Irony is a literary technique where the meaning conveyed is opposite to the literal meaning of words used. It can be found in everyday situations and can be accidental or deliberate. Irony can be used in many ways, including situational, dramatic, cosmic, and Socratic.
Irony is a concept that describes a technique or situation, usually literary, through which a meaning is conveyed that is in opposition to the literal meaning of the words used or that does not conform to what is intended. It can be used in many ways and is common in literature and all forms of entertainment media. It can be found in everyday situations and can be accidental or deliberately constructed. The use of irony lies in the human ability to discern the deeper meaning behind words or other mechanism used to convey the contradiction.
When found in literature and other forms of media and communication, irony can be used in many ways. The most basic form in written works is a simple statement implying a meaning that contradicts the true meaning of the words actually used. This type relies on the reader’s ability to infer hidden meaning, which is usually aided by the careful selection of specific words that, in the larger context of the overall work, alert the reader to their true meaning. Used in this way, irony often leads to sarcasm. This type can be used in expository or descriptive writing or used in dialogue by characters in works of fiction.
Characters in fictional works, written or in other forms, such as theater and television, are often placed in situations where their actions or those of others result in an outcome opposite to that intended. This version, called situational irony, is used in both comedic and dramatic works and can be used to create situations of great humor or tragedy. Humor and tragedy usually come at the expense of the character who is the object of the ironic situation.
Dramatic irony, which is also used in all kinds of fictional works, arises when the character is unaware of facts or situations that are known to the reader or viewer. The character acts in a way he normally would not behave if he knew this information. In many cases, the character eventually becomes aware of this hidden or hidden information, creating a conflict of some sort. However, this is not always the case, as situational irony is generally aimed at the audience, not the character.
When it appears that fate, or an unseen force, such as God or others, conspires to manipulate situations and events simply to confuse the characters in a work of fiction, it is called cosmic irony or irony of fate. This type illustrates the inconsistency of the results with the intentions or actions of the characters. It is similar to the situational type, but is often presented in such a way that the characters feel like they are the victims of some kind of plot or prank by unknown forces.
Another type of irony, attributed to the philosopher Socrates, is used to induce an opponent in a debate to show their ignorance or shortcomings. Called Socratic irony, this is done by pretending to be ignorant of the argument to encourage the other party to make the argument, by exposing their lack of knowledge or faulty thinking. This type is also frequently employed in fiction, especially in detective and mystery work where the detective employs this tactic to get a criminal to directly or indirectly incriminate himself.
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