Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed

by Ray Bradbury

Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed: Irony 1 key example

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
Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Meeting “Martians”:

The end of the story flashes the narrative forward in time and introduces readers to two military officers who arrive to Mars from Earth to save the people there. In an example of dramatic irony, the officers believe the settlers from Earth (whose bodies have transformed) to be native Martians. The irony comes across in the following passage:

“The town’s empty, but we found native life in the hills, sir. Dark people. Yellow eyes. Martians. Very friendly. We talked a bit, not much. They learn English fast. I’m sure our relations will be most friendly with them, sir.” […]

“Did they tell you what became of the men and women who built this Earth settlement, Lieutenant?”

“They hadn’t the foggiest notion of what happened to this town or its people.”