Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 13 AIL 1232 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Dramatic Irony Against Verbal Irony
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The idea
Verbal irony is a speaker meaning otherwise than the words say; dramatic irony is a character not knowing what the audience knows. Oedipus is not being ironic, he is being sincere, and the irony belongs to the situation. Unit four separated these and the exam tests the boundary.
In practice
Sincere speaker, ironic situation.
Where people slip
Oedipus is not speaking ironically.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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