Chapter1
(literature review background and foundation)
(analysis of articles, videos, cartoons, reports)
1.1 Definition and status of ironic animation
1.2 The origin and rise of ironic animation (historical process)
1.3 Types of irony * Verbal…* Situational… *Dramatic…
What are the three types of irony?
- Dramatic irony
- Verbal irony
- Situational irony
Irony can be sad and tragic, or it can funny and satirical. In other words, there are limitless ways you can wield irony in your stories.
There are 3 different types of irony: dramatic, verbal, and situational. Each has a different definition and function in storytelling.
Let’s move on to some quick definitions of these main types along with a few subtypes or irony that provide even more complexity and depth to ironic storytelling.
What is dramatic irony?
Dramatic irony is when we have more information about the circumstances than a character. When you know a trap has been set and watch someone walk into it. That is dramatic irony.
In The Matrix, Neo and his crew are betrayed by one of their own. If we had learned of this at the moment of betrayal, we certainly would have been shocked but because we learn about it before any of the other characters, we have a nice, juicy piece of dramatic irony.
Within dramatic irony, there is only one subtype: tragic irony. The difference between these two types of irony is slight but it’s an important distinction to make. Basically, tragic irony is dramatic irony with tragic consequences — it’s as easy as that.
There are also distinct stages of dramatic irony, or the order of operations when deploying dramatic irony. Dramatic irony needs to be introduced, it needs to develop over time, and it needs to be released. To successfully incorporate dramatic irony, these stages are essential.
What is verbal irony?
Verbal irony is when someone says something, but means the opposite. When you get an “F” on your term paper and say, “Wow, I did a really good job on my term paper!” That is verbal irony.
In Mean Girls, Cady’s first inkling that Regina George truly is “plastic” comes in this scene. A fellow classmate approaches Cady and Regina, who gives her a glowing compliment on her skirt. But in a perfect example of verbal irony, Regina actually meant quite the opposite.
Here’s the scene as it was written in the screenplay. Follow the image link to read the entire scene in StudioBinder. Within this verbal irony general definition, there are 4 types of verbal irony:
- Sarcasm
- Understatement
- Overstatement
- Socratic irony
What is situational irony?
Situational irony is when we expect one thing, but get the opposite. When you buy a can of Coke but it has Pepsi inside. That is situational irony.
A really great example of situational irony comes in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Sarah Connor is attempting to break out of a mental institution when she encounters the same Terminator that was out to kill her in the first film.
The irony here — this time, the Terminator is there to protect her.
Examples
Verbal Irony
- Telling a quiet group, “don’t everybody speak all at once”
- Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it’s great to be back”
- Telling a rude customer to “have a nice day”
- Walking into an empty theater and asking, “it’s too crowded”
- Stating during a thunderstorm, “beautiful weather we’re having”
- An authority figure stepping into the room saying, “don’t bother to stand or anything”
- A comedian telling an unresponsive audience, “you all are a great crowd”
- Describing someone who says foolish things a “genius”
- Delivering bad news by saying, “the good news is”
- Entering a child’s messy room and saying “nice place you have here”
Situational Irony
- A fire station that burns down
- Winner of a spelling bee failing a spelling test
- A t-shirt with a “Buy American” logo that is made in China
- Marriage counselor divorcing third wife
- Sending a Christmas card to someone who is Jewish
- Leaving a car wash at the beginning of a downpour
- A dentist needing a root canal
- Going on a blind date with someone who is visually impaired
- A police station being burglarized
- Purchasing a roll of stamps a day before the price to send a letter increases
Examples of Irony in Plot
Irony is extremely useful as a plot device. Readers or viewers of a plot that includes irony often call this effect a “twist.” Here are some examples of irony in well-known plots:
- The Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum): the characters already have what they are asking for from the wizard
- Time Enough at Last (episode of “The Twilight Zone”): the main character, who yearns to be left alone to read, survives an apocalyptic explosion but breaks his reading glasses
- Oedipus Rex (Sophocles): Oedipus is searching for a murderer who, it turns out, is himself
- The Cask of Amontillado (Edgar Allan Poe): the character “Fortunato” meets with a very unfortunate fate
- Hansel and Gretel (Grimm fairy tale): the witch, who intended to eat Hansel ad Gretel, is trapped by the children in her own oven
Why use irony?
Irony is born when “what seems to be” is different from “what is.” This contrast between expectation and reality is what makes irony such a rich device to use in storytelling. Irony adds a layer of complexity and richness to the conflict. Now there is depth to your story that might not have been there before. Writers use conflict to tell stories and irony to make better stories.
Difference Between Verbal Irony, Dramatic Irony, and Situational Irony
Though there are many forms of irony as a literary device, its three main forms are verbal, dramatic, and situational. Verbal irony sets forth a contrast between what is literally said and what is actually meant. In dramatic irony, the state of the action or what is happening as far as what the reader or viewer knows is the reverse of what the players or characters suppose it to be. Situational irony refers to circumstances that turn out to be the reverse of what is expected or considered appropriate.
Essentially, verbal and situational irony are each a violation of a reader’s expectations and conventional knowledge. When it comes to verbal irony, the reader may be expecting a character’s statement or response to be one thing though it turns out to be the opposite. For situational irony, the reader may anticipate an event’s outcome in one way though it turns out to happen in a completely different way.
Dramatic Irony is more of a vicarious violation of expectations or knowledge. In other words, the reader/audience is aware of pertinent information or circumstances of which the actual characters are not. Therefore, the reader is left in suspense or conflict until the situation or information is revealed to the characters involved. For example, a reader may be aware of a superhero’s true identity whereas other characters may not know that information. Dramatic irony allows a reader the advantage of knowing or understanding something that a particular character or group of characters does not.