THE IMPORTANCE OF IRONY AND TONE
Many AP readers say that students have difficulty recognizing irony in passages on the exam. Questions
about irony are prevalent in the multiple-choice section. Recognizing irony is an aspect of seeing clearly.
If something is not what it seems, perhaps there is something ironic. But more than that, you will need to
determine the effect the ironic passage has in the text as a whole.
Dramatic irony is a powerful tool authors employ to reveal thematic insight. Whenever you know
something a character or speaker does not know or is not aware of, you should make note of the
discrepancy in the margin of the text. As you follow your character around in your “mind movie,” pay
attention to moments when you feel smarter or more aware than he is. What does that show you?
A character’s speech is not always meant to be taken literally. Watch for verbal irony when what a
character says is different from what she really means. The voice may even be sarcastic. Look for the
underlying truth and how that truth functions in the text.
Lastly, watch for evidence of situational irony. This can be a discrepancy in the setting or situation
that is not what you expect. For example, you’d not expect a very wealthy widow to be eating cat food.
What might that detail mean?