All 8 Uses of
irony
in
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
- She—and how many more—might have ironically said to God with Saint Augustine: "Thou hast counselled a better course than Thou hast permitted."
Chpt 2 *ironically = when what happened was very different than what might have been expected
- He went forward and opened the door for her, saying with tender raillery— "Why, maidy" (he frequently, with unconscious irony, gave her this pet name), "the prettiest milker I've got in my dairy; you mustn't get so fagged as this at the first breath of summer weather, or we shall be finely put to for want of 'ee by dog-days, shan't we, Mr Clare?"
Chpt 3 *irony = saying one thing, while meaning the opposite
- Perhaps, like that other god of whom the ironical Tishbite spoke, he was talking, or he was pursuing, or he was in a journey, or he was sleeping and not to be awaked.†
Chpt 1
- They gleamed somewhat ironically now.†
Chpt 4
- This too familiar intonation, less than four years earlier, had brought to her ears expressions of such divergent purpose that her heart became quite sick at the irony of the contrast.†
Chpt 6
- For a moment a flash of his old irony marked his face; but he determinedly chastened it down.†
Chpt 6
- May their dirty souls be burnt to cinders!" he exclaimed in tones of ironic resentment.†
Chpt 6
- "O, it is not Angel—not my son—the Angel who went away!" she cried in all the irony of sorrow, as she turned herself aside.†
Chpt 7
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.