Irony

A difference between what words appear to mean and what their context reveals, often used to expose a contradiction.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens or is revealed.

A contrast between an earlier expectation or claim and the outcome that actually follows.

A difference between an appearance, expectation or claim and the reality. Dramatic irony occurs when readers know something a character does not.

A contrast between expectations or stated ideals and what actually happens.

A contrast between an expectation or claim and what actually happens.

A contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually happens.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and the meaning or reality readers can recognise.

A difference between what is apparently said or expected and the meaning or reality revealed by the surrounding text.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what is meant or happens. Austen uses irony to expose foolishness and complicate characters’ judgements.

A contrast between expectation and reality, or between an apparent meaning and a deeper meaning.

A contrast between appearance and reality, or between what words seem to mean and what they imply. Austen often uses irony to expose selfishness beneath polite behaviour.

A gap between what a character believes or expects and what readers understand, or between an expectation and the actual outcome.

A contrast between what is said and what is meant, or between an expectation and what actually happens.

A contrast between appearances and reality, or between what is said and what is meant. Dramatic irony occurs when readers understand something a character does not.

A difference between an expression’s apparent meaning and what its context encourages the reader to understand.

Language in which the intended meaning differs from the apparent meaning, or a situation in which expectations contrast with what happens.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and an implied meaning, or between expectations and what actually happens.

A difference between appearance and reality, or between what someone believes and what the reader can understand.

A contrast between what is expected and what happens. Miss Havisham’s training succeeds so completely that Estella cannot return her affection.

A contrast between expectation and reality, or between an intention and its outcome.

A contrast between an appearance, belief or expectation and the reality. Dickens uses it to expose the difference between Pip’s supposed advancement and his unhappiness.

A contrast between appearances or expectations and reality, which can expose mistaken beliefs or create humour.

A contrast between an expectation or claim and what actually happens or is revealed.

An effect created when words or events contrast with what is expected or claimed.

A contrast in which expectations are overturned. The discovery that the treasure chest is empty brings Watson happiness rather than disappointment.

A difference between what appears to be true and what is actually true, or between a claim and the events that undermine it.

A contrast between expectations or claims and what actually happens, often exposing a limitation or contradiction.

A contrast between what words or events appear to suggest and what they actually mean, often exposing an unexpected or contradictory situation.

A contrast between what appears to be true and what is actually true, or between what someone claims and what their behaviour reveals.

A difference between an apparent meaning, expectation or claim and what the reader understands or what actually happens.

A contrast between what is expected or claimed and what actually happens or is revealed.

A contrast between expectations or claims and what actually happens. The animals overthrow human exploiters, but the pigs become exploiters themselves.

A contrast between appearances or claims and reality. Napoleon’s supposedly voluntary work is ironic because refusing it brings punishment.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens or is meant.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens. Orwell repeatedly contrasts praise of Napoleon with the suffering his rule causes.

A contrast between expectations and reality. Boxer's loyalty should earn protection, but instead makes his exploitation possible.

A contrast between what appears or is claimed to be true and what is actually happening.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens or is meant.

A contradiction between expectations or claims and what actually happens or is meant.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens or is revealed.

A contrast between an expectation and what actually happens, often revealing a troubling contradiction.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or claim and what the surrounding text reveals.

A contrast between an expectation, claim or ideal and what actually happens. Napoleon’s reverence for Old Major’s skull is ironic because his rule contradicts Major’s principles.

A contrast between what a character believes and what readers understand. Boxer's trust in Napoleon becomes painfully ironic as readers recognise the pigs' exploitation.

The use of language or events to reveal a contrast between an appearance or claim and the reality beneath it.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what is actually true or happens.

A meaningful contrast between what is said or expected and what is actually true or happens.

A contrast between appearances or claims and the reality that readers can recognise.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens or is revealed.

A contrast between appearance and reality, or between what is expected and what actually happens.

The contrast between an appearance or expectation and the reality, often exposing a mistaken judgement.

A contrast between expectation and reality. In Great Expectations, the refined Estella’s parentage undermines Pip’s assumptions about social superiority.

A difference between appearance or expectation and reality. Pip’s rise in social status does not bring the moral improvement or happiness he expects.

A difference between appearance and reality, or between an intended result and what actually happens.

A contrast between an expectation and what actually happens, or between what someone intends and the consequences of their actions.

A contrast between what is said or believed and what the reader understands. Pip’s assumption that he is superior to Biddy is undermined by her greater insight.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens. Herbert describes himself as an insurer before admitting that he has not begun insuring ships.

A contrast between what is said or apparently meant and what readers understand. Dickens often uses humour to expose the cruelty hidden beneath claims of kindness.

A contrast between appearances or expectations and reality, which may produce humour or criticism.

A discrepancy between appearance and reality, expectation and outcome, or words and their implications. Miss Havisham’s anger at Estella’s coldness is ironic because she has taught Estella to suppress affection.

A difference between what appears to be true and what is actually true, or between a claim and the evidence surrounding it.

A contrast between what words appear to mean and what the situation reveals, often exposing an injustice or contradiction.

A difference between an expression’s apparent meaning and what its circumstances reveal.

A meaningful difference between what is said and what is meant, or between an expectation and what actually happens.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and an underlying reality, often used to expose foolishness or hypocrisy.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and an underlying reality. Austen’s opening presents wealthy men as needing wives, then shows families eagerly seeking those men as husbands for their daughters.

A contrast between what words appear to mean and what they actually suggest, or between an expectation and what happens.

A difference between what is said or expected and what is actually meant or happens; in fiction, it can expose mistaken judgments or contradictory behaviour.

A contrast between an appearance, statement or expectation and the reality that gives it a different meaning.

A difference between appearance and reality, or between what is said and what is meant. Mr Bennet’s praise of Wickham after his departure is ironic rather than sincere.

A gap between appearance and reality, or between what is said and what is meant, which can expose mistaken assumptions.

A contrast between what words appear to mean and what their context suggests, often exposing an absurdity or contradiction.

A gap between what words appear to mean and what they imply, or between expectations and what actually happens.

A contrast between what appears to be true and what is actually true, or between an intended result and the result achieved.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens or is meant.

A contrast between what someone claims or expects and what the reader understands. The Squire’s claim to have been a good father is undermined by his behaviour.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and an implied meaning, or between expectations and reality, which can expose mistaken assumptions.

A contrast between expectation and outcome, or between an apparent meaning and a deeper meaning.

A contrast between what is expected or claimed and what actually happens.

A contrast between what is said and what is meant, or between an expectation and what actually happens.

A contrast between what someone says or intends and the meaning readers recognise.

A contrast between what is said or expected and the meaning or reality underneath.

A difference between the apparent meaning of words and the meaning intended, or between expectation and reality.

A contrast between an expectation or claim and the reality presented.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and the reality revealed by the surrounding text.

A contrast between an expression’s apparent meaning and the meaning or situation it reveals.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens, often creating humour or exposing a contradiction.

A gap between appearances and reality, or between an intended meaning and what readers understand.

A contrast between expectation and reality, sometimes understood by readers before the characters recognise it.

A contrast between what is said, expected or apparently true and what actually happens or is understood.

A contrast between an appearance, expectation or claim and the reality it conceals.

The contrast between what is expected or claimed and what actually happens.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what is actually true or happens.

A contrast between an expectation or stated ideal and what actually happens. The later pigs’ behaviour makes Old Major’s warning against resembling humans deeply ironic.

A contrast between appearance and reality, or between what is expected and what actually happens.

A contrast between an appearance or claim and the reality that the reader recognises.

A contrast between what a character believes or intends and what events reveal. Miss Havisham's training makes Estella unable to return the affection Miss Havisham demands.

A contrast between an appearance, expectation or claim and the reality; Estella’s supposedly superior social position contrasts ironically with her parents’ backgrounds.

A contrast between an expectation or intention and what actually happens.

A contrast between what appears to be true and what is actually true, or between an expectation and its outcome.

A contrast between appearances or expectations and reality, or between what is said and what is meant.

A contrast between what is expected, believed or claimed and what actually happens or is revealed.

A technique that exposes a gap between what is stated or expected and what is actually meant or happens.

A contrast between what is said or expected and the meaning or reality underneath it, often used to expose mistaken assumptions.

A contrast between what someone says and what they mean, or between expectations and reality.

A contrast between appearance and reality, or between what is said and what is meant, which can expose mistaken judgments or create humour.

A contrast between what is said or apparently meant and what the reader understands. Mr Collins offers consolation while writing things that intensify the Bennets’ distress.

A difference between what is said or expected and what is actually meant or happens, often producing humour or criticism.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what is actually meant or happens. Verbal irony can make apparent praise convey criticism.

A difference between what appears to be true and what is actually true, or between a statement's literal meaning and its intended meaning.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and what the reader understands or what actually happens.

A contrast between what is said or believed and what the reader can recognise, often exposing mistaken assumptions.

A contrast between what is said or apparently meant and what the context leads readers to understand.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and an underlying meaning, often used to expose foolishness or hypocrisy.

A contrast between what is said and what is meant, or between expectations and what actually happens.

A difference between what is said or expected and what is actually meant or happens.

A contrast between an expectation and what actually happens, often exposing the limits of a character’s understanding.

A contrast between expectation and outcome: the technologically superior Martians are defeated by microscopic bacteria rather than human weapons.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens, which can expose a character’s limitations.

A contrast between what a character believes or expects and what readers understand, creating effects such as criticism, humour or unease.

A contrast between an expectation or claim and the reality that undermines it.

A contrast between expectation and outcome. The technologically powerful Martians are defeated by microscopic bacteria rather than human weapons.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens or is revealed.

Language or a situation in which the apparent meaning differs from its implications. Bob’s praise of Scrooge as the provider of the feast is ironic because Scrooge pays him poorly.

A difference between an apparent meaning or expectation and the reality, which can expose a contradiction.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and the reality that readers recognise.

A meaningful discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, or between expectation and reality.

A contrast between an apparent or stated meaning and another meaning suggested by the situation or wording.

A contrast between an expectation and reality: here, durable military equipment survives the vulnerable person who used it.

A contrast between what words appear to say and the meaning they convey in context. Apparently helpful advice can actually express criticism.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and a different underlying meaning or outcome.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and an underlying meaning; apparently positive language can communicate criticism.

A contrast between an expectation or apparent meaning and what actually happens or is revealed.

A contrast between an apparent meaning and a different implied meaning. Praise can become ironic when the surrounding details undermine it.

A contrast between what might be expected and what actually happens or is expressed. In Baby Song, a soothing, song-like form carries an angry complaint.

A difference between the apparent meaning of words and the meaning suggested by their context, often exposing a contradiction.

Language that conveys a meaning different from its apparent meaning, often exposing a contradiction between someone’s claims and reality.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or judgement and what readers are encouraged to understand.

A difference between what is apparently said or believed and what readers are encouraged to understand, often used to expose flawed judgement.

A contrast between expectation and outcome. In the novel’s ending, microscopic bacteria defeat invaders whom powerful human weapons cannot overcome.

A contrast between expectation and reality. The narrator’s confidence in moral progress becomes ironic when civilisation breaks down and he resorts to violence.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens. The artilleryman’s pleasure-seeking undermines his claims to discipline and superior fitness for survival.

A contrast between expectations and what actually happens. In Wells’s novel, apparently invincible technological conquerors are defeated by microscopic bacteria.

A contrast between expectations and reality; in literature, this can expose mistaken confidence or contradictory behaviour.

A contrast between what a character believes or expects and what actually happens.

A contrast between an assumption or appearance and the reality that exposes its limitations.

A contrast between expectations and reality. In literature, this can expose mistaken confidence or reveal a meaning a character does not recognise.

A technique in which an apparent meaning is undermined by another meaning or by the surrounding circumstances.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and the meaning or reality that emerges.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what is meant or actually happens.

A contrast between an expectation, statement or appearance and the reality, often producing humour or criticism.

A difference between the apparent meaning of words and their intended meaning, or between expectations and events. Mr Bennet often sounds respectful while actually mocking someone.

A contrast between an apparent meaning or expectation and what readers understand to be true.

A difference between what is said or apparently true and what is actually meant or understood.

A gap between an apparent meaning or expectation and the meaning or reality a reader can recognise.

A contrast between what words appear to mean and what their context suggests, often used to expose mistaken assumptions.

A gap between what appears to be true and what is meant or revealed. Verbal irony can make apparently approving language convey criticism.

A contrast between what words appear to mean and what their context invites the reader to understand.

A contrast between what is claimed or expected and what actually happens, often exposing a contradiction.

A contrast between what appears to be true and what other details suggest; it can expose contradictions or undermine a character’s confidence.

A contrast between what a character believes or claims and what the reader understands from later events.

A difference between an expectation or apparent meaning and what actually happens or is understood.