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Definition of Irony
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition... read full definition
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this... read full definition
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how... read full definition
Key Examples in Araby
Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Eastern Enchantment:
The difference between the narrator’s idea of what the Araby market will be like (exotic and enchanted) and how it really is (expensive and mundane) is an example of situational irony. After the narrator’s crush (Mangan's sister) first tells him about the market, he reflects on the word “Araby,” clearly believing that the market is an exciting and alluring place:
The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast an Eastern enchantment over me.
Related Themes:
