Reading Irony and Satire

Recognize when a text means the opposite of what it literally says, and why.

Irony is a gap between what is said and what is meant, or between what is expected and what happens. Verbal irony says the opposite of what the speaker means. Situational irony occurs when the outcome contradicts expectations: a fire station burns down. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something a character does not. Satire uses irony, exaggeration, and humor to criticize people, institutions, or ideas. Missing irony leads to complete misreadings, because a satirical text's literal meaning is often the opposite of its message.

Worked example: 'Our town's leaders have solved the traffic problem brilliantly: by closing the only bridge for repairs during the summer festival, they have ensured that no one will be stuck in traffic, since no one will be able to reach the festival at all. ' Signals include praise that does not fit the facts ('brilliantly'), absurd logic, and an exaggerated conclusion. The real message criticizes poor planning. Ask: does the literal meaning make sense, and if not, what is the writer really saying?

• 1Verbal, situational, and dramatic irony create gaps in meaning.
• 2Satire uses irony and exaggeration to criticize.
• 3Signals include mismatched praise and absurd logic.