In the story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, irony plays a big part in establishing the characters and it emphasizes how different General Zaroff and Rainsford are. It also shows how the context may change throughout the story in the sense that the hunters become the hunted and the enemies thrive with each other. It changes Rainsford perception on the animals he has hunted for sport when he quickly becomes the hunted. Overall, the author, Richard Connell uses irony very well to show emphasize different points in the story. One clear example of how the author uses irony in his work is through the conversation between sailor, Whitney and game hunter, Rainford.
Zora Hurston uses irony when Joe attempts to kill Spunk with a " hollow ground razor" but instead he gets shot. Ironically, later in the story Spunk gets killed by a much bigger blade. " ... the saw got him in the body" (Hurston). This irony shows reflects
For instance, when the protagonist, Harrison escapes from jail and crashes the live ballerina broadcast Vonnegut uses situational irony. Once Harrison escapes, the reader develops a conclusion that Harrison will rebel when he says, “I am the Emperor!” When Harrison and his Empress, the ballerina “shifted their weights to their toes” the reader assumes Harrison will take over and over throw Diana Moon Glampers but, the Handicap General shoots them both dead. This is situational irony because it is the exact opposite of what is anticipated. With this scene Vonnegut is implying that equality is dangerous.
This is an example of situational irony because the outcome of the situation is the opposite of what was expected. Since Ulrich believed the man was poaching on his land and the fact Ulrich was armed the most likely outcome of the situation would be Ulrich going to shoot and kill Georg. However, the actual resolution was a tree fell on top of the men and trapped them there together, forcing Ulrich and Georg to settle their differences and become friends. Unfortunately by that point it was too late and the land they fought over for so long was the cause of their unfortunate fate.
Imagine someone spends their entire life working hard towards becoming a divorce lawyer and then they suddenly are facing the same problem they are meant to help find a solution for, divorce. This is an example of an ironic situation. Irony is used in many different forms of literature and by many different authors and writers to highlight and focus on important aspects of their work. Ironic situations provide more information to the reader and allow revelations to be made within the story. For instance, an author who uses this literary technique is Richard Connell in one of his most well-known short stories, “The Most Dangerous Game”.
Then final example on irony is how Old Lucynell informs Shiftlet she never wants to leave her daughter. In the end of the story, Old and Young Lucynell part ways and Old Lucynell hopes her daughter’s meaning in life has some importance. Shiftlet, however; leaves her at the Hotspot and doesn’t fulfill Old Lucynell’s goal for Young
Most of the time Surprises can be a good thing but with situational irony surprises can come in many forms. Situational irony is when the story has a twist. For example in Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” readers get a sense of horror when they find out that the lottery is not infact a raffle for prizes, but a raffle for who will be stoned to death. Situational irony is also shown in the short story “The necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. In this story though we are presented with a feeling of sympathy When the necklace Mathilde lost and became poor over was really just an imitation and she had worked for nothing.
Another example of irony comes in the form of Tessie Hutchinson. When Tessie is presented in the story she is written as a good housewife that is quippy and seems to start pushing back against the tradition of lottery day. Ironically however she throws all of this away when realizing she may be the winner of lottery day she tries to sacrifice her child in her place. With Tessie doing this she loses in her way her relation as a character to a savior Christ like figure in the story. A final example of irony can be found in the character of Mr. Summers.
One example of situational irony is first, the name “Fortunato” means “Fortunate” in Italian, but Fortunato is actually very unfortunate. Next, the word “cask” means “wine barrel,” but coffin also comes from the same word. So in other words, Fortunato believes he will reach a cask of wine, but in all actuality he will reach his coffin. Also, another great example of situational irony comes when Montresor has just dismembered Fortunato and exits the catacombs. Then, Montresor claims, “My heart grew sick-“(240).
Irony is an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects. The story “Ruthless” by William de Mille tells the story of a man who leaves a bottle of poisoned whiskey for the unknown people who have been entering his house while he is away. The author advocates irony to introduce the central idea of what goes around, comes around. In the narrative, the protagonist, Judson Webb, does and says things that recoile back onto himself, leading him to his death.
One of the first instances of situational irony is when the “would be” kidnappers first carry little “Red Chief” off to their lair. The reader expects the kidnappers to be serious and smarter than they are in the story. They try to be serious but they just can’t control themselves. However, the kidnappers do not behave as the reader would expect, instead they act kind of scared of “Red Chief”.
I liked the novel Legend by Marie Lu because it takes place in a futuristic setting where the united states was gone and it's been divided into two different parties colonists and the republic the colonists are trying to bring the nation back together. No one knows that there once was a United States of America,all evedice that there ever once was destroyed. This goes far back not even parents,or grand parents know about the untied states. I like how the story talks throught two character point of views,and it can be compared to a romo and Juliet story. At first they were both differet
Irony Irony is extremely prevalent at the beginning of this book, when the Japanese occupation of China is being illustrated. Irony is also present in the interactions between mothers and daughters because of misunderstandings. Mothers use insults because of love, give seemingly hypocritical advice, et cetera. She uses irony to show the extreme conditions Suyuan was living in, “people in the city were starving, eat rats and later, the garbage that the poorest rats used to feed on (24).” It’s ironic that people, usually thought as clean and respectable, are eating garbage that most rats, thought as dirty and pathetic, wouldn’t eat.
In addition irony is also used in these stories. In "The Story of an Hour" situational irony occurs. "When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: 'free, free, free! '" (527)
She screams “It isn’t fair. It isn’t right.” (162) as the townspeople are beginning to stone her. The fact that she is actually the scapegoat of the story is perhaps the strongest points of irony in the story. “The Story of The Hour” by Kate Chopin is another irony filled story.
