What is a definition of an irony!?

Question

School help

Answer 1

Irony is a literary or rhetorical device in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says, and what is understood. More generally, irony is understood as an aesthetic valuation, which is variously applied to texts, speech, events and even fashion. All the different senses of irony, however, revolve around the notion of incongruity, or a gap between our understanding and what actually happens. For instance, tragic irony occurs when a character onstage is ignorant, but the audience watching knows his or her eventual fate, as in Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King. Socratic irony takes place when someone pretends to be foolish or ignorant, but is not. Cosmic irony is a sharp incongruity between our expectations of things and what actually occurs, as if the universe were mocking us.

Answer 2

A contrast or an incongruity between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen. Two kinds of irony are: 1) verbal irony, in which a writer or speaker says one thing and means something entirely different; and 2) dramatic irony in which a reader or audience member perceives something that a character in the story does not


Like when you have herpes and your girlfriend has genital warts.

Answer 3

Collins dictionary says:-

1)The humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite they normally mean.

2) An instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality.

3) Incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity.

For example, if a waiter is extremely rude to you, you might express irony by commenting to someone who is with you 'What a charming fellow!'

This is a particularly British style of humour.

I hope this helps!

Answer 4

American Heritage® Dictionary: Description of irony
NOUN: 1a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning. b. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning. c. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.
Additional references: Columbia Encyclopedia, Wikipedia

Answer 5

Use the link. #5 is the best and most common answer, but I did not feal like writing it down. And there is your example of irony. Usually the first one os the most frequent answer, but it is really #5. And that is the irony of this situation.

Answer 6

Do you mean what is an example of an irony.

Answer 7

1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.
2. Literature. a. a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.
b. (esp. in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., esp. as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion.

Answer 8

You break a date with your girlfriend so you can go to the ball game with the guys. When you go to the concession stand, you run into your girlfriend and she is there with another guy!

Thats Irony!

Answer 9

its like this:

Bob never ever speeds, ever! He is running late for a very important meeting one day and goes 5km or miles over the speed limit. He gets pulled over by the cops and gets a speeding fine! The fact that he never ever does something and then gets caught... (just an example there are many many many)

Answer 10

a. Witty language used to convey insults or scorn.
b. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

It is a figure of speech.