Literary Terms Vocabulary Study Guide
Literary Terms Vocabulary:
Irony
Irony
A contrast between expectation and reality. It can be:
• tragic
• profound
• funny
There are three types or irony:
1. verbal
2. situational
3. dramatic
Verbal Irony
When we say the opposite of what we mean.
e.g., When a mother walks into a room and sees that her children, instead of doing their homework, are playing video games, she gives them a stern look and says "Once you're done with your very important work there, let's take some time out for recreation in the form of some chemistry problems."
Situational Irony
Something happens that is the opposite from what we expect.
e.g., In 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Dorothy goes to a wizard to fulfill her wish to go home before discovering that she had the ability to go back home all this while. The Scarecrow longs for intelligence only to discover that he is a genius, just as the Tin man longs to be capable of love only to discover that he has a heart. Similarly, the Lion who at first seems to be a coward, turns out to be very courageous.
Dramatic Irony
When we know something a character doesn’t know.
e.g., Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet then kills herself.
Irony Quiz
Instructions: Read the examples below, and decide whether what type of irony they describe (verbal, situational, or dramatic).
Irony Example Type
'The Gift of the Magi'. In this story, there is a Christian married couple who are very poor. So, to give each other Christmas gifts, the wife cuts off her beautiful long hair to a wig-maker for money and buys a chain for her husbands heirloom pocket watch. Meanwhile, the husband sells his heirloom watch to buy his wife pretty combs for her long and beautiful hair. Situational
A mother makes the least favorite dish for her kid and the kid tends to just sit at the
Irony
Irony
A contrast between expectation and reality. It can be:
• tragic
• profound
• funny
There are three types or irony:
1. verbal
2. situational
3. dramatic
Verbal Irony
When we say the opposite of what we mean.
e.g., When a mother walks into a room and sees that her children, instead of doing their homework, are playing video games, she gives them a stern look and says "Once you're done with your very important work there, let's take some time out for recreation in the form of some chemistry problems."
Situational Irony
Something happens that is the opposite from what we expect.
e.g., In 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Dorothy goes to a wizard to fulfill her wish to go home before discovering that she had the ability to go back home all this while. The Scarecrow longs for intelligence only to discover that he is a genius, just as the Tin man longs to be capable of love only to discover that he has a heart. Similarly, the Lion who at first seems to be a coward, turns out to be very courageous.
Dramatic Irony
When we know something a character doesn’t know.
e.g., Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet then kills herself.
Irony Quiz
Instructions: Read the examples below, and decide whether what type of irony they describe (verbal, situational, or dramatic).
Irony Example Type
'The Gift of the Magi'. In this story, there is a Christian married couple who are very poor. So, to give each other Christmas gifts, the wife cuts off her beautiful long hair to a wig-maker for money and buys a chain for her husbands heirloom pocket watch. Meanwhile, the husband sells his heirloom watch to buy his wife pretty combs for her long and beautiful hair. Situational
A mother makes the least favorite dish for her kid and the kid tends to just sit at the