KEY TERM!
IRONY
Irony is an important way in which writers create deeper meaning in a text. It is a very common 'literary device' that writers employ - far more regularly than you might realise. You'll find irony in many kinds of texts - not just literary fiction and poetry so be on the lookout for it as it's a subtle technique that leads to high marks!

Irony allows a writer to suggest a meaning that is different from the literal or 'surface' meaning of the words they use on the page. Irony works to 'shape' meaning in highly subtle ways to help create what is called 'layers of meaning'.

When using irony a writer depends upon a kind of 'shared understanding' between him or her and the reader. For the irony to 'work' both writer and reader need to recognise that what is written is not quite what is meant: it's as if there is a 'gap' existing between the surface meaning of the words used and the deeper meaning intended.

At its most obvious, and some would say crude, irony is sarcasm; however, in this basic use of irony, the intended meaning is always quite obviously indicated because of the use of a snide or cutting tone of voice, one that immediately suggests that the exact opposite of what is said has been meant, e.g. a compliment given is meant as a mocking criticism.

Literary irony, however, is much more subtle and less evident; indeed, it requires a close awareness of the text sometimes to appreciate its presence. This is why noticing it and discussing it generally gains high marks in essays and exams. In literary uses, irony is always much more witty, too - even though it often retains a varying degree of 'edginess' or criticism at times.

Why do writers use irony so subtly? Well - they know that readers do not like to be lectured: irony allows meanings to surface unobtrusively, leaving the reader to ponder on what is meant thus increasing the level of engagement with the text. Irony creates a great closeness to a text and a feeling of satisfaction when the irony is recognised and understood - a little like a shared understanding between the writer and the reader - a kind of knowing wink!

Here are some examples of how irony can operate in a text:

(1) A character can say something that the reader recognises is a mistake - here the 'ironic gap' is between words and truth.

(2) A character may say something, the real meaning or implication of which is quite different from what the character supposes to be the case. Here the ironic gap is between words and meaning.

(3) A character can expect certain events to happen or can set out to achieve something, but the reader (or in the case of a play, the audience) has knowledge the character does not and so knows that things won't work out as expected. Here the gap is between intention and outcome. This is sometimes called 'dramatic irony'.

(4) A character can interpret the world in one way, but the reader will see that this interpretation is wrong. Here the gap is between appearance and reality.

Dramatic irony is particularly important if you are studying a play. As suggested above, it occurs when the audience knows more about a character than the character on stage does. Hence, in a childhood pantomime, you want to call to 'Jack' that 'the giant' is behind him - and you do! But in a play (or on TV), you simply cannot call out - yet the involvement you feel with the play is intense at that moment: you almost become a conspirator to the action.