Writers use irony to create intrigue and humor and call attention to a character’s personality. This efficient literary device artistically substitutes the speaker's intention with an opposite verbal expression. In this article, we explore the usage of verbal irony, discussing its meaning, functions and examples.

What is Verbal Irony?

Verbal irony is a contradiction between what you say and what you mean. It occurs when words express something opposite to the truth of what the speaker really feels or means. And the readers or audience know that the speaker means the opposite of what they say. 

Verbal Irony and Other Literary Devises

Some literary devices appear similar to verbal irony, but a close look at their functions shows some discrepancies.

Sarcasm: While sarcasm tends to ridicule people out of spite, irony simply states the opposite of what the speaker intends to highlight incongruity or create humor. For example, “You are two hours late. So punctual!” This is sarcastic; it mocks the latecomer. But this statement, “The song was such a hit, no one bought a single unit,” is ironic because it’s a humorous way to talk about a terrible song.

Hyperbole: Both verbal irony and hyperbole make use of exaggeration. But for hyperbole, the opposite is not intended. Instead, the truth gets stretched to an absurd extent. For example, “I was so thirsty, I drank an ocean.” This is a hyperbolic expression that exaggerates the speaker’s level of thirst. “I wasn’t thirsty, so I drank an ocean.” This is verbal irony because the speaker is thirty but says otherwise.

Functions of Verbal Irony.

Here are two main functions of verbal irony in narrative fiction:

To evoke a character. Verbal irony expressed in dialogue shows a lot about a character and their worldview. You can use verbal irony to highlight specific features, which a character possesses and manifest them in their manner of speech. These characters are often completely oblivious or highly self-aware. In Shrek, Donkey asked Shrek if he could stay with him. Shrek replied, “Of course,” when what he meant was, “Not a chance.” Here, we see Shrek's personality as a loner, whom others have pushed away. But now, he drives others away, strengthening his solitary way of life.

To create humor. You can also use verbal irony simply for humorous effect. This is the prevalent use of verbal irony, popular among comedians and humorists. In literature, it can showcase a witty character, provide comic relief for tension during a dark or difficult scene, or simply make people laugh. In Dr Strangelove, the Soviet Ambassador and General Turgidson were in a heated argument, which resulted in a fistfight in the war room. When the president walked in on this brawl, he said, “Gentlemen. You can’t fight here. This is a War Room.” Here, verbal irony creates a humorous effect in this dark humor film satirizing the Cold War.

Examples of Verbal Irony

So many classic narrative fictions have featured verbal irony. We’ve already discussed a few of them, but here are three more examples:

William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (1599). Mark Antony refers to Brutus as “an honorable man,” even though he knew fully well that Brutus had a hand in Julius Caesar’s assassination. His words here are an example of verbal irony because they don’t reflect his honest opinion.

Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal (1729). In this essay, Jonathan stated, “I rather recommend buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.” The entire point of the essay is to tell the government that its treatment of the Irish people is unacceptable. The statement earlier is just one example of how the writer uses irony to satirize the government’s inhumane treatment of the poor and working class. 

William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1597). Shakespeare opens this play thus: “Two households, both alike in dignity. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” Here, we see two families, dignified by their status in society but ironically, are uncivil in how they relate to each other.