In literature, irony comes in a variety of different forms, but the underlying definition of irony is doing or saying something that contradicts the expectations of the reader. The three types of irony, Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic irony, are used heavily in a variety of short stories to give the story flavor and make it more appealing to the reader. In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, and My Oedipus Complex by Frank O’Connor, all types of irony are used to create foreshadowing, justify the action of characters, and create humor. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor seeks to get revenge on Fortunato, since Fortunato has supposedly wronged Montresor in some way. Throughout Montresor’s quest …show more content…
Doodle’s real name is William Armstrong, which the narrator compares to “tying a big tail on a small kite” (1). Doodle’s real name is ironic, because in reality Doodle is weak and sickly, and a name like Armstrong suggests the complete opposite. Because of this (and other reasons) the narrator renames William Armstrong as doodle. Doodle’s original ironic name justified Doodle being renamed. Another instance of irony is when the Narrator teaches Doodle how to walk. This, however, wasn’t because the Narrator truly loved Doodle, rather, it was because “‘[The narrator] was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk” (2). Usually, if someone teaches their relative to do something they couldn’t do before, it was because that person loved their relative. However, the narrator teaches Doodle to walk not because he loved Doodle, but because he considered Doodle not walking “an embarrassment”. The reader already knows that the Narrator doesn’t love Doodle, since the Narrator tried to smother Doodle with a pillow. However, the use of irony that is contrary to the expectation of the reader here justifies the narrator teaching Doodle how to walk. A final example of irony is when Doodle dies and the narrator “threw [his] body to the earth above [Doodle’s]” (4), to protect Doodle’s dead body. Yet, just before this, when Doodle failed at rowing, …show more content…
Larry, who is a little boy, says that “The war was the most peaceful period of my life” (1). This is dramatic irony, since the reader knows that the first world war was a violent clash that killed millions, and was anything but peaceful. This is quite funny, as Larry’s clear misunderstanding (which was conveyed via dramatic irony) clearly shows, creating a tone. Larry also misunderstands the concept of having babies, saying that “[Our House] was the only house in the terrace without a new baby, and mother said that we couldn’t afford one until Daddy came back from the war because they cost 17 and 6. It was probably a cheap baby and Mother wanted something really good, but I felt she was too exclusive” (1). This is also an example of dramatic irony, since the readers know that babies aren’t divided into “cheap” or “really good” babies, and that the cost of the baby refers to the cost in time, and money for things to keep babies alive and happy. Therefore, this is also humorous, and creates a humorous tone, as Larry’s misunderstanding really is quite funny. A final example is when Larry says “We went to Mass to thank God for having brought back father safely home. The irony of it!” (2). Larry then proceeds to ramble about the “horrible” things that his Father did, like put on a dirty cap. This is a funny example of dramatic irony, since the reader knows that Larry should be thankful