jim a fob chain for a pocket watch that he has sold

THE EFFECT OF IRONY

• Authors use irony to add an element of humor into their works

• to emphasize the moral (theme) of a story• to make an audience ponder the

underlying meaning of what a character said

THE EFFECT OF IRONY IN “THE GIFT OF THE MAGI”

• The irony that Henry presents in his short story teaches the reader about sacrifice and love

• Therefore, in this case, irony is a device the author uses to emphasize the theme.