Irony
First recorded in Plato’s Republic where it has approximately the meaning of ‘a glib and underhand way of taking people in’.
According to Oxford Dictionary,” the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect”. It refers a clash between expectations and reality.
According to Encyclopædia Britannica: The term irony has its roots in the Greek comic character Eiron, a clever underdog who by his wit repeatedly triumphs over the boastful character Alazon. The Socratic irony of the Platonic dialogues derives from this comic origin.
Examples:
A person eats sweets while preaching about healthy eating
Saying “The weather is lovely today” while it is hailing.
Saying “Thank you so much for your help” after someone has crushed your new glasses while helping to look for them.
Describing someone who says foolish things as a “genius”
Delivering bad news by saying, “the good news is”
Entering a child’s messy room and saying “nice place you have here”
Types:
Verbal Irony: The use of words to mean something different than what they appear to mean
Situational Irony: The difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens
Dramatic Irony: When the audience is more aware of what is happening than a character
Socratic irony is "the dissimulation of ignorance practised by Socrates as a means of confuting an adversary". Socrates would pretend to be ignorant of the topic under discussion, to draw out the inherent nonsense in the arguments of his interlocutors. The Chambers Dictionary defines it as "a means by which a questioner pretends to know less than a respondent, when actually he knows more".
Cosmic irony occurs when a higher power (e.g., God, fate, the Universe) intervenes to create an ironic situation. Otherwise known as “irony of fate,” this idea of “interference” can either be actual or inferred. In other words, there are clear cosmic irony examples when a 'mystical meddler' was involved. But there are also examples that only seem to be supernaturally influenced, or are ambiguous enough for the argument to be made.
Historical Irony: Historical irony is when hindsight provides an ironic perspective on an action or stance made in the past.
Romantic Irony: Romantic irony is a rhetorical device that occurs when an author breaks through the fictional facade of their narrative and exposes their presence. This is normally seen through a demonstration of the writing process.
