
- RESEARCH PAPERS AND ESSAYS
- ESSAY TOPICS
- PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
- Joseph Robinette Biden
- Donald Trump
- Barack Obama
- States Ranked by Size & Population
- States Ranked by Date


Examples Of Irony In Short Story
Irony in the story of an hour.
Irony is defined as the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. In the short story, “The Story of an Hour,” there are several examples of irony. In fact, the title itself is ironic in that so many unexpected accounts happen in the life of Louise Mallard in the small amount of sixty minutes.
Irony In The Stolen Party
In contrast with “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Stolen Party”, there were many examples of irony used throughout the story. Irony is used as a surprise when events result in an unexpected way. These stories have major differences based on what’s being represented. For instance, “The Monkey’s Paw” illustrates what consequences characters commit based on decision-making whether it has impact into their lives or not. On the other hand, “The Stolen Party” portrays how social groups are selfish one another. The Whites and Rosaura, known as the protagonists in both stories, desires to change their fate, but were punished because it made their lives worse than it’s normal routine.
Miss Strangeworth's Letter Irony Analysis
Irony is used in this story to express how generous and nice Miss Strangeworth may seem, but at the same time it shows just how evil a person can be. When Miss Strangeworth drops the letter, that's an example of situational irony. When Miss Strangeworth writes the letters to the people of the town, that's an example of verbal irony. When Miss Strangeworths roses are found destroyed with a little note, that's an example of dramatic
Tradition And Symbolism In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson
One example of irony in the book is the lottery. “The lottery was conducted , just like the all the other celebrations in the town” (Shirley, Jackson). This quote relates to the theme because this quote makes us think that the lottery is a happy and fun time of the year, that something good will happen if the person wins the lottery. But what eventually turned out was the lottery being a bad and terrible thing, and someone dying at the end.“The events of the story are related in a matter-of-fact and objective way”(Wilson). This quote relates to the theme because when you think about the lottery you think someone is going to win something, a big prize that will make the winner extremely happy, but in this story it is the opposite. The winner of the lottery doesn't win a nice prize. What the winner gets is people throwing stones at
Irony In The Maze Runner
There are some parts in the maze runner that use irony to build tension. For instance when Minho and Alby go in to the maze to examine a dead Griever, they are willing to bring it back to the glade without any kind of problems. Instead of what was planned to happen the Griever is actually alive and then it injures Alby. This made the journey for them to come back to the glade very hard. This ends up being an opposite out come to what they had expected. This kind of situation is an irony. However Thomas decides to try and help Alby and Minho when they are trapped in the maze. Thomas though he and Minho could protect Alby form the Grievers. But Minho just runs away and Thomas is left alone to save Alby. This is demonstrated as situational irony. This proves that irony is active in many parts of the maze
Examples Of Irony In Fahrenheit 451
The novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury is an outstanding book that demonstrates a lot of irony. Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect, according to Oxford Dictionaries. There are three types of irony. which are verbal, situational, and dramatic irony. In most cases, verbal irony is referred more to when words express something contrary to what someone says. Situational irony is irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. dramatic irony is used a lot within books, plays, and movies. It is when the audience is aware of something that the characters in the story are not aware of. Within this paper, I will demonstrate on how Ray Bradbury utilizes irony within the novel Fahrenheit 451.
Use Of Irony In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams
Irony is the use of words to portray a meaning completely opposite than the actual meaning. The first example of irony in the short story Winter Dreams is when Dexter realizes the American dream of being a rich and successful man is not what it appeared to be. He realizes that you have to sacrifice happiness in order to be a rich and successful man. This is an example is situational irony because the outcome turned out to be very different than what was expected. The second example of irony in the short story Winter Dreams is when Judy tells Dexter before he leaves for the war that she wanted to marry him. But when Dexter left, she ended up marrying another guy. This is an example of dramatic irony because it is understood because it is understood by audience reading, but the character still does not understand. The third and last example of irony in the short story Winter Dreams is at the end of the story when Dexter leaves Irene to be with Judy again, but in the end Judy backs stabs him again. This would be an example of situational irony because they situation turned out the opposite than what it should
Irony In The Tell-Tale Heart And The Lottery
Irony may appear in difference ways within literature. Irony changes our expectations of what might happen. It can create the unexpected twist at the end of a story or anecdote that gets people laughing or crying. Verbal irony is intended to be a humorous type of irony. Situational irony can be either funny or tragic. Dramatic irony is usually an over the top, tragic form of irony. Both Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” are great examples of an ironic situation. Every expresses the common theme in their own way. Although both of these literally pieces provide us with the theme of irony, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" gives the reader a sense of suspense with the irony that proves to be more effective.
Examples Of Irony In Flowers For Algernon
In the story, "Flowers for Algernon, Part 1", One example of irony in this story was when Charlie had reacted to his inkblots tests. The reason I choose this was ironic is because of his responses. He saw that there was nothing in the inkblots, but when everyone else could see stuff in them he saw nothing wrong with that. This was situational irony. Another example is when Charlie writes down the words the doctors are saying, but he is not understanding them. This is irony because everyone else do understand the words. He is the only one. This irony is called dramatic irony. The last example I have is when Ms.Kinnian ran out of the room, this irony because Ms. Kinnian knows why she ran
Irony In The First Day By Edward P. Jones
Irony is a literary device used to indicate that a character’s choice of actions or words bring a certain implication to the reader or audience but quite unknown to the characters themselves (Wellek & Warren, 1956). In the story, the aspect of irony had been expressed at the start of the story the narrator says, (...long before I learned to be ashamed of my mother…) This is an aspect of irony because when we analyze the story, we get to understand that both the mother and the daughter lived a similar life before she went to school and became educated (Edward, 1950). Also when she was a small child, she depended on her illiterate mother for everything without being shameful. It is also ironic because the same mother she feels ashamed of is the one who helped her go to a school that in the end helped her shift her class in the society.
Situational Irony In The Tell Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe creates horror and suspense in his use of irony -including verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony-in his short story “ The Tell-Tale Heart”. Verbal irony is when something that is said means the opposite of what is meant. Poe uses verbal irony when he states, “ I loved the old man.” Situational irony is similar. It is defined as when what happens is different from or even the opposite of what we expected. Poe use situational irony when he describes that he pitied the old man, although he chuckled at heart. This is situational irony because Edgar Allen Poe was planning to murder the old man and when he stated that he pited the old man, the audience became surprised because that is the opposite of what we expected
Examples Of Dramatic Irony In The Crucible
The Crucible contains several examples of situational, verbal, and dramatic irony. Arthur Miller uses irony in many ways, his reason for using irony is to catch and keep the reader’s attention. For example he uses dramatic irony to create anxiety and tension within the story. Many other authors use irony to make their audience think about what is being said as well as what is going on in the story. Most irony is used intentionally, but in some cases it can be used unintentionally. Irony is used to illustrate a point which is better than just plainly saying something.The Crucible contains several examples of dramatic, verbal, and situational irony.
Use Of Irony In The Hunger Games And The Lottery
Irony is often used in literature to illustrate certain situations to the audience. In some pieces of literature that might be pointing out an unjust system, in others that might be to add a comedic effect, but whatever situation the author wants to illustrate, irony is very beneficial. Through small and witty, one-liners, or a bigger dramatic irony situation contrasting two very different situations, irony can be very beneficial for the reader to understand the story. Both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins have a corrupt dystopian society. Through the use of irony, the author can portray the corruptness to the audience. Transition!!! Irony is used in both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger
Suspense In The Tell Tale Heart Analysis
Suspense is an integral part of storytelling. Without suspense, certain stories would not create their intended effect. Edgar Allen Poe wrote many books and poems, which were all under a gothic theme. His writings were very dark and mysterious, and they all contained suspense. Poe’s novel “The Tell-Tale Heart” and his poem “The Raven” contain suspense, which is created through point-of-view, irony, and diction.
Use Of Situational Irony In Invitation To Murder
The mysterious story “Invitation to Murder” is written by Josh Pachter. Within the story, Josh Pachter incorporated a numerous amount of events that involve situational irony. Such as, the weapons that were displayed on the table near Mr. Abbott. Upon the table rested a long bladed kitchen knife, a thin strand of wire with a wooden handle attached to each end, a length of iron pipe, an amber bottle labeled with a grinning skull and crossbones, and a revolver. The situational irony was that the weapons were meant to kill, but one of those very objects was needed to sustain Mr. Abbott’s dwindling life force. Due to Mr. Abbott’s unfortunate skiing accident he was forced to lie dormant with a ruptured mind, and needed the liquid in the skull and crossbones bottle; it was toxic to most healthy beings. It was ironic because a deadly poison was need to prolong the life of Mr. Abbott. Situational irony is used periodic throughout “Invitation to Murder”.
More about Examples Of Irony In Short Story
Related topics.
- Anxiety disorder
- Hutchinson's teeth
- Philosophical concepts
- Critical theory
24/7 writing help on your phone
To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”
Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape
Save to my list
Remove from my list
The plot of Don Delillo’s Videotape is strange enough as it is; a twelve year old girl is playing with a video camera while in the back seat of their family car. Thinking it is fun to do so, she points the camera out the back window and starts recording the man driving the car behind them. It is not long before the girl and her video camera become witness to the man being fatally shot, and her video becomes widely publicized thereafter.
The introduction of the story is with the role of the twelve year old girl in the entire structure of the story.
How she gets involved, and the after-effects of her involvement all form the basic concepts and structure of the story. Careful readers will note several complications within the storyline itself that develop surrounding the young girl. The first is her reaction to keep the video camera running even during the actual shooting itself. Being in the process of witnessing a murder in cold blood, the child is faced with the conflict of stopping the recording or satisfying a morbid fascination to continue watching.

Proficient in: Irony
“ Amazing writer! I am really satisfied with her work. An excellent price as well. ”
Ultimately, the child is unable to resist, possibly because of the curiosity that comes with the experience of seeing something new. However, Videotape does not just focus on the child and her story. It tells of the people watching it on television afterwards, specifically of a couple’s reaction to it. In the story, while the wife seems relatively uninterested in the real-life drama going on in the video, the husband displays the same morbid fascination with the murder similar to that earlier demonstrated by the child.
By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email
You won’t be charged yet!
The irony of the situation is such that while the idea of seeing the murder of a fellow human being in real life is repulsive enough, seeing it in a different form seems to effectively change the circumstances surrounding it, making it acceptable even. The conclusion of the story ultimately reveals the unfortunate side of man that revels in others’ loss when presented in a manner so usually associated with mass entertainment.
Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape. (2016, Aug 27). Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/irony-of-don-delillos-short-story-videotape-essay
"Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape." StudyMoose , 27 Aug 2016, http://studymoose.com/irony-of-don-delillos-short-story-videotape-essay
StudyMoose. (2016). Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape . [Online]. Available at: http://studymoose.com/irony-of-don-delillos-short-story-videotape-essay [Accessed: 4 Mar. 2023]
"Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape." StudyMoose, Aug 27, 2016. Accessed March 4, 2023. http://studymoose.com/irony-of-don-delillos-short-story-videotape-essay
"Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape," StudyMoose , 27-Aug-2016. [Online]. Available: http://studymoose.com/irony-of-don-delillos-short-story-videotape-essay. [Accessed: 4-Mar-2023]
StudyMoose. (2016). Irony of Don Delillo’s Short Story Videotape . [Online]. Available at: http://studymoose.com/irony-of-don-delillos-short-story-videotape-essay [Accessed: 4-Mar-2023]
- Don't hate the addict hate the disease Don't hate the person hate Pages: 2 (407 words)
- Social Irony in Connell’s Short Story “the Cage Man” Pages: 6 (1657 words)
- The Use of Satire, Imagery, Irony, and Symbolism in Rip Van Winkle, a Short Story by Washington Irving Pages: 7 (1838 words)
- Irony and Foreshadowing in Poe's Short Stories Pages: 5 (1274 words)
- The Tall Woman and Her Short Husband Short Story Analysis Pages: 2 (517 words)
- A Short Response on For Esme with Love and Squalor, a Short Story by J. D. Salinger Pages: 2 (504 words)
- Boys Don’t Cry versus the Teena Brandon Story Pages: 4 (1109 words)
- 'Don't ever ask for the true story' - an examination of the narrative methods used in Alias Grace and Affinity Pages: 10 (2715 words)
- Irony In The Story "The Eighty-Yard Run" Pages: 2 (371 words)
- Irony in O'Connor's Story A Good Man Pages: 3 (602 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
- Plagiarism scanner DO THE CHECK
- Writing help ASK FOR HELP
- Read my essay GO TO READ
Sample details
- Short stories
- Words: 1289
Related Topics
- Poetry Analysis
- The Hunger Games
- American Literature
- Fast Food Nation
- The Woman Warrior
- Affordable Care Act
- Short Story
- Protagonist
- 12 Angry Men
- the pardoner's tale
- man's search for meaning
- Character Analysis

Irony and Foreshadowing in Poe’s Short Stories
In Poe’s short narratives. he uses literary devices like sarcasm and prefiguration to increase reader involvement in his narratives. Irony and Foreshadowing helps to make suspense. anxiousness. and wit in his plants. They besides help to capture the audience’s attending and pull them into the narrative. Poe’s sarcasm and prefiguration are integrated in “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” . “The Cask of the Amontillado” is one of the best illustrations of sarcasm and prefiguration in Poe’s plants. In this narrative. about every item seems to stand for something else. These dry inside informations foreshadow Fortunado’s atrocious decease.
Poe’s uses sarcasm and prefiguration to develop suspense and temper throughout this narrative. The first illustration of sarcasm in this narrative lies in the character’s name. The name Forunato is dry because it sounds like the word fortunate. Besides Fortunato translates to “fortunate one” in Italian and suggests good fortune. As we know from the beginning of the narrative. Fortunato is non so fortunate and his hereafter lies in the custodies of Montresor. Other sarcasms abound in the scene of the “Cask of the Amontillado. ” This narrative takes topographic point in Italy during Carnival. which is a joyous and happy clip full of household. friends. and nutrient.
124 experts online
Carnival is the last topographic point one would believe of perpetrating a slaying. This dry scene is one of the grounds Montresor is so successful and is why Fortunato is so surprised. A more ocular and humourous sarcasm lies in Fortunato’s dress. “The adult male wore assortment. He had on a tightfitting parti-striped frock. and his caput was surmounted by the conelike cap and bells” ( Poe “Cask” ) . His gay outfit contrasts with the impending day of reckoning that awaits him. Besides. it is dry that Fortunato believes that he is intelligent on the topic of vinos. but he is dressed as a sap.
In add-on to irony. forshadowing is apparent in the gap paragraph of the “Cask of the Amontillado” . Montresor’s first words to the reader are: The 1000 hurts of Fortunato I had borne as I best could. but when he ventured upon abuse I vowed retaliation. You. who so good cognize the nature of my psyche. will non say. nevertheless. that gave vocalization to a menace. At length I would be avenged ; this was a point decidedly. settled –but the really definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the thought of hazard. I must non merely penalize but penalize with impunity ( Poe “Cask” ) .
Clearly. Montresor has serious purposes for Fortunato. and these remarks foreshadow Montresor’s retribution on Forunato at the terminal of the narrative. Montresor says he must non merely penalize but penalize with impunity. This foreshadows how an abuse drove Montresor to take justness into his ain custodies and implies that Forunato’s penalty was deserved. Later in the narrative we see how this justness is truly merely an alibi for slaying. Another case of prefiguration is when Montresor and Fortunato are in the vaults. looking for the cask of Amontillado. Fortunato begins to cough and says. “Enough. the cough’s a mere nil ; it will non kill me.
I shall non decease of a cough” ( Poe “Cask” ) . This foreshadows his decease because Fortunato was right in that he would non decease of a cough but that he would decease of something much more sinister. The clueless Fortunato besides mentions that he has forgotten what Montresor’s household coat of weaponries expressions like. Montresor describes his coat of weaponries as “A immense human pes d’or. in a field cerulean ; the pes crushes a serpent rampant whose Fangs are imbedded in the heel” ( Poe “Cask” ) . This symbolically foreshadows Fortunato’s decease because Montresor represents the human pes oppressing the snake. which represents Fortunato.
This coat of weaponries shows that Montresor was non the first in his household to take justness into his ain custodies. a intimation that Fortunato does non pick up on. “The Fall of the House of Usher” besides makes good usage of sarcasm and prefiguration. It is one of Poe’s most well-known short narratives and is considered one of his best. This narrative shows us how of import sarcasm and prefiguration are to a Gothic narrative by supplying suspense and wit to Poe’s narratives. One case of sarcasm in “The Fall of the House of Usher” is in one of Usher’s many pictures. In this picture. Usher paints a vault for the entombment of a organic structure.
This is dry because it portrays the grave in which Madeline will be buried. It besides shows how Lady Madeline would be buried alive. This picture signifies Usher’s dark ideas and leads us to believe that he planned to bury Lady Madeline alive. Another illustration of sarcasm is when the storyteller reads Usher the narrative the “Mad Trist” . The storyteller reads this narrative in order to quiet both his and Usher’s nervousnesss. This is dry because the “Mad Trist” is a lampoon about a mediaeval love affair. Poe introduces this narrative at the greatest minute of tenseness in the narrative ; the Narrator can non kip. a storm rages outside. and Usher is on the threshold of craze.
The storyteller could non hold picked a worse clip to read this book. ( Poe “Usher’ ) . Probably the most dry portion of the narrative was the alteration that Lady Madeline experiences before she is buried and after she is buried. When the storyteller foremost sees Madeline. before she is buried. she is exanimate and can hardly travel or speak. After she comes back from being buried alive nevertheless. she has much more of an impact on the people and things around her. When she comes back from the dead. she has adequate strength to undertake and kill Usher. This shows us that Lady Madeline has grown since her decease.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” is known for its Gothic elements. In this narrative Poe describes the house as bleak. gloomy. and close to crumpling down. When the storyteller foremost sees the house at the beginning of the narrative he says. “I know non how it was — but. with the first glance of the edifice. a sense of impossible somberness pervaded my spirit” ( Poe 139 ) . The somberness and desolation of the house foreshadows the day of reckoning and horrors that will happen inside the house subsequently on in the narrative. Poe lets us cognize from the beginning of the narrative that something deplorable will go on inside that house.
Poe’s description of the Lady Madeline as holding “affections of a partly cataleptical character” ( 155 ) predicts her early decease. The word cataleptical means to be in a province in which consciousness and feeling are lost and the organic structure assumes a death-like rigidness. Lady Madeline’s description foreshadows her decease because she is described as lifeless and lost. She seems as if she was already dead. The most obvious illustration of boding in this narrative lies in the rubric. “The Fall of the House of Usher” foreshadows what will go on to non merely the physical House of Usher. but besides the symbolic House of Usher.
Symbolically. the House of Usher represents the lineage of Usshers. When the house crumbles to the land at the terminal of the narrative. it represents the terminal of the Usher lineage. “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” give a battalion of illustrations of both sarcasm and prefiguration. Poe uses these literary devices to develop suspense and temper in these narratives. Without these literary devices. his narratives would look level and deadening. Poe’s literary devices are what captured and maintained my involvements thought his narratives.
This essay was written by a fellow student. You may use it as a guide or sample for writing your own paper, but remember to cite it correctly . Don’t submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism.
Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism report
Irony and Foreshadowing in Poe’s Short Stories. (2017, Jul 10). Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/irony-and-foreshadowing-in-poes-short-stories-essay/
You may also find these documents helpful
Situation Irony Is the Most Effective at Creating Interesting Stories
Short Story and Technique Foreshadowing
Comparison of Edgar Allan Poe’s Greatest Stories
Edgar Allan Poe’s and James Hurst’s Stories Analysis
The Dark and Twisted World of Gothic Literature
The Institution of Race and Ethnicity. American Short Stories Short Story
The Irony In “The Necklace”, by Guy De Maupassant Short Story
Foreshadowing in “The Great Gatsby”
The Catcher in the Rye – Foreshadowing Analysis

Hi, my name is Amy 👋
In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.


Short Story Irony
Situational and dramatic irony in story of an hour, everyday use, the necklace, and the lottery.
In the stories “Story of an Hour”, “Everyday Use”, “The Necklace”, and “The Lottery” it is evident that irony was quite a large part of the short story. There is situational irony, which is when the situation turns out differently than expected. Also, dramatic irony is present, which is when you as a reader knows more than the character. The authors seem to base their whole story around irony to surprise their readers.
The Power of Irony in "The Death of a Salesman" Essay
Authors use irony in literature in order to give double meanings and make it more interesting to the reader. In the play “ The Death of a Salesman” Arthur Miller uses irony as a strong writing technique in order to express the character's behavior. In “The Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller moments of situational and dramatic irony helps to illustrate the story's theme in which Willy is a man trying yo achieve the American dream, however he have created a world of illusion.
Irony in Kate Chopin's Story of an Hour Essay
- 1 Works Cited
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
Irony in Poetry Essay
Dramatic irony occurs when the reader is aware of more than the character in the narrative. The reader possibly sees the significance of a characters actions before the actual character does. Again, "Porphyria's Lover" is a poem that also exhibits dramatic irony. By the end of this poem, the reader is aware that the main character is a psychopathic killer, however, he is completely unaware that his actions were wrong. After he murders Porphyria, believing that he had fulfilled her wish to be with him forever, he "warily oped her lids: again laughed the blue eyes without a stain. And I untightened next the tress about her neck; her cheek once more blushed bright beneath my burning kiss."(44-48) The speaker in in this poem is telling his story in a nonchalant, unemotional manner, while the reader in continuously coming to terms with the fact that the speaker is an upset maniac.
Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe
It is often said that irony is the vital literary element to a story because it gives the story character. Whether it changes the mood, creates suspense, adds foreshadowing, engages the reader or something else, irony can do many things for a story.
Irony in the Story of an Hour and Araby
The cask of amontillado and 'the short happy life of francis macomber'.
Between the stories of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Poe, and “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway, the authors are able to control these stories through the use of irony, defined as a “contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality. This can be a difference between the surface meaning of something that is said and the underlying meaning” (http://www.literarydevices.com/irony/). Within these short stories, each author has been able to bring the reader into the story by giving them the opportunity to endure the thoughts and feelings of individual characters which include the taste for revenge, and the bitter truth of a marriage. The way irony is placed into the stories has
Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe Essay
This type of irony is used when readers are aware of something a character in the story isnt, this helps build suspense. Readers know Montressor vows revenge on Fortunato. Meanwhile, in the story Fortunate isn't aware. "My dear fortunato, you are luckily met." (pg. 1) This is an example of dramatic irony because readers know Montressor seeks revenge on Fortunato, although throughout the story it remains a mystery why.
Examples Of Irony In Ransom Of The Red Chief
Irony is described by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result”. “Ransom of the Red Chief”, as short story written by O. Henry, is full of all types of irony. In this short story a boy, Johnny Dorset, is taken by two kidnappers, Sam and Bill. Ironically, by the end of the story it is the kidnappers who pay ransom to the father. In “Ransom of the Red Chief”, there are many examples of irony which help to enhance the story. Throughout this tale, there are multiple examples of situational, dramatic, and verbal irony.
Examples Of Irony In Ransom Of Red Chief
Irony is a very big part of a story, because it can create new elements in a story. Some of these elements may include humor and theme. "The Ransom of Red Chief" is a great example for this.
Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour Essay
- 3 Works Cited
In the “Story of an Hour” we observe many instances in which irony takes place.
Donald Justice And O. Henry's Irony Is Wasted On The Stupid
As Oscar Wilde once so eloquently said, “Irony is wasted on the stupid.” Irony is a valuable tool, the hero of countless works of classic literature. It can be used to drive home a point that might otherwise fall flat, to illustrate an argument that might otherwise be resolved in a murmur. Irony deserves to be appreciated, and to squander it on those who cannot should be a capital offense. It is one of the devices used skillfully to portray the theme that things are not always as they appear by the authors Donald Justice and O. Henry in their respective works, Incident in the Rose Garden and Hearts and Hands.
Poe vs Hawthorne
Irony is usually termed as a technique or way or presenting a topic with one meaning, not disclosing to the reader that a totally different thing has happened. For instance, one might say it is ironic to save up the money to buy your dream car and it sells minutes before you get there. In the mind of someone like Edgar Allan Poe, irony can take one a far deeper meaning. One piece of irony is the name of the victim, Fortunato. This is an Italian word suggesting good fortune. (Cummings, 2005) However, we know from the beginning of the story that his fortune is not good. The more one looks for it, sometimes the more minute the irony can be. Take the description of Fortunato:
Irony In Porphyria's Lover
Every day people experience ironic situations. Whether it is the bus leaving early when someone is already running late for work or an obstetrician missing a delivery because she is in labor; irony happens. Poetry is life in the form of art, and without irony, it would not be as interesting or relatable. “Irony in poetry occurs when a discrepancy exists between two levels of meaning or experience… Skillfully used, irony is a powerful way of making a pointed comment or manipulating a reader’s emotions” (445). Be it situational irony where the situation itself is opposite a reader’s expectation, verbal irony where a poet manipulates tone to say something opposite of what the words say or dramatic irony which is when the reader sees something
Theme Of Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado
Between the stories Of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Poe, and “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway, the authors are able to control these stories through the use of irony, defined as a “contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality. This can be a difference between the surface meaning of something that is said and the underlying meaning” (http://www.literarydevices.com/irony/). Within these short stories, each author has been able to bring the reader into the story by giving them the opportunity to endure the thoughts and feelings of individual characters which include the taste for revenge, and the bitter truth of a marriage. The way irony is placed into the stories has given the chance to develop the overall theme for both; revenge.
Related Topics
- Short story
- Edgar Allan Poe
- The Cask of Amontillado
Free essay database
Anonymous essay writing service, irony in short stories.
The uses of irony can easily captivate or excite us. Many times in order to understand the morals or theme of a story you need to be able to recognise the irony. In the short stories, “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, “The Gift of the Magi” by O Henry and “The Suit” by Can Themba various forms of irony are present. These forms of irony include: verbal, situational and dramatic irony. The first story “Lamb to the Slaughter” is about Mary Meloney, a devoted caring wife that ends up killing her much loved husband after he tells her something drastically upsetting one evening.
The murder weapon is the frozen leg of lamb she was planning to prepare for dinner. She sneakily covers up her actions so not to get caught. Dramatic Irony Plays its role when Mary went to the store after killing her husband. She acted as if nothing happened and gave the grocery clerk the idea that everything was fine. This is ironic because the clerk thinks Mr Meloney is at home waiting for his dinner, but we know he is dead. Another example is when the policemen are eating the leg of lamb and one refers to the murder weapon as probably right under their very noses.This is ironic because it is in fact right under their noses. “Lamb to the Slaughter” usually refers to an innocent, naive person led to danger.
Don't use plagiarized sources. Get Your Custom Essay on "Irony in Short Stories..." For You For Only $13.90/page!
In this story, a leg of lamb is literally used to slaughter Mr Meloney and deducting from Mary’s reaction after he spoke to her, he was not innocent. This is situational irony. Verbal irony occurs when Mary learns that Patrick is leaving her. He ends up having the lamb Mary offered, but certainly not in the way she first intended. The Suit is about a highly affectionate husband,Philemon, that learns his dearest wife, Matilda is unfaithful.He walks into the scene of crime causing the “other man” to run away, leaving his suit behind.
As her punishment she has to treat the suit like a third member in the family. Verbal irony is present in Philemon’s tone and choice of words when he finds his wife commiting adultery. He sarcastically speaks to her cheerfully as if she had done nothing wrong. He does not display any anger as one would expect. He loves his wife so dearly, but treats her cruelly towards the end. He is hostile towards her, yet wants him in his life.His aim is to embarrass her, but he doesn’t want the world to know why.
This is an example of situational irony. In the beginning of the story Matilda is loving and caring towards him while ironically cheating on him. The story ends with Matilda dying of a broken heart and throughout the tale she was embarrassed by Philemon, when in actual fact he is the one that’s heart got broken and was humiliated.
The gift of the magi is about Delia and Jim Young a young married couple with very little money.Delia sells her much loved hair in order to to by Jim a Christmas gift and Jim does the same by selling his most precious possession, his gold watch. Delia buys Jim a platinum watch chain and Jim buys Delia a set of combs for her hair. They cannot use each others gifts. The ultimate irony portrayed in the story is the situational irony that occurs at the end of the tale. We realise that because Jim and Delia both sold what they love most in order to buy each other a gift, they now cannot use their gifts.In the end the greatest gift given is the knowledge that they were both willing to make this sacrifice on behalf of each others happiness. Thus Jim and Delia , although apparently “foolish” in the eyes of the world, ironically come closest to the original spirit of present giving.
In conclusion it is evident that irony plays a significant role in the mentioned short stories. The uses of irony can easily captivate or excite us. Many times in order to understand the morals or theme of a story you need to be able to recognise the irony.
In the short stories, “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, “The Gift of the Magi” by O Henry and “The Suit” by Can Themba various forms of irony are present. These forms of irony include: verbal, situational and dramatic irony. | The first story “Lamb to the Slaughter” is about Mary Meloney, a devoted caring wife that ends up killing her much loved husband after he tells her something drastically upsetting one evening. The murder weapon is the frozen leg of lamb she was planning to prepare for dinner. She sneakily covers up her actions so not to get caught. Dramatic Irony Plays its role when Mary went to the store after killing her husband. She acted as if nothing happened and gave the grocery clerk the idea that everything was fine.
This is ironic because the clerk thinks Mr Meloney is at home waiting for his dinner, but we know he is dead. | Another example is when the policemen are eating the leg of lamb and one refers to the murder weapon as probably right under their very noses. This is ironic because it is in fact right under their noses. | “Lamb to the Slaughter” usually refers to an innocent, naive person led to danger. In this story, a leg of lamb is iterally used to slaughter Mr Meloney and deducting from Mary’s reaction after he spoke to her, he was not innocent.
This is situational irony. | Verbal irony occurs when Mary learns that Patrick is leaving her. He ends up having the lamb Mary offered, but certainly not in the way she first intended. | The Suit is about a highly affectionate husband,Philemon, that learns his dearest wife, Matilda is unfaithful. He walks into the scene of crime causing the “other man” to run away, leaving his suit behind. As her punishment she has to treat the suit like a third member in the family.
Verbal irony is present in Philemon’s tone and choice of words when he finds his wife commiting adultery. He sarcastically speaks to her cheerfully as if she had done nothing wrong. He does not display any anger as one would expect.
| He loves his wife so dearly, but treats her cruelly towards the end. He is hostile towards her, yet wants him in his life.His aim is to embarrass her, but he doesn’t want the world to know why. This is an example of situational irony. | In the beginning of the story Matilda is loving and caring towards him while ironically cheating on him.
The story ends with Matilda dying of a broken heart and throughout the tale she was embarrassed by Philemon, this is dramatically ironic because in actual fact he is the one that’s heart got broken and was humiliated. | The gift of the magi is about Delia and Jim Young a young married couple with very little money. Delia sells her much loved hair in order to to by Jim a Christmas gift and Jim does the same by selling his most precious possession, his gold watch. Delia buys Jim a platinum watch chain and Jim buys Delia a set of combs for her hair. They cannot use each others gifts. The ultimate irony portrayed in the story is the situational irony that occurs at the end of the tale. We realise that because Jim and Delia both sold what they love most in order to buy each other a gift, they now cannot use their gifts.
| In the end the greatest gift given is the knowledge that they were both willing to make this sacrifice on behalf of each others happiness. | Thus Jim and Delia , although apparently “foolish” in the eyes of the world, ironically come closest to the original spirit of present giving. | In conclusion it is evident that irony plays a significant role in the mentioned short stories. |
Related materials:
- Compare the Way Tension is Built Up in Both Stories So that How the Stories End surprises the Reader
- Chapter 5 Short Stories Arguing about Literature
- Short Stories Chapter 1 American Literature
- Abstract women’s roles in the select short stories of
- What makes a good mystery story based on your understanding of three of the short stories
- Comparing two short stories, The Withered arm and The Monkey’s paw, discussing what part the supernatural plays in each story
- The differences in the way woman are presented in four short stories
- Compare the ways in which male and female characters are played in Hardy’s short stories
- How are women portrayed in each of the short stories
- The short stories by Thomas Hardy
Choose your subject
Are You on a Short Deadline? Let a Professional Writer Help You

Hi! I'm Jessica!
Don't know how to start your paper? Worry no more! Get professional writing assistance from me.
- Free Samples
- Premium Essays
- Editing Services Editing Proofreading Rewriting
- Extra Tools Essay Writing Service Essay Writer Essay Topic Generator Thesis Generator Citation Generator GPA Calculator Study Guides Donate Paper
- Essay Writing Help
- About Us About Us Testimonials FAQ
- Studentshare
- Irony in Literary Works: Short Story, Play and Poem
Irony in Literary Works: Short Story, Play and Poem - Assignment Example

- Subject: Literature
- Type: Assignment
- Level: Ph.D.
- Pages: 2 (500 words)
- Downloads: 3
- Author: starkjosiane
Extract of sample "Irony in Literary Works: Short Story, Play and Poem"
Mme Loisel is characterized as a character who wants appreciation and acknowledgment for what she has not. She is portrayed as young and beautiful, but she is not satisfied with her attractiveness and wants wealth and affluent status for showing off what she is not. She gets birth in a poor and gets married to a clerk who is unable to fulfill all her wishes, but she is lucky to have a loving husband for which, she is never thankful. Her catastrophic mistake of considering an artificial diamond necklace as a real one takes her golden ten years to pay for the cost. She is not unlucky, but just subservient to her wishes and show off die to which, she suffers all her life. After getting an invitation to appear at a party of affluent people, Mme Loisel reaches her friend Mme Forestier and gets a necklace, which she considers is of real diamonds, which she loses. The irony in the story is that the necklace was not real and Mme Loisel and her husband paid for it for whole ten years and appeared much older than their ages because of their struggle to pay the price. She pays for her folly and her showing off.
- Compare the two women in Strindberg's play. Who is the stronger?
The play, “The Stronger” ironically depicts only two characters who have no names, but just alphabetic characters, X and Y that distinguish them. Mrs. X is married while Miss Y is unmarried. Mrs. X is the only speaker of the play due to which, the play also appears as a monologue and Miss Y is a silent listener, which is quite ironic. Mrs. X appears to be stronger in the beginning as she uses the power of speech, but after all, Miss Y is much stronger as she never breaks her silence and keeps busy with her paper. Mrs. X shows the importance of family and married life while Miss Y seems to have no interest in all these matters. She seems to be wanting change in her consideration of men.
- Characterize the speaker in Browning's poem. Exactly why did the speaker murder Porphyria?
The speaker of the poem, Porphyria’s Lover seems obsessed with Porphyria, and in his anxiety and wait, he gets disturbed and with Porphyria’s arrival, he becomes happy. However, he wants full control over Porphyria and wants to possess her completely, which seems impossible while Porphyria is alive. When Porphyria is alive, she appears more powerful than her lover, but her death makes her weak before her lover. He is free to do anything with her corpse having full strength over the lady.
- diamond necklace Guy de Maupassant
- Short Story
- The Necklace
- Cited: 0 times
- Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied
CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Irony in Literary Works: Short Story, Play and Poem
The secret life of walter mitty by thurber versus the necklace by maupassant, reviewing the themes of edgar allan poe through his utilization of language and gothic archetypes, choosing a composition by emily dickinson, analysis of anna barbauld, anthology on war literature, edgar allan poe, poetry and prose of langston hughes, 'the road not taken' by robert frost (1916) and a comparison with other selected literary pieces.

- TERMS & CONDITIONS
- PRIVACY POLICY
- COOKIES POLICY

IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The irony, a technique where the author creates a difference between what appears to be said and what is real. A media example of irony is Monsters Inc
Summary The writer of this assignment "Symbol and Irony in the Short Story" discusses the role of irony and symbolism in Edgar Allan Poe's short stories using the works called The Cask of Amontillado and “The Black Cat” as the examples
The irony of the situation is such that while the idea of seeing the murder of a fellow human being in real life is repulsive enough, seeing it in a different form seems to effectively change the circumstances surrounding it
Get help on 【 Irony and Foreshadowing in Poe's Short Stories 】 on Graduateway ✅ A huge assortment of FREE essays & assignments ✅ Find an idea for your paper!
In the short stories, “The Veldt,” “Just Lather, That's All,” and “The Ransom of Red Chief,” Irony is active throughout the whole story. In the short story “The Veldt,” irony is set off when the parents do not want to have a perfect life
The uses of irony can easily captivate or excite us. Many times in order to understand the morals or theme of a story you need to be able to recognise the irony. In the short stories, “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl
Summary The author of this current paper "Irony in Literary Works: Short Story, Play and Poem" will make an earnest attempt to characterize Mme