2. Irony: Lesson Objectives
To understand what irony is and how it is used in
literature.
Reading Standards 4 and 5 for Literature, Grades
11-12 (Craft and Structure)
3. Have you ever heard someone say “Wow, that’s
ironic” or “What painful irony?”
Have you ever heard people call something ironic,
but you just don’t know what it means, and maybe
they don’t really know what it means either?
4. What is Irony?
Irony is about the opposite of what is expected.
Irony is not:
Misfortune
Karma
Coincidence
Although irony may involve any of the above.
7. Your Turn!
Think of a time in your life where you
were in an ironic situation, a time where
things turned out the opposite of what
you expected.
If you can’t think of one, try to imagine
an ironic situation that could occur in
your home, school or social life.
Write down your ironic scenario and be
prepared to share it with the class!
8. Verbal Irony
Saying the opposite of what you mean.
Not all verbal irony is sarcasm. Sarcasm is
verbal irony that is meant to be hurtful.
9. Ironic Simile
A simile comparing two things that
have opposing properties.
10. Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony only occurs in a narrative.
Dramatic irony occurs when characters act upon
false information while the reader/audience
knows the truth.
11. Your Turn!
Think about a time you saw dramatic
irony in a book, movie, play, show,
video game or other narrative.
It must be a time that you knew
important information that the
characters did not know.
Write down this example and be
prepared to share it with the class!
12.
13. Ozymandias
Sonnet. 1818. Percy Bysshe Shelley.
There is a decayed statue of an ancient king
whose domain is long gone.
The statue’s inscription boasts of the king’s
creations, but there is nothing in sight.
14. YourTurn!
What themes do you think
Shelley is trying to invoke in
“Ozymandias?” What moral
or point do you think he is
trying to get across with this
poem?
Write down your answer
and be prepared to share
them with class.
15. That’s a Wrap:You’re Up!
Think about how irony is used in “Ozymandias.”What effect does
the ironic twist have on the reader? How does it make you feel?
Think about how irony might be used as a literary technique. What
kind of reader reactions can irony be used to cause?
Write down your answers to the above questions and be
prepared to share them with the class. Hold on to these notes:
they will be extremely helpful for future assignments!
