Types of Ironys

Situational Irony

• Contrast between what a reader/viewer expects and what actually exists or happens (doesn’t matter if the character is aware of the reality or not)

How to explain

• [The story] by [author] contains situational irony because the reader expects [fill in the expectation]; however, [fill in the reality].

Dramatic Irony

• The reader/viewer knows something that a character doesn’t know

How to explain

• [The story] by [author] contains dramatic irony because the reader knows [fill in], but

character(s)] thinks...

Verbal Irony

• When someone knowingly exaggerates or understates or says one thing but means another or states something with a double meaning when someone

How to explain

• [The story] by [author] contains verbal irony when [the character] says, “[Fill in.]” On one level, the characters means [fill in], but he/she also means [fill in]. Or … [The story] by [author] contains verbal irony because the character says, [“Fill in statement”], but the character actually means [fill in actual meaning].