Verbal Irony: Say What You Mean By Doing Nothing | Blog
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With that in mind In this article, we'll provide a brief explanation about the use of verbal irony. It includes the examples from literature and films as well as how to spot the difference between the use of it as well as humor.
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What's the definition of verbal irony?
The majority of us employ this technique frequently when we speak in our everyday lives, for example, using the phrase "I think I'm naturally a cook" when you've cooked the dinner you made over the fire. It's not a direct lie. The speaker (or when it comes to the writing of written work or writing, the writer) employs context clues to inform their readers on the comedy. In the process, miscommunication is an integral part in its usage, but with the goal of highlighting--not subverting--what is actually going on.
Verbal Irony Definition
In its simplest definition, verbal irony refers to situations where the words spoken are in direct contradiction to the truth.
There are two basic types:
- Comic ironyThe use specifically for comedic effects, for example by obvious understatement, overstatement, or even hyperbole.
- Socratic ironyFeigning ignorance in a conversation to highlight the flaws in what someone says.
Keep in mind that it's not the same as intentional deception. It is important that it is understood by the viewers difference between what's spoken and what's meant regardless of whether the person is not aware of it.
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Verbal Irony Examples
When you begin searching for instances and examples, you'll see it all over the place. These are some of the most popular examples that you may already have heard of.
- The film Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Biography The main character provides an illustration in a statement about the weather. He says, "Today was a very bitter and cold day. as cold and bitter as the hot chocolate in a cup."
- Shakespeare's Julius Caesarincludes an famous line by Marc Antony, who ironically speaks of Caesar's killer Brutus as "an honest man."
- In Belle's rejection of Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast She tells Gaston that she "just isn't worthy of him," though the audience knows that it is actually the other way around.
- On the film Mean Girls, Regina George tells another student that she "loves her skirt" in turn, she tells Cady that she "loves her bracelet." Cady's understanding of Regina's verbal irony initially leads her to realize that Regina is being ironic about admiring her bracelet too.
- Lord Goring in the Oscar Wilde novel The Ideal Husbandis a notorious romantic, but when asked about himself, he says "Oh! I am not at all romantic. I'm not yet too old to be. I'll leave the romance to my seniors."
Verbal Irony vs. Sarcasm
Is sarcasm verbal irony? It depends who you ask, though many would agree that it is.
The major difference between the two devices is the intention, with sarcasm being spoken that has a negative meaning. So while sarcasm can be classified as an example of irony in speech, not every verbal irony could be described as to be sarcastic.
In order to discern the difference between them, ask yourself if the statement is merely confusing or false and spoken with negative intent. In both cases the outcome can be comedic (and in actuality, sarcasm is an effective method of conveying comedy irony) However, the context surrounding the assertion will help differentiate between the two.
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