All 11 Uses
irony
in
The Goldfinch
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- He was larger and more robust than Platt, with unBarbour like hair of a darker, cardboard-colored blond and a very unBarbour like smile on him as well—eager and bright with no irony about it.
p. 465.9 *irony = saying one thing while meaning something else
- "Yes," he said sincerely—vigorous nod, no irony, wiping his nose with the side of his hand.
p. 546.3
- And yet a mid-level painting like this, in poor condition—even an anonymous work —is worth more than a masterpiece, that's the irony of it, worth more to me, anyway.
p. 578.5 *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
- The multiple ironies of this were so layered and uncanny that I gaped in horror.
p. 699.6ironies = things that are very different than what might be expected; or things that seem incongruous together
- "Well" — ironic little back-step, eyeing the plaid duffel coat—"first place, definitely, in the Platt Barbour Look-Alike Contest."†
p. 90.9
- Unlike Andy she chattered and fluttered, laughed nervously and at her own jokes, with a ghost of her father's scattered energies but without the disengaged quality, the irony.†
p. 510.5
- "He says you are pretty speaker," said Boris ironically.†
p. 643.7
- "Special Dutch Christmas bread," he said, pointing it out ironically.†
p. 728.6
- "May I have your attention, please?" he inquired ironically.†
p. 733.9
- 'Oh, no problem,'" he answered, ironically, in his own voice.†
p. 736.1
- "I think this goes more to the idea of 'relentless irony' than 'divine providence..."' "Yes—but why give it a name?†
p. 746.5
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.