Irony
In short: Irony is the gap between what is said or shown and what is actually meant or true. Someone who says „just great“ while everything falls apart means the opposite – and the reader grasps both at once.
Where the term comes from
The word comes from the Greek eirōneía, „dissimulation“. In ancient comedy the eírōn was the character who plays dumber than they are. From that grew a basic device of literature: the distance between seeming and being.
How to use irony
Know the three kinds: Verbal irony (saying the opposite), situational irony (things turn out otherwise) and dramatic irony (the reader knows more than the character).
Don't wink: Irony works when you play it straight. A text that keeps pointing at its own irony loses it.
Dramatic irony for tension: Let the reader know something the character doesn't – the gap creates pull and compassion.
Irony on Fireside
A fine ironic tone can carry a story without ever turning cynical. If you like, your readers' responses will show you whether your irony lands or is misread.
Related terms: Subtext · Foreshadowing · Unreliable Narrator
Frequently asked questions
What is irony in simple terms?
The gap between what is said or shown and what is really meant or true.
What types of irony are there?
Mainly three: verbal irony, situational irony and dramatic irony (the reader knows more than the character).
What is the difference between irony and sarcasm?
Sarcasm is a sharp, often hurtful form of verbal irony; irony is the broader term and need not wound.