can anyone explain in easy terms what irony is? i know a lot of people use the term wrong. i remember hearing that in alanis' song "ironic", most of her examples in the song aren't actual examples of irony. who knows how to properly use this word?
2007-01-08 06:46:50 · 7 answers · asked by 187345 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Irony is properly the reverse of the word coincidental.
One example. Suppose a child you knew was a born hellian. He did nothing but raise hell and cause problems all day and night for all the neighbors.
It would be a coincidence if you were to subsequently learn that his name was Dameon.
It would be ironic if you were to subsequently learn that his name was Angel.
Irony is the unplanned reverse of what you would expect when learning something new from knowing something originally.
For example 1, Suppose you knew only the child's behavior above and nothing about the child's name. Then you later learned about the child's name (Angel), you would say that is quite the ironic name for the hellion.
For example 2, Suppose you knew only the child's behavior above and nothing about the child's name. Then you later learned about the child's name (Dameon), you would say that is quite the coincidental name for the child.
The irony and the coincedence ralate to the fact that the child was named before the behavior was demonstrated.
The problem of common usage in English today is the differeence between the two words is often ignored by people who do not know the vocabulary of the words they are using. Many people use the word "ironic", when they in fact, are talking about a situation that is "coincidental".
When that happens often enough, the dictionary writers change the definition in the newer dictionaries. This actually helps no one communicate better.
2007-01-08 10:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by bird_brain_88 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Irony is this...... Let's say you are wearing a T shirt with a target on the back of it, then some one shoots you in the target. Thats irony.
Let's say your nickname is Bus, and you get hit by a bus
Let's say your a hand model, and your modleing a meat slicer, and it cuts off you hand
all thoughs are examples of irony
2007-01-08 06:56:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Read The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare.
2007-01-08 07:24:31 · answer #3 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A couple of the examples in the song are:
A man of 98 years old wins the lottery, but dies before he can enjoy it.
A man who is afraid to fly finally take his first flight, then it crashes.
2007-01-08 07:26:42 · answer #4 · answered by Joe S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
in keeping with possibility. i could think of it to be extra ironic in case you have been saving as much as get cable for a protracted long term... and then to procure it, your television broke, and you will desire to not handle to pay for it, on account which you spent all your cash on getting cable. i think of yours is semi-ironic... whether this is extra in simple terms unlucky. stable success to you.
2016-10-30 08:45:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
or you could say I dont want to play to someone ,but you realy do thats irony
2007-01-08 07:03:55 · answer #6 · answered by cazzra1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
is this the one you use when your clothes are wrinkled?
2007-01-08 07:26:00 · answer #7 · answered by mitzbitz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋