"Irony (from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía 'dissimulation, feigned ignorance'), in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected..."
Explains the literary device of Dramatic Irony that is often used in Tragedy. This topic should discuss how it creates tension in a story, and how it can lead to unexpected twists and turns.
Dramatic Irony: A literary technique where the audience is aware of something that the characters in a play or story are not aware of.
Tragedy: A literary genre characterized by a central character who suffers a great misfortune, usually brought about by their own flaws or ignorance.
Tragic Hero: The central character in a tragedy who possesses a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall.
Tragic Flaw: A character trait that causes the tragic hero to make a fatal mistake, often due to hubris (excessive pride or arrogance).
Catharsis: The emotional release felt by the audience after witnessing a tragedy.
Foreshadowing: A literary technique that hints at events to come in a story or play, often using symbolic language.
Significance of Setting: The role of the physical and temporal environment in shaping the themes and events of a tragedy.
Role of Fate: The idea that the events of a tragedy are predetermined by supernatural forces or an inevitable chain of events.
Irony: A literary device in which the opposite of what is expected occurs, often used to create a sense of discomfort or surprise in the reader or audience.
Deus ex machina: A plot device whereby an unexpected event, often a divine intervention or a sudden twist, is used to resolve an unsolvable problem in a story or play.
Tragic Effect: The emotional impact or response that a tragedy elicits from an audience.
Hamartia: The tragic flaw or mistake made by the tragic hero that sets the plot of a tragedy in motion.
Hubris: Excessive pride or arrogance in a character that leads to their downfall.
Moral or Social Commentary: The message or lesson that a tragedy conveys about human nature, society, or morality.
Tragic Plot: The structure and sequence of events that occur in a tragedy, often featuring rising action, climax, and falling action.
Classic Irony: When the audience knows more about the situation or character than the character(s) do, which can lead to feelings of tension, suspense, and empathy for the character.
Socratic Irony: When a character feigns ignorance to draw out explanations or elicit admissions from other characters, usually to reveal their flaws or beliefs.
Cosmic Irony: When the universe seems to be conspiring against a protagonist, mocking their efforts and aspirations, or when a character receives a reward that is opposite of what he or she deserves.
Dramatic Irony of Fate: When a character is unaware of the forces or events that will cause their downfall or destruction.
Verbal Irony: When a character says one thing but means another, often with a sarcastic or snarky tone, or when words used by a character have a second, often humorous meaning.
Situational Irony: When something happens that is opposite of what is expected, or when events turn out differently than intended or hoped for.
Historical or Contextual Irony: When events or situations that seem significant or meaningful in one era become irrelevant or unimportant to future generations who view them differently.
Ironic Symbolism: When symbols or motifs in a story suggest one thing but represent another, often unseen or unexpected, meaning.
"Irony can be categorized into different types, including verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony."
"Verbal, dramatic, and situational irony are often used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth."
"The ironic form of simile, used in sarcasm..."
"...and some forms of litotes can emphasize one's meaning by the deliberate use of language which states the opposite of the truth."
"from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía"
"...the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case..."
"...and what is actually the case or to be expected..."
"...it is an important rhetorical device..."
"...and literary technique."
"...by the deliberate use of language which states the opposite of the truth..."
"...used in sarcasm..."
"and some forms of litotes can emphasize one's meaning by... drastically and obviously understates a factual connection."
"Irony can be categorized into different types, including verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony... used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth."
"The ironic form of simile, used in sarcasm..."
"...drastically and obviously understates a factual connection."
"Irony can be categorized into different types, including verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony."
"...some forms of litotes can emphasize one's meaning..."
"Irony (from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía 'dissimulation, feigned ignorance')..."
"...denies the contrary of the truth..."