Question

Identify the type of irony in the following situation:
Two people are engaged to be married but the audience knows that the man is planning to run away with another woman.
a) Situational irony
b) Dramatic irony
c) Verbal irony
d) Romantic irony

Answer 1

Hint: The sentence indicates that there is an expectation of heartbreak and potential fighting. This makes it easy to find the kind of irony.

Complete answer:
Let us understand the meaning of the sentence.
In the given sentence, the circumstances are intense. There are two people who are engaged, however, one of them plans to run away with another person. The audience is aware of this.
This makes the situation ironic.

Now, we know the exact meaning of the sentence. Let’s look at the given options:

a) Situational irony - This kind is irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. This means that the opposite effect took place. However, this does not describe the given sentence. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

b) Dramatic irony - Dramatic irony is a form of irony that is expressed through a work's structure: an audience's awareness of the situation in which a work's characters exist differs substantially from that of the characters. This definition perfectly describes the given sentence. This is the required answer. So, the correct answer is “Option b”.

c) Verbal irony - Verbal irony is a figure of speech. The speaker intends to be understood as meaning something that contrasts with the literal or usual meaning of what he says. This definition does not describe the situation given. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

d) Romantic irony - Romantic irony is "an attitude of detached scepticism adopted by an author towards his or her work, typically manifesting in literary self-consciousness and self-reflection”. This also is not the description of the given sentence in the question. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note:
Try to understand the exact meaning of the sentence. Then, try to understand the different kinds of ironies in the given options. Then, choose the option which best fits the given circumstances.