“Humor is everywhere, in that there's I rony in just about anything a human does.”

1. “Humor is everywhere, in that there's Ironyin just about anything a human does.” Incorporating Irony Incorporating VoiceMake Your Writing Come Alive with Irony

2. What exactly isIrony??? Incorporating Irony The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. There are three forms of Ironythat are most commonly used: Verbal Irony Situational Irony Dramatic Irony

3. Incorporating Irony Verbal Irony This is when the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express. In an example, suppose an employee says to his boss in a large meeting with all his co-workers: “Sir, may I say you are as smart as Einstein ever was.” But now consider that everyone in the room - except the boss - knows that the employee has a dog named Einstein, and that dog was the real intent of the employee's named reference. This would be Ironic, because the boss would believe the employee's statement to be high praise, whereas everyone else would understand the statement for the insult it was meant to be.

4. Situational Irony Incorporating Irony Sometimes called irony of events, Situational Irony is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts. An example would be. A man who takes a step aside in order to avoid getting shaken on by a wet dog and falls into a swimming pool.

5. Dramatic Irony Incorporating Irony DramaticIronyinvolves the reader (or audience) knowing something about what's happening in the plot, about which the character(s) have no knowledge. Dramatic Ironycan be used in comedies and tragedies, and it works to engage the reader, as one is drawn into what is happening. The audience may sympathize with the character, who does not know the true situation. Or, the reader may see the character as blind or ignorant. The clues may be rather obvious, but the character may be unwilling to recognize the truth.

6. Example of Dramatic Irony Incorporating Irony Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. When Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet then kills herself.

7. Example of Dramatic Irony Incorporating Irony Oedipus Rex by Sophocles in which Oedipus searches to find the murderer of the former king of Thebes, only to discover that it is himself, which is known to the audience all along.

8. How to use Irony in your writing: Incorporating Irony Irony at its best is often used to express an opinion which is considered socially unacceptable or off-kilter. Many times this opinion is one which many people hold but are afraid to express. For example, Mark Twain once said, "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” While most people might not feel comfortable making fun of elected officials, Twain was able to present an opinion that many might hold, but are afraid to express.