文档介绍：Chapter Five:irony, paradox, oxymoron;
Irony: Irony is the expression of actual intent in words that carry the opposite meaning. It is an effective literary device because it gives the impression of great restraint. Irony springs from a perception of the absurdity of life.
Most forms of irony involve the perception or awareness of discrepancy or incongruity between words and their meaning, or between actions and their results, or between appearance and reality. In all cases there may be an element of the absurd and the paradoxical. Two kinds: Verbal Irony ;Circumstantial Irony ;
Verbal irony:
This hard –working boy seldom reads more than an hour per weak.
It must be delight to find oneself in a foreign country without a penny in one’s pocket.
I stayed in the hospital ten days with my sister who was dying. Barbara, my ex-best friend, came to my house to look after my children. She helped things out and took my things out. She did help!
Circumstantial Irony also called Irony of Fate, It occurs when there is a discrepancy between the actual circumstances and those that would seem appropriate or between what one anticipates and what e to pass.
If a man and his second wife ,on the first night of their honey-moon ,are accidentally seated at the theatre next to the man’s first wife, we should call the situation ironical.
Water ,water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water ,water,everywhere,Nor any drop to drink.
The use of irony:
Inconsistency of form and content or the literal meaning and the intended meaning
Conscience is the inner voice which warns us someone may be looking.
The above sentence begins in solemn tone like a priest is preaching. But the content is irrelevant.
(The contrast between tone and content)
In Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal:
a.…a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious ,nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed,roasted,baked,or boiled; I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee