All 13 Uses
irony
in
The Count of Monte Cristo
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- "Fernand, do you mean?" replied Monte Cristo, with bitter irony; "since we are recalling names, let us remember them all."
Chpt 89-90 *irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected
- Spada turned pale, as Caesar looked at him with an ironical air, which proved that he had anticipated all, and that the snare was well spread.†
Chpt 17-18
- "Has she made a fortune also?" inquired the abbe, with an ironical smile.†
Chpt 27-28
- "And what would you do, my dear diplomatist," replied Morcerf, with a slight degree of irony in his voice, "if you did nothing?†
Chpt 39-40
- There is but one service I can render you, and for that I place myself entirely at your orders, that is, to present, or make my friends present, you everywhere; besides, you have no need of any one to introduce you—with your name, and your fortune, and your talent" (Monte Cristo bowed with a somewhat ironical smile) "you can present yourself everywhere, and be well received.†
Chpt 39-40
- It would have required the penetration of Oedipus or the Sphinx to have divined the irony the count concealed beneath these words, apparently uttered with the greatest politeness.†
Chpt 41-42
- Danglars felt the irony and compressed his lips.†
Chpt 45-46
- Madame de Villefort listened with avidity to these appalling maxims and horrible paradoxes, delivered by the count with that ironical simplicity which was peculiar to him.†
Chpt 51-52
- "I am not begging, my fine fellow," said the unknown to the servant, with so ironical an expression of the eye, and so frightful a smile, that he withdrew; "I only wish to say two or three words to your master, who gave me a commission to execute about a fortnight ago."†
Chpt 63-64
- This calmness of Busoni, combined with his irony and boldness, staggered Caderousse.†
Chpt 81-82
- An ironical smile passed over Albert's lips.†
Chpt 87-88
- An ironical smile curled the lip of Eugenie.†
Chpt 97-98
- The corpse of Madame de Villefort was stretched across the doorway leading to the room in which Edward must be; those glaring eyes seemed to watch over the threshold, and the lips bore the stamp of a terrible and mysterious irony.†
Chpt 111-112
Definitions:
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(1)
(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 coincidenceThis is sometimes referred to as "situational irony." The term is especially appropriate when actions have consequences opposite to those intended.
The expression ironic smile, generally references someone smiling at situational irony.
All forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they might seem. -
(2)
(irony as in: verbal irony) saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else -- usually as humor or sarcasmThis is sometimes referred to as "verbal irony." Typically, the speaker says one thing but means the opposite, and the tone of voice or the context of the situation makes the true, contradictory meaning clear.
All forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they might seem. -
(3)
(irony as in: dramatic irony) When the meaning of a situation is understood by one person, but not by another—especially when a reader or audience knows what characters of a story do not, as in Romeo and JulietAll forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they are said to be or what they seem.
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(4)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Less commonly, Socratic irony is where someone pretends ignorance to get another to think through a problem. This is named after the Socratic method of teaching.
Less commonly still, some also refer to romantic irony as when an author reminds the audience that the fictional words is the author's creation and will play out as the author desires.