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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 The Chrysanthemums
Irony
Explanation and Analysis—A Bright Direction:
Elisa leaves the interaction with the tinker somewhat optimistically after he takes an interest in her chrysanthemums. Even though he denigrated her dreams of living a similar life to him and refused her sexual advances, she found some refuge in the fact that he took some flowers, a symbol of her sexuality, femininity, and work ethic. In a passage marked by ironic foreshadowing, she feels satisfied:
Elisa stood in front of her wire fence watching the slow progress of the caravan.... Then she whispered, "That’s a bright direction. There’s a glowing there."
Related Themes:
