Question

example: a student says that a difficult test was “delightful”.
a. directions: write the letter i before each item that describes an ironic situation. write ni before each item that does not contain irony.

1. ______ akio loses a race. he wants to run faster, so he works with a coach every day for a month and then wins the next race he enters.
2. ______ boris spends hours writing an essay that he posts online. the theme of the essay is that reading posts on the internet is a waste of time.
3. ______ lila is late for a picnic. she grabs a freshly baked pie and runs all the way to the park. when she gets there, she realizes the picnic is next week.
4. ______ on her day off, madison sleeps in, eats brunch, and then goes to the beach. she tells her friend it was a “tough day.”
5. ______ jazmine gets lost in the woods. she uses the compass in her cell phone to locate a path. after several wrong turns, she finally finds the way out.

b. directions: write situational, dramatic, or verbal to identify the type of irony described.

1. ____________________ a student spills a bucket of paint on the floor and calls the stain her “greatest masterpiece.”
2. ____________________ in a play, frank, who hates being the center of attention, is on his way over to his friend mia’s house. the audience knows that all of frank’s friends are already at mia’s house, waiting to give him a surprise birthday party.
3. ____________________ after preparing a spectacular 12 - course meal for a reception, a chef goes home and eats a bowl of cereal for dinner.

Explanation:

• Part A:
• Item 1: Akio loses a race, trains, and wins. This is a normal cause - effect sequence. No irony. So, \(NI\).
• Item 2: Boris spends hours on the Internet (posting an essay) to say the Internet is a waste. The action (spending time on the Internet) contradicts the message (Internet is a waste). This is ironic. So, \(I\).
• Item 3: Lila rushes with a pie for a picnic, but the picnic is next week. The effort (rushing) is for a non - existent (in the moment) event. This is ironic. So, \(I\).
• Item 4: Madison has a relaxing day (sleeping in, brunch, beach) and calls it “tough”. The description (“tough”) contradicts the reality (relaxing). This is ironic. So, \(I\).
• Item 5: Jazmine gets lost, uses a compass (a helpful tool), and after wrong turns, finds the way. This is a normal problem - solving sequence. No irony. So, \(NI\).
• Part B:
• Item 1: A student spills paint (a mistake) and calls it a “masterpiece”. The words (“masterpiece”) do not match the reality (a spill). This is verbal irony.
• Item 2: The audience knows about the surprise party (Frank doesn't). The contrast between the audience's knowledge and the character's ignorance is dramatic irony.
• Item 3: A chef makes a 12 - course meal (elaborate) and then eats cereal (simple). The situation (elaborate meal preparation vs. simple dinner) is ironic. This is situational irony.

Answer:

Part A

1. \(NI\)
2. \(I\)
3. \(I\)
4. \(I\)
5. \(NI\)

Part B

1. Verbal
2. Dramatic
3. Situational