Definition
 Irony
is saying (or writing) one thing, whilst meaning the opposite.
The
true meaning may be conveyed by vocabulary -
or even by tone.
Examples
"So you've lost the keys. That's clever!"
"You're standing on my foot - thankyou!"
Use
Irony
is a means of making a critical comment by casting a topic into
a new light or reversing a perspective on it.
It
is often used to make witty observations.
People
using irony are distancing themselves from the subject in question.
There
are various types of irony. They have in common the adoption of
a distance from the subject for satirical or critical effect.
A
speaker might take up an opponent's argument and then exaggerate
it to reveal its weaknesses. This is Socratic irony.
Writers
or speakers might pretend to hold opinions which are the exact
opposite of what they truly believe. [The reader or listener must
be alert and skillful to avoid being drawn into a trap.]
Dramatic
irony occurs when the audience at a play know something of which
the characters on stage are ignorant [the lover hidden in the next
room].
Irony
is often classed as a form of humour, along with sarcasm and satire.
These do not necessarily evoke laughter, but rather a wry shrug
or assent to the idea that the received world picture has been
disturbed. |
