Literary Device: Irony

1
Literary Device Irony

• There are various forms of irony. Irony can
  involve the use of words to express something
  different from, and often opposite to, their
  literal meaning through sarcasm (verbal irony).
  
• Irony can also involve a gap or sense of
  incongruity between what might be expected and
  what actually occurs (situational irony).
• Frequently in plays and other texts, a sense of
  irony is generated for intended humor and/or
  suspense when members of the audience are aware
  of something which a character is oblivious
  (dramatic irony).
• Example The angry postal worker bit the barking
  dog.

How are this sentence and these images examples
of irony? Which types of irony are demonstrated
in the examples above?
2
Richard CoryEdwin Arlington Robinson

• Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
• We people on the pavement looked at him
• He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
• Clean favored, and imperially slim.
• And he was always quietly arrayed,
• And he was always human when he talked
• But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
• "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.
• And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
• And admirably schooled in every grace
• In fine we thought that he was everything
• To make us wish that we were in his place.
• So on we worked, and waited for the light,
• And went without the meat, and cursed the bread
• And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
• Went home and put a bullet through his head.

3
Richard Cory Authors Purpose

• What is the authors overall poetic purpose or
  meaning regarding the demise of Richard
  Cory?__________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  ________________
• Contrast the details and descriptions of Richard
  Cory and the lives of the other townspeople in
  the chart below

Though Richard Cory seems to enjoy all of lifes
advantages, by the end of the poem the reader
learns otherwise that often despite of or
because of lifes multiple pleasures each
individual is still capable of experiencing deep
pain.
Richard Cory Townspeople

a gentleman, Clean favored, imperially
slim, quietly arrayed, always human, he
glittered, he was rich, admirably schooled in
every grace
on we worked, waited for the light, went
without the meat, cursed the bread
4
Richard Cory Authors Purpose

• How would you describe the townspeoples attitude
  toward Richard Cory within the first three
  stanzas? _______________________________________
  ________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  ____________________
• Where is there a poetic shift in tone and/or
  perspective within the poem?_____________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  ________________________________________________
  ______________________________________

In the first three stanzas of the poem, the
unnamed townspeople seem to be extremely envious
of Richard Corys seemingly comfortable status.
In direct opposition to his supposed comfort, the
citizens of the town suffer in their miserable
existences and wish we were in his place.
There is a definite sense of poetic shifting
within the final stanza of the poem. In the
first two lines of the final poetic section, the
focus is shifted away from describing the gilded
existence of Richard Cory and to instead
investigate the dreary lives of the townspeople
and Corys demise.
5
Richard Cory Authors Purpose

• What is the exact nature of the irony within
  Robinsons poem? Which type of irony is
  employed?________________________________________
  ________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  ___________________
• After listening to the updated song version by
  Simon Garfunkel, what details were altered and
  how does this impact the meaning of Richard
  Corys tragic story?
• ________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  __________________________
• _________________________________________

Richard Cory is a ghastly example of irony due
to the poem clearly outlining the wonderful
qualities concerning his life and the readers
shock concerning the characters hidden
dissatisfaction or untimely death. This is an
example of situational irony because the
situation is ironic.
This rendition modernizes the details concerning
Richard Corys life. The most dramatic change is
the song is related in singular first person a
more direct view of the resentment and
astonishment concerning Corys golden, short
life.
6
Answer the essay question below

• In Edwin Arlington Robinsons shocking Richard
  Cory, the author employs an ironic twist to
  communicate his poetic theme. In a
  well-organized response, complete with relevant
  text evidence and commentary, explain how the
  presence of irony aides the development of
  Robinsons poetic theme.

Red Major Writing Task Blue Minor
Insights/Instructions