Q&A: What is ‘irony’?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, isn't it ironic…

Q: Can we talk about something I’ve always had a problem with?

A: Leaf blowers?

Q: Well yes, but not that. Irony. WHAT is it?

A: Let’s start with what it isn’t. It’s not ‘rain on your wedding day’. Or ‘the good advice that you just didn’t take’, along with everything else Alanis Morissette sang about.

Q: Ahhh yes, apparently she’s in on the joke and released an updated set of verses including “It’s singing Ironic, when there are no ironies…”

A: Indeed.

Q: So, if ten thousands spoons when all you need is a knife ISN’T ironic, what actually is?

A: Alright, let’s refer to the noun “irony” – and it’s defined as “a figure of speech where the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning”.

Q: Hmmmm. 

A: It all started in Ancient Greece with Socrates. Socratic or dramatic irony was “false ignorance” – pretending not to know something in order to draw out more truth or detail.

Q: Oh! So like I do in these chats!

A: If you say so. It was also used in Greek tragedy plays, where the audience knew the significance of a character’s actions or words while they did not.

Q: But that’s different from today’s definition, yeah?

A: Yes, the modern meaning certainly was drawn from the Greek version, but didn’t come along until the 1500s.

Q: So what part was made of iron?

A: Not iron, metal – that took a different etymological route via German and Old English ‘iren’. Our version came from the Greek word ‘eironeia’ – meaning assumed ignorance. That later became the Latin ‘ironia’.

Q: Ironia?

A: That’s the one. Shakespeare liked to use it in his writings. Probably the most famous dramatic irony is that we the audience know Juliet isn’t dead, but poor old Romeo does not.

Q: Silly boy.

A: Young love, whatcha gonna do?

Q: He could’ve checked for a pulse maybe.

A: Shakespeare also liked to use another form called verbal irony. This is where a person says one thing, but means the opposite. An example in Romeo and Juliet would be Juliet telling her mother “I will not marry yet” but she is actually planning to that night.

Q: Spoiler, it doesn’t go well.

A: Indeed.

Q: But neither of these types seem to match how we use irony today.

A: They are still used in literature, films etc., however the one you’re talking about is “situational irony” – sometimes also known as “irony of fate/circumstance”. It came along in the 1640s to describe a “condition opposite to what might be expected; contradictory circumstances” – often for comic effect. 

Q: Yeah that sounds like it. Examples?

A: This might be a soccer player scoring an own-goal while trying to block a shot. A fire extinguisher factory burning down. Or the world’s “unsinkable” ship hitting an iceberg and sinking.

Q: So we’re really talking about opposites, yeah?

A: In the case of verbal and situational irony, absolutely. The opposite of what is said or what you might expect. Dramatic irony – the original – is more about knowing something a character doesn’t. 

Q: “It’s behind you!!!”

A: Exactly, that’s a specific ironic set-up used in pantomimes. All forms of irony can be used humorously, but also as a way to surprise – after all, it’s the opposite of what is expected.

Q: So situational irony might be believing your spouse has died, but then they walk through the door safe and sound – and the shock kills you.

A: Exactly! As a writer, we can lead our reader down one particular path and then pull the rug out from under them. 

Q: Why was there a rug on a path?

A: Opposite of what you expected?

Q: Haha, okay. Very good.

A: Irony is difficult to pin down to just one thing as there are many forms. But the most common is where we see a difference in expectations and outcomes. One common example is thinking you’re being called into the manager’s office for a promotion, but instead, you’re fired.

Q: Ouch. Give me a black fly in my chardonnay any day.

A: If the chardonnay was specifically promoted as repelling insects, that would indeed be an example of irony, instead of simply “coincidence” – which most of Morissette’s lyrics are in that song. This funny video attempts to correct its errors.

Q: Oh, that’s very good!

A: By the way, irony came up in another chat about “apropos” – featuring another mid-’90s song. You can read that one here.

Q: Thanks for the explanation. And how ironic that after discussing irony, I’m going to go home and do a pile of ironing tonight.

A: Well, no that’s not— never mind.

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