All 13 Uses of

irony

in

Middlemarch

But any one watching keenly the stealthy convergence of human lots, sees a slow preparation of effects from one life on another, which tells like a calculated irony on the indifference or the frozen stare with which we look at our unintroduced neighbor.†
Chpt 1

"Oh, sister," said Solomon, with ironical softness, "you and me are not fine, and handsome, and clever enough: we must be humble and let smart people push themselves before us."†
Chpt 3

Thank ye, sir, thank ye," said Dagley, with a loud snarling irony which made Fag the sheep-dog stir from his seat and prick his ears; but seeing Monk enter the yard after some outside loitering, Fag seated himself again in an attitude of observation.†
Chpt 4

He was a great favorite in his own circle, and whatever he implied to any one's disadvantage told doubly from his careless ironical tone.†
Chpt 5

At Mr. Farebrother's, however, whom the irony of events had brought on the same side with Bulstrode in the national movement, Will became a favorite with the ladies; especially with little Miss Noble, whom it was one of his oddities to escort when he met her in the street with her little basket, giving her his arm in the eyes of the town, and insisting on going with her to pay some call where she distributed her small filchings from her own share of sweet things.†
Chpt 5

And on Lydgate's enthusiasm there was constantly pressing not a simple weight of sorrow, but the biting presence of a petty degrading care, such as casts the blight of irony over all higher effort.†
Chpt 6

His marriage would be a mere piece of bitter irony if they could not go on loving each other.
Chpt 7 *

irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected

He laid down the knife and fork with which he was carving, and throwing himself back in his chair, said at last, with a cool irony in his tone— "May I ask when and why you did so?"†
Chpt 7

"These would be very strong considerations," said Lydgate, half ironically—still there was a withered paleness about his lips as he looked at his coffee, and did not drink—"these would be very strong considerations if I did not happen to be in debt."†
Chpt 7

"No doubt that is a good device as to ways and means," said Lydgate, with an edge of irony in his tone.†
Chpt 7

"Oh, I would wait a little longer than to-morrow—there is no knowing what may happen," said Lydgate, with bitter irony.
Chpt 7

irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected

It was Lydgate's misfortune and Rosamond's too, that his tenderness towards her, which was both an emotional prompting and a well-considered resolve, was inevitably interrupted by these outbursts of indignation either ironical or remonstrant.†
Chpt 7