All 9 Uses of
irony
in
The Age of Innocence
- it shed an ironic light on the situation to know...
Chpt 16 *ironic = indicating that what happened is very different than what might have be expected
- She pronounced the "we" with a faint emphasis that gave it an ironic sound.
Chpt 18 *ironic = saying one thing while meaning another
- He paused to let the irony of this sink in.†
Chpt 7
- Archer felt the irony but did not dare to take it up.†
Chpt 18
- The faint tinge of irony lingered in her eyes.†
Chpt 23
- A woman who had run away from her husband—and reputedly with another man—was likely to have mastered the art of taking things for granted; but something in the quality of her composure took the edge from his irony.†
Chpt 23
- Archer considered him ironically.†
Chpt 25
- "I can't help that," Archer rejoined on the same note of irony.†
Chpt 25
- Lefferts, who was known to shrink from discussion, raised his eye-brows with an ironic grimace that warned the other of the watching damsel behind the lattice.†
Chpt 28
Definitions:
-
(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 sarcasm
(With this type of irony, it's not uncommon for the words to say one thing while the tone-of-voice and/or context says another.)This is sometimes referred to as "verbal irony."
All forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they are said to be or 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 (such as in the play, Romeo and Juliet)All forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they are said to be or what they seem.
-
(4)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) 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.