Irony and Ambiguity

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The Best Stories

Irony
Ambiguity
Practice
 The Best Stories

The best stories are the ones that present life and
people the way they really are.

mysterious

unpredictable complicated

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 Irony

Irony is the difference between what we expect or

what seems suitable and what actually happens.
Writers include irony in stories to reflect the real
world—a world where expectations aren’t always
fulfilled and unexpected events often surprise us.

Katie’s grandfather taught her to

play chess a few weeks ago. Now,
she consistently wins matches
against her grandfather and the
other members of his chess club.
 Irony

In stories, we find three kinds of irony.

• Verbal irony occurs when someone says one
thing but means the opposite.
• Situational irony occurs when an event is not
just surprising but actually contrary to what we
expected.
• Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or
the reader knows something important that the
character does not know.
 Irony
Quick Check
Mr. Hapner wants to sell his old van. A Based on the
prospective buyer, Mrs. Duran, shows up passage, which
to look at the van. She notices that it is statement would
rusty and dented, the front bumper is be an example of
missing, and the engine will barely start. verbal irony?

A. “Oh, sir,” she says, “are you sure you

want to part with this gem?”

B. “Oh, sir,” she says, “do you really

expect to sell this piece of junk?”
 Irony
Quick Check
Mr. Hapner wants to sell his old van. A Based on the
prospective buyer, Mrs. Duran, shows up passage, which
to look at the van. She notices that it is statement would
rusty and dented, the front bumper is be an example of
missing, and the engine will barely start. verbal irony?

A. “Oh, sir,” she says, “are you sure you Statement A

want to part with this gem?”

B. “Oh, sir,” she says, “do you really

expect to sell this piece of junk?”
 Irony
Quick Check
Dr. Kwan is a pet psychologist. A leader in Based on the
her field, she has received several awards passage, which
for her research and clinical successes. statement would
Dr. Kwan publishes a book called The be an example of
Workings of a Dog’s Mind: How to Get situational irony?
Unruly Dogs to Behave, and it soars up
the bestseller list.

A. Dr. Kwan gets an offer to host a

television show about pets.

B. Dr. Kwan comes home to find that her

two dogs have gnawed on several
pairs of her shoes and ruined them.
 Irony
Quick Check
Dr. Kwan is a pet psychologist. A leader in Based on the
her field, she has received several awards passage, which
for her research and clinical successes. statement would
Dr. Kwan publishes a book called The be an example of
Workings of a Dog’s Mind: How to Get situational irony?
Unruly Dogs to Behave, and it soars up
the bestseller list. Statement B

A. Dr. Kwan gets an offer to host a

television show about pets.

B. Dr. Kwan comes home to find that her

two dogs have gnawed on several
pairs of her shoes and ruined them.
 Irony
Quick Check
Detective Boone, the main character of a Based on the
play, is trying to solve a rash of passage, which
burglaries in his precinct. The audience statement would
knows that one of the other characters, a be an example of
server at a coffee shop frequented by the dramatic irony?
detective, is the burglar.

A. We watch as Detective Boone talks to

the server about his investigation and
shares sensitive information.

B. Another detective eventually solves

the case, and the server is arrested.
[End of Section]
 Irony
Quick Check
Detective Boone, the main character of a Based on the
play, is trying to solve a rash of passage, which
burglaries in his precinct. The audience statement would
knows that one of the other characters, a be an example of
server at a coffee shop frequented by the dramatic irony?
detective, is the burglar.
Statement A
A. We watch as Detective Boone talks to
the server about his investigation and
shares sensitive information.

B. Another detective eventually solves

the case, and the server is arrested.
 Ambiguity

Ambiguity is an element of uncertainty in a text.

Ambiguous texts offer several conflicting
consequences or meanings that readers must sort
out.
 Ambiguity

A story with an ambiguous ending or theme

• keeps us wondering
about what it means
• tends to stick in our
memory
 Ambiguity
Quick Check
Millie notices that Hector, a new student, Describe the
feels left out, so she asks him to the ambiguity in this
school dance. Hector accepts. Later, Millie story.
finds out that her best friend, Cindy, likes
Hector and wants to ask him to the dance.
“Oh,” says Millie, “I’m glad you told
me. I asked him to the dance earlier, but I
just remembered that I’ve got plans. Now,
I won’t feel bad about canceling.”
When Millie’s mom picks her up from
school, Millie asks, “Mom, aren’t we
supposed to visit Grandma this weekend?
We haven’t seen her in a while.”
[End of Section]
 Ambiguity
Quick Check
Millie notices that Hector, a new student, Describe the
feels left out, so she asks him to the ambiguity in this
school dance. Hector accepts. Later, Millie story.
finds out that her best friend, Cindy, likes Does Millie really
Hector and wants to ask him to the dance. have other plans,
“Oh,” says Millie, “I’m glad you told or does she
me. I asked him to the dance earlier, but I cancel in order to
just remembered that I’ve got plans. Now, give Cindy a
I won’t feel bad about canceling.” chance to ask
When Millie’s mom picks her up from Hector to the
school, Millie asks, “Mom, aren’t we dance?
supposed to visit Grandma this weekend?
We haven’t seen her in a while.”
 Practice

Review the definition of verbal irony.

Then, write a paragraph describing a scene
between two characters. Include an ironic
statement made by one character. You might take
inspiration from one of the characters or situations
described in this presentation.

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The End
 Irony

Verbal Irony

“I’ve read a few books about

computers,” Mr. Maner said.
 Irony

Situational Irony

The dentist was surprised

to find a cavity when she
examined her own dental
X-rays.
 Irony

Dramatic Irony
Maria was not expecting to receive a
copy of the literary magazine
because she never received a
response to her poetry submission.
Readers know that the acceptance
letter was lost in the mail and that
Maria’s poem was published.