All 9 Uses of
irony
in
Catch-22
- 7 McWATT Ordinarily, Yossarian's pilot was McWatt, who, shaving in loud red, clean pajamas outside his tent each morning, was one of the odd, ironic, incomprehensible things surrounding Yossarian.†
Chpt 7
- Despite the multiple perils to which Major — de Coverley exposed himself each time he rented apartments, his only injury had occurred, ironically enough, while he was leading the triumphal procession into the open city of Rome, where he was wounded in the eye by a flower fired at him from close range by a seedy, cackling, intoxicated old man, who, like Satan himself, had then bounded up on Major — de Coverley's car with malicious glee, seized him roughly and contemptuously by his…†
Chpt 13
- Then he understood, and almost wept at the irony.†
Chpt 14 *
- Corporal Whitcomb scrutinized the chaplain's face closely for some sign of rebellion and then breezed ahead confidently with concealed irony.†
Chpt 20
- Yossarian snickered ironically and joked, 'Put a gun on and start marching with me.'†
Chpt 38
- There was a humorless irony in the ludicrous panic of the man screaming for help to the police while policemen were all around him.†
Chpt 39
- Colonel Korn inquired with ironical tranquillity.†
Chpt 40
- You know, one good apple can spoil the rest,' Colonel Korn concluded with conscious irony.†
Chpt 40
- 'I did it in a moment of weakness,' Yossarian wisecracked with glum irony.†
Chpt 42
Definition:
-
(irony as in: situational irony) when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together -- especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidenceeditor's notes: This is sometimes referred to as "situational irony." The term is especially appropriate when actions have consequences opposite to those intended.
Situational irony can be poignant, humorous, or unusual in juxtaposition. It can be subtle. For example, a novel can bring to mind a famous work of literature that leads the reader expect a certain pattern. Then the writer can turn the pattern on its head.
The expression ironic smile, generally references someone who is smiling (or often smiles) at situational irony.
All forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they might seem.