Category: Irony

The short story, The Jewelry, by Guy De Maupassant examines the theme of life being full of irony and never knowing what you are really dealing with. One may perceive something and think it is amazing until they see the reality of the situation and then truly understand what they were dealing with and how…

This extract is from Beasts are Rational which is part of Plutarchs collection of essays known as on Moralia. The compilation consists of literary works and touches on political, religious, and ethical issues. The publication date is thought to be around 100 AD. In this text, Plutarch casts an ironic view on human life and…

Irony occurs when a reader sees that the author is showing that there is a gap between what is thought to be true and what actually is true. Irony is not always immediately apparent to the reader. If ironies are too obvious or heavy, the reader is likely to feel that he or she is…

In Bully Martin Espada uses the first stanza to introduce the theme of his poem. In the school auditorium/the Theodore Roosevelt statue/is nostalgic (lines 1-3). The statue described emanates a nostalgia for the Spanish-American war, which was considered by many to be a morally reprehensible act of hate upon Hispanic people. The author of the…

In his novel Shibumi, author Rodney William Whitaker writes, Irony is fate’s most common figure of speech. Irony is present in almost every situation imaginablefrom the small talk made while waiting in line to the foundation of some of the most well-known, acclaimed pieces of literature in history. Simply put, irony is a contrast between…

Pahom was a hardworking man. But nonetheless, he was a poor peasant. He and his wife seemed content living a stress-free lifestyle, and not having much. We may never grow rich, but we will always have enough to eat, his wife would say. Although Pahom agreed, he thought in the back of his mind that…

He talks a lot about his lack of actual freedom in the opening monologue of The Story of an Hour. The thought of the husband now not believing his wife comes to the fore in this story in phrases of situational irony. From Websters New World College Dictionary, we get this definition: Freedom is stated…

Romeo and Juliet, a play written by William Shakespeare based in Medieval Verona during the Elizabethan Era was a play that outlined the tragic romance of two teenagers who risk everything to be together because of their familys longstanding feud. Baz Luhrman adapted the play to create a modern version based on Venice Beach in…

Introduction: William Shakespeare’s play ‘Julius Caesar’ is replete with instances of irony, a literary device that adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Irony, often used to convey hidden meanings and unexpected twists, serves as a powerful tool in shaping the audience’s understanding of the characters and the events unfolding in the play. This critical…

Introduction: William Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Othello’ is renowned for its masterful use of irony, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Irony, a literary device that involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, plays a crucial role in shaping the audience’s perception of the characters and their motivations. This critical essay…