This document defines and provides examples of different types of irony. It explains that irony is a contradiction between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. There are three main types of irony: verbal irony, which uses words to express something different than their literal meaning; situational irony, when a situation turns out differently than expected; and dramatic irony, when the audience knows something that characters in a story do not. The document provides examples for each type of irony and instructs students on identifying and creating ironic situations.

1. What is Irony?

2. Lesson Objectives:
•Students will be able to define irony.
•Students will be able to identify the three
kinds of irony.
•Students will be able to evaluate a situation
for irony.
•Students will be able to create ironic
situations.

3. Irony
• A contradiction between what happens
and what you expect to happen.
• It is often used to add suspense and interest.
• It is also used to keep the reader thinking about
the moral of the story.
• It’s often a surprise.

4. Examples:
* A fireman afraid of fire
* A dentist with crooked teeth and cavities
galore
* You shout “I’m not upset!” but your fists
are clenched, your eyes look like they are
ready to
pop out, and your face is the color of tomato
red (sarcasm)

5. The Big Picture
Irony
Verbal
Irony
Situational
Irony
Dramatic
Irony

6. 3 types of Irony
•Verbal Irony
•Situational Irony
•Dramatic Irony

7. Verbal Irony
• The simplest kind of irony.
• You use it everyday when you say one thing and really
mean another.
• It is often similar to a sarcastic response.
• Example:
• When you appear to be sick and someone asks you if
you’re okay. You say “Of course!” But in the meantime
you are vomiting and fainting.

8. Situational Irony
• Occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of
what you thought it would be.
• Example:
• The teacher’s daughter is a High School drop out.
• The mayor’s wife gets caught stealing.
• The chef won’t eat his/her own cooking.
• The barber always needs a hair cut himself.

9. Dramatic Irony
• Occurs when the audience knows something
that the characters in the story, on the screen, or
on the stage do not know. It’s like the audience
is more aware of what’s going on than the
people in the production.
• This is used to engage the audience and keep
them actively involved in the storyline.

10. Dramatic Irony
continued…
• In all of the Friday the 13th
movies, we know
Jason is in the woods. The characters do not.
When they go out into the woods we are afraid
for them because we know that they are in
danger. We scream for them to run, we get
excited when they fall, we cringe when we know
that Jason is right behind the tree.

11. Review
• Irony is a kind of a surprise. It is the difference
between what is expected to happen, and what
actually does happen.
• Irony is like a glitch, a twist, or a last minute
switch in the game. It is an interruption of events
that cause an unexpected outcome.
There are three types of irony:
• Verbal
• Situational
• Dramatic

14. Describe the irony…

16. • Occurs when something happens that contradicts our
expectation: ___________________
• Ex: “The Gift of the Magi” story
• Rock trio ZZ Top is famously associated with the chest-
length beards of guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty
Hill. The group's drummer, who only has a mustache,
happens to be named Frank Beard.
• A man jumps over a giant waterfall like Niagara Falls in a
barrel and survives, only to take a clean-up shower where
he slips on the soap and dies from trauma.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor famous for his violence
in film, campaigning against violence in video games in
general - which ironically includes those featuring his own
characters.
• An anti-technology website.