All 50 Uses of
irony
in
War and Peace
- Set your friend's mind at rest," said he without altering his tone, beneath the politeness and affected sympathy of which indifference and even irony could be discerned.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- "Yes: ideas of robbery, murder, and regicide," again interjected an ironical voice.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- Prince Andrew smiled ironically.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- "We here in Moscow are more occupied with dinner parties and scandal than with politics," said he in his quiet ironical tone.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- "Well, then, old chap, mon tres honorable Alphonse Karlovich," said Shinshin, laughing ironically and mixing the most ordinary Russian expressions with the choicest French phrases—which was a peculiarity of his speech.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- Berg, oblivious of irony or indifference, continued to explain how by exchanging into the Guards he had already gained a step on his old comrades of the Cadet Corps; how in wartime the company commander might get killed and he, as senior in the company, might easily succeed to the post; how popular he was with everyone in the regiment, and how satisfied his father was with him.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- "And our share?" asked the princess smiling ironically, as if anything might happen, only not that.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- Prince Andrew was silent, but the princess noticed the ironical and contemptuous look that showed itself on his face.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- There was a look of tenderness, for he was touched, but also a gleam of irony on his face.†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- And this "Well!" sounded coldly ironic, as if he were saying,: "Now go through your performance."†
Chpt 1 (definition 2)
- "We had our hands full last night. However, I think the
regiment is not a bad one, eh?"
The battalion commander perceived the jovial irony and laughed.
Chpt 2 (definition 1) *irony = saying one thing while meaning the opposite
- Though there was no definite news of an Austrian defeat, there were many circumstances confirming the unfavorable rumors that were afloat, and so Kutuzov's suggestion of an Austrian victory sounded much like irony.†
Chpt 2 (definition 2)
- "Please have a look at it"—and Kutuzov with an ironical smile about the corners of his mouth read to the Austrian general the following passage, in German, from the Archduke Ferdinand's letter: We have fully concentrated forces of nearly seventy thousand men with which to attack and defeat the enemy should he cross the Lech.†
Chpt 2 (definition 2)
- With delicate irony he questioned Prince Andrew about the details of his interview with the Emperor, about the remarks he had heard at court concerning the Krems affair, and about some ladies they both knew.†
Chpt 2 (definition 2)
- In spite of Prince Andrew's disagreeable, ironical tone, in spite of the contempt with which Rostov, from his fighting army point of view, regarded all these little adjutants on the staff of whom the newcomer was evidently one, Rostov felt confused, blushed, and became silent.†
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- "In that case he is inviting his doom by awaiting our attack," said Langeron, with a subtly ironical smile, again glancing round for support to Miloradovich who was near him.†
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- He smiled ironically.†
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- "Ma foi, sire, nous ferons ce qui sera dans notre possibilite, sire," * he answered gaily, raising nevertheless ironic smiles among the gentlemen of the Tsar's suite by his poor French.†
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- Rostov was talking merrily to his two friends, one of whom was a dashing hussar and the other a notorious duelist and rake, and every now and then he glanced ironically at Pierre, whose preoccupied, absent-minded, and massive figure was a very noticeable one at the dinner.†
Chpt 4 (definition 2)
- Boris smiled circumspectly, so that it might be taken as ironical or appreciative according to the way the joke was received.†
Chpt 5 (definition 2)
- "Plans!" repeated Prince Andrew ironically.†
Chpt 5 (definition 2)
- Prince Andrew looked silently at Pierre with an ironic smile.†
Chpt 5 (definition 2)
- It was evident that Prince Andrew's ironical tone toward the pilgrims and Princess Mary's helpless attempts to protect them were their customary long-established relations on the matter.†
Chpt 5 (definition 2)
- Prince Andrew for the second time asked the adjutant on duty to take in his name, but received an ironical look and was told that his turn would come in due course.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- Besides this the general opinion of all who had known him previously was that he had greatly improved during these last five years, having softened and grown more manly, lost his former affectation, pride, and contemptuous irony, and acquired the serenity that comes with years.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- He told the count of his interview with Sila Andreevich (Kochubey spoke of Arakcheev by that nickname with the same vague irony Prince Andrew had noticed in the Minister of War's anteroom).†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- Now he would take up the position of a practical man and condemn dreamers; now that of a satirist, and laugh ironically at his opponents; now grow severely logical, or suddenly rise to the realm of metaphysics.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- At the end of the meeting the Grand Master with irony and ill-will reproved Bezukhov for his vehemence and said it was not love of virtue alone, but also a love of strife that had moved him in the dispute.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- He sat rather sideways in the armchair next to the countess, arranging with his right hand the cleanest of gloves that fitted his left hand like a skin, and he spoke with a particularly refined compression of his lips about the amusements of the highest Petersburg society, recalling with mild irony old times in Moscow and Moscow acquaintances.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- He listened with quiet irony to Bitski's enthusiastic account of it.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- "Fourthly and finally," the father said, looking ironically at his son, "I beg you to put it off for a year: go abroad, take a cure, look out as you wanted to for a German tutor for Prince Nicholas.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- To his former pretexts for irony a fresh one was now added—allusions to stepmothers and amiabilities to Mademoiselle Bourienne.†
Chpt 6 (definition 2)
- Natasha glanced at her ironically without knowing why.†
Chpt 8 (definition 2)
- "Am I spoiled for Andrew's love or not?" she asked herself, and with soothing irony replied: "What a fool I am to ask that!†
Chpt 8 (definition 2)
- Dolokhov banged down the lid of his desk and turned to Anatole with an ironic smile: "Do you know?†
Chpt 8 (definition 2)
- "Is it satisfaction you want?" said Pierre ironically.†
Chpt 8 (definition 2)
- He paused, looked ironically straight into Balashev's eyes, and said in a quiet voice: "And yet what a splendid reign your master might have had!"†
Chpt 9 (definition 2)
- Napoleon turned to him with a pleasant, though slightly ironic, smile. "They tell me this is the room the Emperor Alexander occupied? Strange, isn't it, General?"
Chpt 9 (definition 2) *ironic = as though amused that what happened is very different than what might have been expected
- He nodded hurriedly in reply to Chernyshev, and smiled ironically on hearing that the sovereign was inspecting the fortifications that he, Pfuel, had planned in accord with his theory.†
Chpt 9 (definition 2)
- "He writes about this war," said the prince, with the ironic smile that had become habitual to him in speaking of the present war.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- "Always busy," replied Michael Ivanovich with a respectfully ironic smile which caused Princess Mary to turn pale.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- As soon as he came across a former acquaintance or anyone from the staff, he bristled up immediately and grew spiteful, ironical, and contemptuous.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- "Why, so as not to lay waste the country we were abandoning to the enemy," said Prince Andrew with venomous irony.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- "I don't understand what is meant by 'a skillful commander,' " replied Prince Andrew ironically.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- Napoleon made ironic remarks during Fabvier's account, as if he had not expected that matters could go otherwise in his absence.†
Chpt 10 (definition 2)
- Having listened to her mother's objections, Helene smiled blandly and ironically.†
Chpt 11 (definition 2)
- Prince Andrew smiled just perceptibly and for the first time, but Princess Mary, who knew his face so well, saw with horror that he did not smile with pleasure or affection for his son, but with quiet, gentle irony because he thought she was trying what she believed to be the last means of arousing him.†
Chpt 12 (definition 2)
- Prince Andrew had thought and said that happiness could only be negative, but had said it with a shade of bitterness and irony as though he was really saying that all desire for positive happiness is implanted in us merely to torment us and never be satisfied.†
Chpt 13 (definition 2)
- "Well, never mind!" and immediately, blushing and looking anxiously at the officers to see if they appeared ironical, he said: "May I call in that boy who was taken prisoner and give him something to eat?†
Chpt 14 (definition 2)
- "That kind of amiable talk would be suitable from this young count of sixteen," said Dolokhov with cold irony, "but it's time for you to drop it."†
Chpt 14 (definition 2)