Situational Irony

Many times authors use irony to prove a point. There are three types of irony: dramatic, verbal, and situational. Situational irony is present in “The Sniper”, “The Most Dangerous Game”, “Gift of the Magi”, and “The Necklace” to help create the theme in the stories. In the story The Sniper situational irony plays a major part in the story.”The lust of battle died in him. He became bitten by remorse” (O’Flanerty). This shows situational irony because he was ready to kill, but when the sniper killed his enemy, he felt awful for what he had done.

“The sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brothers face” (O’Flanerty). This statement showed situational irony because the author was trying to make a point that killing someone is like killing your own brother. Situational Irony is also present in The Most Dangerous Games.

An example is when Whitney and Rainsford are talking about if the hunted have feelings.

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Later in the story Rainsford finds out what it is like to be hunted (Connel 216). This showed irony because what Whitney and Rainsford came true. The irony also helps support the theme of treat others the way you want to be treated. “One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. He had never slept in a better bed Rainsford decided” (Connel 225). The situational irony in this quote is that General Zaroff was fed to his hounds that he sent to go kill Rainsford.

In The Gift of the Magi there are some strong examples of situational irony. “I sold my watch to get the money for your combs”(Henry 251). “And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the courted adornments were gone” (Henry 251).

These quotes showed situational irony because Della sold her hair and got hair combs. Also Jim sold his watch but got a chain for his watch as his present (Henry 251). This quote helps the author create the theme because it tells you that the greatest gift is giving. The quote showed the theme because both Jima and Della gave away something treasured to them to get something for someone they love.` In “The Necklace”, there is situational irony when Mathide worked ten years to pay off a real diamond necklace that she used to replace a fake necklace (De Maupassant 301). The situational irony helped prove the theme of don’t let your pride get in your way. “Oh my poor Mathide! But mine was an imitation.

It was worth at the very most five hundred frances” ( De Maupassant 301). The situational irony in these quotes is that Mathide has worked for ten very hard years to pay for a real diamond necklace. She only did this because she didn’t want to tell the truth because she didn’t want to have a lower social status. This relates to the irony because by paying off the necklace she lowered her social status by herself. In all four stories there were examples of situational irony. The irony helped prove the author’s point and help create the theme. The irony takes everyday events and twists the plot of the story. Situational irony is a commonly use literature device and it is used in these four stories.