"What is Irony?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers

[@SWLF]

This video now includes Spanish as well as English subtitles. For a full list of dual-language videos in our series, please see the following site: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/oregon-state-guide-english-literary-terms

[@chocking420]

This video explained irony so eloquently, so wonderfully that i couldn’t understand anything 😍😍😍

[@SWLF]

Ok, this is perhaps the best comment we've ever received. Nicely done, Ahmed.

[@IsabelnotIsabella]

Ikr 😖😓

[@sreeragr3355]

So true 😌

[@priyanshubaranwal363]

That's an even bigger situational irony 😂

[@rei5471]

helpp

[@belle2238]

I'm 24, and have been torn in my definition of irony because it's explained in so many different ways. Thank you for posting this on a free platform :) Knowledge is power!

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Belle! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@TLieruth]

@@SWLF It would have been true irony if Montresor died instead.

[@kupkake-inator2419]

Happy late 25th birthday

[@ilovestudying1003]

Happy 27th birthday

[@ilovestudying1003]

@@TLieruthfor real

[@Khatoon170]

Irony in literature is situation where there is contrast between reality and expectations. For example in Shakespeare Julius Caesar , mark Anthony performs funeral speech honoring character Brutus . He repeatedly calls him noble and honorable man even though Brutus was actually involved in death of man or which funeral is being held . Types of irony are verbal irony when person says anything but means opposite. Situational irony when opposite of what is expected happens . Dramatic irony when audience knows something that character don’t. Sarcasm is form of irony that is directed at person with intent to criticise . Irony in story what we use say what we we mean or circumstances we expect to happen vs . Irony is used to bring complexity in narrative structure, create suspense and contrast , knowledge, ignorance, expectations and reality. Verbal irony is figure of speech that , communicates opposite of what is said , while sarcasm is form of irony that directed at person . Thank you for your wonderful educational literary channel.

[@sbnwnc]

This is really great. Also maybe Fortunato is an ironic name because he is not fortunate.

[@SWLF]

Excellent observation, Shantonu! Thanks for keeping the conversation going!

[@Colbysrapname]

It would be ironic if his parents named him that so he could lead a fortunate life, and he doesn't because of his name.

[@jakes-dev1337]

​@@Colbysrapname Yes. If his parents named him Fortunato because they thought it was a grandeur name, but people just thought it was funny / tacky.

[@yingo4098]

Thanks, this helped me with irony, I didn't understand this before.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Mei Hu! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@SWLF]

@I'm here Thanks so much for your support of the project! We hope you enjoy the other videos in the series as well. Stay healthy.

[@supersamsquared8055]

That almost sounds like verbal irony

[@yingo4098]

@@supersamsquared8055Well it's not.

[@rizkyagung9809]

@@yingo4098 ironic

[@MeenakshiDevi-by2cr]

The gentleman had explained the following topic which is irony in a such an effective manner that force me to conclude either i need to enroll myslf into english spoken classes or either i should search a corner at my home nd start crying ovr their☺️😍

[@SWLF]

Ha! Thanks for the ironic post, Meenakshi. If you'd like to check out a transcript of the lesson, you can find it here: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-irony

[@sujaykumarpatro5944]

Great video....great respect for u sir... thanks for teaching a puzzled figure of speech in such simple manner

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Sujay! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@anincognitouser27]

This video is a great way to introduce people to the definition of irony. Some people who says that they understand irony but in a wrong sense is in itself pretty ironic. The amount of research in this video is also helpful. I guess the only part that's ironic on this video is the spoiler alert considering the subtitles appeared even before you can pause it. Then again, that's also kinda my bad because I prefer reading the subtitles. Which in turn is also ironic considering I didn't even wore my glasses while watching this video. Now that I mentioned it, that's just a coincidence and not an irony. Which in turn makes myself into the very thing I was saying to be ironic, Oh well I guess I'm not ironic then. I'm just not that bright. Should have watched this video with the lights on. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Prof. Malewitz and Oregon State University.

[@SWLF]

Ha! Thanks so much for this creative response, TheAnonymous27!

[@anincognitouser27]

@@SWLF You're most welcome. 😁

[@SuperSojourn]

LOL! my, my. What an ironic attempt at ironically defining irony by using irony as the ironic observer ironically shares with us who seek to learn of irony.

[@gregkotoch2765]

So what is the difference between deception or lying and verbal irony?

[@SWLF]

Great question, Greg! Under some circumstances, these terms look quite similar (as in Fortunato's ill-fated conversation with Montresor. But these terms are fundamentally different from one another. We'll give you two scenarios that might illustrate the difference: 1.) A boy steals a cookie from the cookie jar. When his father asks him if he stole the cookie, he tells him "No." This is lying, but we'd hardly call it verbal irony. 2.) Amidst a heavy downpour, a person walks into a shop, their cloths soaking wet. "What a lovely day it is today," thy tell the shop-keep, and they both laugh. This is an example of verbal irony, but we wouldn't call it lying or deception. So what might be the difference or differences between verbal irony and lying?

[@gregkotoch2765]

I guess the difference between verbal irony and lying or deception, by the example you gave, is the expectation that the person knows you are not being serious? In the example from the story it was said "you will not die of a cough." This is verbal irony because we the audience know the true intentions of his words?

[@Sidiciousify]

He's not lying.

[@johnrainsman6650]

Is this irony? Despite working a lot of wedding receptions and knowing about them, my boss never has and never _will_ have a wedding reception for herself. Basically she has so much knowledge and experience on something she ain't ever gonna have (understandably)

[@SWLF]

Interesting question, John! Which type of irony were you thinking this would be? This one is tough to call irony, because something doesn't happen rather than happens in a way that defies our (or someone else's) expectation.

[@johnrainsman6650]

@@SWLF _That_ type of irony, that you just explained. Is it?

[@SWLF]

@@johnrainsman6650 We'd say it is pretty close to situational irony. The way that it would be most clearly apparent would be if she actually had a wedding and refused to have a reception.

[@johnrainsman6650]

​@@SWLF It's not irony alone? Her never having a wedding reception (or even the option and hypothetical refusal) when she knows and works so many receptions? Besides, it's not like she'd ever have the opportunity to reject a reception; she'd have to have a fiancé first, and that ain't gonna happen. I don't need context to know why she lives in her own apartment

[@Germania9]

What is the difference between paradox & irony?

[@SWLF]

Interesting question, Zedfinite! A paradox is a self-contradictory statement or idea. Here's one: "I am lying right now." If the statement is true, then I'm not lying. If the statement is false, then I'm telling the truth. Weird, right? Whereas paradoxes are difficult to resolve (they are self-contradictory, after all!), with irony, there is (usually) a resolution to the contradiction--that some decipherable / understandable reality differs from how that reality is being presented.

[@ardentares1167]

thank you sir for posting this video I learned so much

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Ardent! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@SuperSojourn]

Thanks for the analysis of a disturbing yet intriguing story by a man who was himself an enigma. He, by all accounts, was a very troubled man who died a mysterious death. Perhaps the irony is that this tale is autobiographical. Poe wanted to destroy a part of himself he could neither restrain nor confine. By chaining temptation to the wall, he could control his own base, even despicable, desires. By building the wall he would metaphorically further restrain, contain, silence, and "murder" those "bad" desires. He / Amontilado could be free to live a more conventional, untroubled, and more "normal" life. Perhaps the true irony is that the story is more about hope and freedom than about despair, death, and murder. Consider the wall as Poe's own 12-step program. Imagine the delight he felt as brick by brick he sealed forever his own nemesis, his addickion, his weakness. IMHO, the most glaring example of irony in this tale is that Poe poured the "water of life" to precipitate poor, piss-drunk Fortunato's demise.

[@SWLF]

Thanks for the comment, @SuperSojourn ! We're a bit reluctant to ascribe autobiography to the story, as we can't project ourselves back into Poe's mind there to determine his motivations, but he certainly lived a troubled life and it is interesting to speculate on the relationship between that short life and the incredible work that he managed to complete within it.

[@upvoted893]

Oh my god you channel are very good man. You deserve 100m subs!

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for supporting the channel! We just recorded a new set of videos yesterday, so look for more soon!

[@dineshsingh1905]

I hope your channel will go long

[@SWLF]

Thanks, Diniesh! We hope so too!

[@vicjosh91]

How ironic I saw a sign telling No Signs!

[@SWLF]

Ha! We're glad to hear you liked that image. We did too.

[@sivvermontana5708]

Lo

[@SandyRiverBlue]

How about a scientific irony in this case a stoichiometric one, CH 4 + 2 O 2 → CO 2 + 2 H 2O (in this case methane burning in oxygen). The fact that a combustion reaction makes its own water is not a traditional irony but a fire making water is ironic in its own way.

[@SWLF]

Ha! Nice one, @SandyRiverBlue! Ages ago, Prof. Malewitz taught chemistry, and we're positive he's fully onboard with the term scientific irony.

[@seanomedley]

I searched for this as a 5-year old, then he explained it as if I am 55.

[@SWLF]

What a great example of situational irony! Thanks for sharing, January February!

[@RachidLinden]

Is not the name Fortunato which means fortunate itself ironic?

[@SWLF]

Great observation, Rachid! We agree!

[@tetzlaffjo]

I enjoyed this - but could really use some help breaking down the types of irony in the Alanis Morissette song...

[@SWLF]

Ha! We were going to do a shot-for-shot remake of that ironically unironic video, but we couldn't afford the 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V.

[@SWLF]

@Anna Marfa Excellent!

[@sebofthefoot9730]

Some good advice that I just didn’t take 😂 thanks for a well laid out vid. I’m gunna go get my Poe on!

[@SWLF]

Ha! Ok, this wins best comment of the day. Thanks so much for dropping us a line, Seb! You just made our day by dropping the Morissette. Good luck with the Poe!

[@karlstrausside107]

This has helped a lot, thank you, i enjoyed that and will get the book

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Karl! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@kalki3060]

I know this is unrelated.... But did you notice how soft his hair is??

[@SWLF]

Ha! Stage lighting does strange things.

[@neuronneuron3645]

What could Fortunato have said to have gotten out of that situation? It seems to me that irony is deadly even if you are aware of it.

[@SWLF]

Great comment, Neuron! That is one of the great mysteries of this story. Had Fortunato agreed with Montresor that his travels were too dangerous to his health and turned back, would Montresor have let him? It would certainly have complicated his "perfect crime." What does everyone else think?

[@undercrackers56]

Is it irony that we are having a horrific death narrated with happy background music?

[@SWLF]

Ha! Yes, we think you could definitely make that argument. But what kind of irony would it be?

[@medeasoak9964]

I never picked up on the situational irony of Fortunato and the reader never understanding _what_ he did to make Montressor want to kill him! Thank you!! Man I should've paid more respect to literary analysis in school; it really does make stories more enjoyable!

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Medea! We're delighted to hear that the video helped you see Poe's story in a new way, and we hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well.

[@Arshar]

What would you call Montresor is being, while pretending to be caring ?

[@SWLF]

Good question, Arshar! We'd say he's being disingenuous, to say the least. What does everyone else think?

[@joehellno9097]

A republican?

[@justjazz784]

Disingenuous is that word. Diss-en-jen-you-us.

[@WindVillage]

Where can I download that soundtrack?

[@SWLF]

Ha! This wouldn’t be an example of verbal irony, would it?

[@asmalahmira4264]

Thank you

[@SWLF]

You are very welcome, Glow Up Girl!

[@neuronneuron3645]

I think all of the statements are ironic in that Montresor doesn't actually believe them 1. Your health is precious 2. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as I once was 3. You are a man to be missed 4. For me it is no matter 5. You will be ill Fortunato rejected these claims about himself outright but in doing so missed his chance to escape. Montresor was using 1-5 to subtly let Fortunato know of his plan to kill him. Though Fortunato failed to grasp the subtext. Fortunato should have asked Montresor for reasons for why he said 1-5. Given that he disagrees with what was said it's only natural that he ask Montresor for reasons.

[@SWLF]

Nice work here, Neuron Neuron! This is a great reading of the irony within Poe's story. Thanks for keeping the conversation going!

[@ImranKhan-qv1tf]

Background music is disturbing

[@SWLF]

Thanks for the comment, @ImranKhan-qv1tf . We've tried to ease up on the music in subsequent videos.

[@jakes-dev1337]

Heads up- the only english pet peave I have is when people mess up Irony. Please take irony into careful consideration- do not glance over it and then try to use it. You will piss native english speakers off. Good luck yall!

[@excusemebangpd5773]

Does this mean the story of Snowhite is also an example of irony?

[@SWLF]

Interesting question, AASTHA! What aspect of this story were you thinking of?

[@excusemebangpd5773]

@@SWLF I was thinking of the scene when the old wicked witch offers an apple to Snowhite and of the scene when The Evil Queen asks the mirror "Who is the most beautiful person". I hope I am right

[@SWLF]

@@excusemebangpd5773 Indeed! The Evil Queen's question is designed to reinforce her own twisted sense of self worth and her expectations are certainly foiled when the mirror replies that Snow White is the fairest. And her subsequent encounter with Snow White to get her to eat the apple contains many examples of verbal irony. Great work! Thanks so much for keeping the conversation going, AASTHA!

[@excusemebangpd5773]

@@SWLF Thankyou so much for your amazing series of videos! They have been so helpful. 🥺😊

[@devonmoye2016]

To understand the simple is to do simple things yes or no ? however to understand the complicated can be a ever-changing task can people see difficult challenging different but sometimes just saying yes or no is better right 🤗

[@Bruce-ip2it]

Thank you ❤🌹😊

[@SWLF]

Thanks for your support, Abhi! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@221Dw]

Still dont get it

[@SWLF]

Bummer! What is giving you trouble? Perhaps people in this thread can help you out!

[@Jim73]

1:15 the suggested video card covers the most important bit of the cartoon/image insert. Is that irony? Looking at the comments, this issue was not always the case, and it's assumed to be KZbin sucking ass at it's primary job. GG KZbin!

[@SWLF]

Huh, that is odd. Yes, we certainly didn't want the card to get in the way of the image. We'll see what we can do. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

[@Jim73]

@@SWLF I really appreciated the video, glad I could help.

[@SWLF]

@@Jim73 Thanks again, Jim. We think we fixed it.

[@freddytoruno7889]

Need a consensus on a little debate. Is the following situation ironic or not? A person doing the infamous hip hop dance moves the milly rock, nae nae, and the whip to a rock song... 👍,👎 or leave a reply

[@SWLF]

Hmmm, could be situational irony. Could be juxtaposition. What does the person intending to accomplish?

[@freddytoruno7889]

@@SWLF thank you for responding, the intention at the time was to be comedic since in my eyes doing the mily rock to the song pretty fly for a white guy in the middle of the bar was funny

[@isaachollandsworth5141]

1:16 Credit: KC Green gunshowcomic.com/648

[@adj6647]

Now are you being unironic, post-ironic, or definetely not unironic, maybe meta ironic, who knows maybe even HYPER ironic nah definetely meta ironic this guy doesn’t know anything

[@SWLF]

Hmm, we certainly disagree, Adj, but you're definitely welcome to share your definitions of meta-irony, hyper-irony, and post-irony if you think they'd be helpful here.

[@imaspaceboy]

I'm so sorry that people don't invite you to parties anymore Adj

[@InfoblackXD]

thx a lot sir i needed this for my exam

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Catwithagun! We hope you enjoy the other videos in the series as well. Good luck on that exam!

[@sonamnorbu1912]

Thanks a lot Sir,

[@SWLF]

You're very welcome, Sonam! Thanks so much for supporting the series!

[@kiaxoxo996]

he so cool

[@SWLF]

Thanks, Kia!

[@palatasikuntheyoutubecomme2046]

*Glares at Post-Iony*

[@SWLF]

Ha! That person who posted was a bit aggressive, wasn't he?

[@palatasikuntheyoutubecomme2046]

@@SWLF ???? what do u mean

[@SWLF]

@@palatasikuntheyoutubecomme2046 Ah, we thought you were referencing another commenter. Apologies.

[@blairbee3579]

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Blair!

[@joecook5689]

I thought the definition of irony was simply: When the literal meaning is the complete opposite of the actual meaning.

[@SWLF]

Thanks for keeping the conversation going, Joe! We sort of agree, but we'd ask a few questions. First, the literal meaning of what? An action? A situation? An expression? And is irony always expressing the complete opposite of some actual meaning, or can irony be a bit more fluid in terms of the differences between appearance and reality? The video is trying to convey some of the nuances of that term, and we hope they were useful to think through!

[@joecook5689]

@@SWLF yep, you're right that there are many different uses of the term irony. I think we all agree that sarcasm is a form of irony. With sarcasm, my definition of irony is totally correct, right? Like if one sarcastically says about a basketball player "nice game!", when they lost and the player missed every shot, we all agree that the actual meaning was the complete opposite of the literal meaning.

[@SWLF]

@@joecook5689 Ha! We figured that was what you were going for, but we've gotten into some very strange conversations in this comment section when we've responded to people's comments that we thought were meant ironically. We figured it'd be best to tread lightly. Thanks again for the post, Joe!

[@joecook5689]

@@SWLF ha, I haven't read them all. I'm not trying to be contrary, only happy you guys have this explanation. And thanks for replying to me, dudes. Keep up the good work!

[@SWLF]

@@joecook5689 Ha! No worries, Joe. And thanks so much for supporting the series!

[@JSD491]

Hm… isn’t the example more close to lie rather than irony?…

[@SWLF]

Great question, @JSD491 ! In this case, Montresor isn't lying when he agrees that Fortunato "shall not die of a cough.” He just is withholding other crucial information from him, which creates the verbal irony. Hope that helps!

[@lewiscoacher7781]

As Fortunato's situation sinks in, he tries a plea for mercy: "For the love of God, Montressor," and he is given the rich verbal irony that is: "Yes, Fortunato, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!", the emblem of mercy itself spoken with pure ecstatic venom.

[@SWLF]

Nice! What a great interpretation, Lewis. Thanks so much for keeping the conversation going!

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Irony is when things are funny, and the funnier it is the more ironic it is.

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

--Jreg.

[@jasminecornell7638]

Thanks

[@SWLF]

Thanks, Jasmine! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the video!

[@Mh_012]

I clicked on this video to share the URL link with those who don't understand it

[@SWLF]

Awesome! Thanks for getting the word out, Mh 012!

[@halahabbas7812]

Characteristics of irony??

[@SWLF]

Thanks for the question, Halah. Could you clarify it so that others might answer?

[@halahabbas7812]

@@SWLF i read about irony definitions in literary dictionaries, and types of irony but i do not know characteristics of irony or Features of irony, so can you help me, l need the answer.

[@SWLF]

@@halahabbas7812 Hmm, well, as this video suggests, one feature or characteristic of irony is that it presupposes a world that we can never fully understand. Because fictional characters have an incomplete knowledge of their worlds, their attempts to understand the plot that they find themselves in often yields either humorous or devastating consequences, depending on if the irony is tragic or comic.

[@hemalakshmi4250]

Dramatic irony : There will be a ghost behind the hero/heroine, but they won't know, they behave like dumb or naive 🙄🤣

[@SWLF]

Nice one, Hema!

[@chimi8911]

شكرا على التوضيح

[@SWLF]

Thanks, chi mi! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@ChangeNameEdits]

Ha

[@No-xo7ck]

Hi

[@joehellno9097]

Irony? It’s like goldy and bronzy--except it’s made of iron! Says Baldric, , from the Black Adder series. Say no more! No more needed!

[@SWLF]

Ha! Ok, we may have to update the video to accommodate this new knowledge...

[@devonmoye2016]

Do you understand a simple issue sometimes do simple things yes or no but to understand complicated yes you understand the body

[@ValidatingUsername]

Is me liking this video ironic?

[@SWLF]

Hmm, that depends on context. Could you please provide a sense of how liking the video could be construed as either situational, dramatic, or verbal irony? Once you have provided those details, we'll be able to tell you BOTH if you are being ironic AND if our response to your question is ironic.

[@mr.fanstastic9010]

We know what irony means , show us how to use them?

[@SWLF]

Thanks for the suggestion, Mr. Fantastic. After you've identified a given ironic moment in a text, you can always ask what that irony is doing to clarify certain aspects of a character (in this case, both Fortunato's and Montresor's personality flaws and motivations are sharpened by the irony), plot, or theme. We hope those ideas, which go a bit beyond the limits of our short videos, will be expanded upon in these comments. Thanks for watching!

[@gaysonmartinocho5262]

Irony is when i finnaly win the lottery when i turn 98 and die the nxt day

[@SWLF]

Ha! Care to explain, Grayson?

[@doggydude2668]

Ive got an irony that happened today My eyes hurted from how little sleep I got and took 2 naps in a row and they hurted cause of how much sleep I got

[@SWLF]

Ha! Nice one, Doggy Dude. But which type of irony is it?

[@doggydude2668]

@@SWLF I think situational irony

[@SWLF]

@@doggydude2668 Nice work, Doggy Dude! We agree!

[@doggydude2668]

@@SWLF wow cool

[@BitchChill]

I feel like people confuse this word with sarcastic

[@SWLF]

We agree! Sarcasm is certainly a kind of verbal irony, but all irony is not sarcasm. Thanks for the post!

[@RighteousBrother]

An American explains irony.......oh the irony.

[@SWLF]

Even worse--an Oregonian!

[@jacquelinengwire4329]

hi is me yo yo dj

[@Ang3l.25]

I still don’t know wtf does ironic means

[@SWLF]

Ha! Sorry we couldn't be of more help, Whyyy. What seems to be giving you trouble?

[@jacquelinengwire4329]

ho

[@unipod8433]

Get that man a dictionary a proper one.

[@MarmaladeStex]

Irony is a 15 Year old Walking down the Street in a "Rolling Stones" T-shirt & Walking Past Him from the other Direction a 50 Year old wearing a "Jedward" T-Shirt!.

[@SWLF]

Ha! Now would that be dramatic irony, situational irony, or verbal irony?

[@MarmaladeStex]

@@SWLF, Hi there, Hope You are Well, Thanks for Replying & enjoyed Your Video, I'd probably go 60% Situational, 25% Verbal Irony & 15% dramatic irony!, Must go as I have the ironing to Finish!, I suppose that's iron(ic)!, Take Care, M.S.1591.

[@SWLF]

@@MarmaladeStex Ha! Brilliant, Marmalade Stex!

[@cm37177]

It's always the opposite. Yah, I'm going to work...really 😃