LITERARY DEVICES

1
THREE TYPES OF IRONY

• LITERARY DEVICES
• COMMON CORE READING STANDARD FOR LITERATURE
  ANALYZE HOW AN AUTHORS CHOICES CONCERNING HOW TO
  STRUCTURE SPECIFIC PARTS OF
• A TEXT CONTRIBUTE TO ITS OVERALL STRUCTURE AND
  MEANING AS
• WELL AS ITS AESTHETIC IMPACT.

2
SITUATIONAL IRONY

• DEFINITION When a character or reader expects
  one thing to happen but something completely
  different occurs
• EXAMPLE Oedipus seeks to cast out the murderer
  from Thebes in order to release Thebes from the
  plague, when in reality Oedipus is the murderer
  who is causing the plague.

3
DRAMATIC IRONY

• DEFINITION When you, the reader or viewer, are
  aware of information of which the characters are
  unaware.
• EXAMPLE When Oedipus believes he will protect
  himself and his city by avenging the murdered
  king, the audience is aware that by avenging
  Laius, Oedipus will actually destroy himself.

4
VERBAL IRONY

• DEFINITION When a speaker or writer uses words
  to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
  saying one thing, but meaning something
  completely different.
• EXAMPLE When Teiresias says to Oedipus, I say
  that you, with both of your eyes are blind.

5
ASSIGNMENT

• With a partner, identify three examples of EACH
  type of irony within the play Oedipus Rex. For
  each example include the following
• Label the type of irony
• Provide the quote from the play (with line
  numbers in parenthesis)
• Explain how the quote is ironic