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Definition of Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean... read full definition
Chapter 7
Explanation and Analysis—Professor Allegretto:
In Chapter 7, the narrator leverages their trademark verbal irony against yet another character in Francie's Brooklyn community: Professor Allegretto. The narrator refers to Allegretto's "slight peculiarity," which concerns only his young female piano pupils:
It so happened that Professor Allegretto had a very slight peculiarity concerning his girl pupils. He made them take off their shoes and stockings and stand in their bare feet on his green carpet while they sawed away. Instead of beating time or correcting their fingering, he spent the hour in a reverie staring at their feet.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—The Baby Was Born:
In the following example of verbal irony from Chapter 7, the narrator details Sissy's first labor and delivery:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The baby was born. It was a girl and a very easy birth. The midwife down the block was called in. Everything went fine. Sissy was in labor only twenty-five minutes. It was a wonderful delivery. The only thing wrong with the whole business was that the baby was born dead. Coincidently, the baby was born and died on Sissy's fifteenth birthday.
Chapter 11
Explanation and Analysis—Sissy's Failings:
In Chapter 11, the narrator digs more into Sissy's character, using verbal irony to describe her as a "great lover" and "great mother":
Unlock with LitCharts A+Sissy had two great failings. She was a great lover and a great mother. She had so much of tenderness in her, so much of wanting to give of herself to whoever needed what she had, whether it was her money, her time, the clothes off her back, her pity, her understanding, her friendship or her companionship and love. She was mother to everything that came her way. She loved men, yes. She loved women too, and old people and especially children.
Related Themes:
Chapter 19
Explanation and Analysis—Great Democracy:
In the following example of satire and verbal irony from Chapter 19, the narrator refers to America as the "great Democracy," likely mirroring the words Francie's teacher would use. The narrator implies that this "great Democracy" is in fact unequal, pairing the epithet with Francie's emergent class consciousness:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Francie, huddled with other children of her kind, learned more that first day than she realized. She learned of the class system of a great Democracy. She was puzzled and hurt by teacher's attitude. Obviously the teacher hated her and others like her for no other reason than that they were what they were.
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