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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 Swimmer
Irony
Explanation and Analysis—The Explorer:
Near the beginning of the story, Neddy decides to approach his journey through the pools in his suburban community as “an explorer, a man with a destiny,” and he takes this orientation to his interaction with the first pool owners he encounters—the Grahams. The narrator uses verbal irony when describing Neddy’s almost anthropological approach to interacting with the Grahams, as seen in the following passage:
“Why, Neddy,” Mrs. Graham said, “what a marvelous surprise. I’ve been trying to get you on the phone all morning. Here, let me get you a drink.” He saw then, like any explorer, that the hospitable customs and traditions of the natives would have to be handled with diplomacy if he was ever going to reach his destination.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Neddy’s Journey:
The situational irony at the heart of “The Swimmer” is the fact that the simple and lighthearted endeavor Neddy embarks on at the beginning of the story—to swim his way home through his suburban community over the course of a summer afternoon—ends up being a devastating and life-changing experience.
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Related Themes:
