for any teacher trying to introduce the concept of irony in literature

1. Irony and Ambiguity The Best Stories Irony Ambiguity Practice Feature Menu

2. The Best Stories The best stories are the ones that present life and people the way they really are. [End of Section] mysterious unpredictable complicated

3. Irony Writers include irony in stories to reflect the real world—a world where expectations aren’t always fulfilled and unexpected events often surprise us. Irony is the difference between what we expect or what seems suitable and what actually happens. 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.

5. Irony Verbal Irony “ I’ve read a few books about computers,” Mr. Maner said.

6. Irony Situational Irony The dentist was surprised to find a cavity when she examined her own dental X-rays.

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

12. Irony Based on the passage, which statement would be an example of dramatic irony? 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. Quick Check Detective Boone, the main character of a play, is trying to solve a rash of burglaries in his precinct. The audience knows that one of the other characters, a server at a coffee shop frequented by the detective, is the burglar. [End of Section]

13. Irony Statement A Based on the passage, which statement would be an example of dramatic irony? 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. Quick Check Detective Boone, the main character of a play, is trying to solve a rash of burglaries in his precinct. The audience knows that one of the other characters, a server at a coffee shop frequented by the detective, is the burglar.

14. Ambiguity Ambiguity is an element of uncertainty in a text. Ambiguous texts offer several conflicting consequences or meanings that readers must sort out.

16. Ambiguity Describe the ambiguity in this story. Quick Check Millie notices that Hector, a new student, feels left out, so she asks him to the school dance. Hector accepts. Later, Millie 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]

17. Ambiguity Does Millie really have other plans, or does she cancel in order to give Cindy a chance to ask Hector to the dance? Describe the ambiguity in this story. Quick Check Millie notices that Hector, a new student, feels left out, so she asks him to the school dance. Hector accepts. Later, Millie 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.”