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How Is Verbal Irony Used In A Midsummer Night's Dream

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In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the use of irony adds tension and comedy to the play. There are three different kinds of irony. There is verbal irony, when someone says the opposite of what they mean. Next, there is dramatic irony, where the audience knows something the characters don’t finally there is situational irony, where the least expected thing happens. These kinds of irony are used in the play. Here are some examples. In a Midsummer Night’s Dream, a lot of dramatic and verbal irony is used. The first example of irony is the dramatic irony between the four lovers and the magic flower.
One piece of evidence is a quote from Hermia, “But what love could make my Lysander leave me?” (3.2.185-190) While we know that this is because of the flower, this just …show more content…

Another piece of evidence is a quote from
Lysander, “Stay lovely Helena. My love, my life, my soul, beautiful Helena.” (3.2.245-
250) If we did not know that this was caused by the flower, the whole scene would make no sense. The fact that we know about the flower makes the seen funnier.
A second example of dramatic irony is when Bottom doesn't know he's a donkey.
One example of this is when he says, “ What do you think I got on my head? . . . “
(3.1.55-60) This shows that he is not aware that he has a donkey’s head. The second piece of evidence is another quote from Bottom, “ Why are they running away? This is some joke of theirs to scare me.” (3.1.45-50) He says this because he does not know they're running they think he is some beast. Based on what he says Bottom doesn't know Puck gave him a donkey’s head.
Helena uses verbal irony when she says, “Oh that’s very nice!” (3.2.290-295) This is

ironic because she doesn't think that it's nice what they are doing. Also Helena

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