Monday, November 19, 2007

Q 3

3. What is irony? How does irony affect the reader’s thinking?

9 comments:

Golnaz said...

Irony is defined as an exprression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. Irony is an important stylistic element that allows a writer to create the sense that narrator and reader are thinking together. For example, the opening paragraphs of Persuasion position narrator and reader together in contemptuous judgment of Sir Walter Elliot.

Erin Trapp said...

yes, i agree about sir walter. how are we able to have an ironic perspective without thinking that anne, for example, is ironic? is she ever dealt with ironically? I am also curious is any of you would have approached the text with "irony" in mind if prof van sant had not instructed us to do so. if you wouldn't have thought of it as irony, how would you have described the style or "mode" of narration?

Anonymous said...

I don't think I would have thought to read it as irony. I probably would have probably would have thought of it as being a little ironic in the back of my head, but i wouldn't go to that part of my mind. I would have probably read the first few paragraphs as the narrator just showing how aragont and concerned with class Sir Walter is in a humerous way.

Anonymous said...

Without irony, I think a lot of the novel would have seemed to be a frivolous, social tale equivalent to a nineteenth century Gossip Girl, with love triangles and intrigue and fake personalities. With irony, however, you realize that the frivolity that Austen talks about is presented in an ironic manner, so she is poking fun at it, acknowledging it, and criticizing it, rather than just describing it or even condoning it.

Anonymous said...

Irony is the gap between what is said and what is meant or understood. Irony also is saying less than what you mean. Irony affects the readers thinking, because if there was no intention to use irony, we would think of Austen to not be critiquing the social standards of the time, but rather thinking of her to have a confined mind-set.

Anonymous said...

Irony is saying less than what you mean or leaving a gap between what you say and what you actually mean. There are three components to irony; the ironist, the fool, and the one who is "in the know." As a reader, we want to be the one in the know. Irony affects the reader's thinking by making us look at the actual words that are written differently. The reader has to understand that there is irony behind the words and then read the novel. It also adds humor to the novel because the narrator is being so sarcastic.

Anonymous said...

In literature, irony is defined as "a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated." in other words, the author takes into account what would be implied to the reader by one part of the story, and makes exactly the opposite of what is expected happen. I agree to what Monica said about irony being necessary in the novel to reveal its true purpose and somewhat ridicule the frivolity and shallowness of this society.

cindy said...

As Golnaz said, irony is the use of language to convey the opposite than what actually happens. In the case of this book, irony adds to the richness of the humor of Anne's keen observations. One main instance of comedic, though slightly tragic, irony is the scene when Louisa Musgrove "breaks her head" after determinedly deciding to jump into Wentworth's arms. Louisa's strong, determined character, which Wentworth had praised so highly, leads to great distress and misfortune for the party in general. What Wentworth loves so much about Louisa ens up causing harm and the eventual end to her infatuation with him. Irony adds excitement to the plot by making the dialougue and musings more engaging

Anonymous said...

irony develops the plot in a way to make it more interesting. anne didnt marry wentworth because he didnt have high status and then they end up together in the end when he and anne have the similar importance status.