Get Updates
Subscribe to receive instant notifications for new study materials and important updates.
II. Irony is when we say one thing but mean another, usually t... - Beehive
II. Irony is when we say one thing but mean another, usually the opposite of what we say. When someone makes a mistake and you say, “Oh! that was clever!”, that is irony. You’re saying ‘clever‘ to mean ‘not clever’.
Expressions we often use in an ironic fashion are:
• Oh, wasn’t that clever!/Oh that was clever!
• You have been a great help, I must say!
• You’ve got yourself into a lovely mess, haven’t you?
• Oh, very funny!/ How funny!
We use a slightly different tone of voice when we use these words ironically.
Read the play carefully and find the words and expressions Gerrard uses in an ironic way. Then say what these expressions really mean. Two examples have been given below. Write down three more such expressions along with what they really mean.
| What the author says | What he means |
|---|---|
| Why, this is a surprise, Mr—er— | He pretends that the intruder is a social visitor whom he is welcoming. In this way he hides his fear. |
| At last a sympathetic audience! | He pretends that the intruder wants to listen to him, whereas actually the intruder wants to find out information for his own use. |
| What the author says | What he means |
| 1. "You’re so modest." | Gerrard is mocking the Intruder’s boastfulness and self-importance about being "smart." |
| 2. "With you figuring so largely in it, that is understandable." | Gerrard is sarcastically agreeing that the situation is boring because the Intruder’s presence is unpleasant and unwelcome. |
| 3. "This is your big surprise." | Instead of a simple explanation, Gerrard is actually preparing a trap to trick the Intruder and lock him in the cupboard. |