Irony- A Literary Device-Types with Examples

Irony- A literary Device- A figure of speech

Irony is a literary device and the most widely known figure of speech in which contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true. 

The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality. It can be the use of words that are the opposite of what you mean.

There are many kinds of irony. 

Situational Irony

A situation that has a different or opposite result from what is expected.

For example:

This is the irony of his life that he left his house for a girl and that girl left him.

Maths teacher’s son was failed in maths.

Police man’s purse was stolen by a thief.

Verbal Irony

This is a statement in which the speaker means something very different from what he or she is saying.

For example

I know you will not come to my small house as you are an extremely rich person.

The good news is that this month we will get only 50% of salary.


After seeing a bad performance when you say, “What a great performance!”

On an extremely cold day you say, “Wow! It’s so hot today!”

Dramatic Irony

It is also known as tragic irony when a writer lets their reader know something that a character does not.


For example:

When you are watching a drama and as an audience you know it that there is poison in the juice but the character drinks it.

In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet is only asleep-not dead-but Romeo does not, and he kills himself.

Check out other figures of speech

Assonance

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