Are you tired of the fiction|poetry grid getting all the love? Yeah, me too. Nonfiction – essays, memoirs, and creative nonfiction of all types – was one of my first loves, and I’ll be clinging to it with my cold, inkstained fingers before I quit writing it. Editors Michelle and Erica love them some nonfiction too. That’s why we’re introducing this monthly nonfiction feature to go along with our fiction jams and poetry slams. Each month we’ll explore a literary device, technique, or style, and pair it up with a totally optional prompt to use anytime during the month that might give you an idea to explore. Looking for a little inspiration? Want to try something new with your writing but you’re not sure what? This is the post for you!This month, in honor of Hallowe’en, we’ll be looking at things that are not what they appear. That’s right: irony. Irony (and its subset, sarcasm) can be great tools when used well, and blunt instruments when overused. Let’s take a quick look at the types of irony before we dive into this month’s suggested prompt, ok? (For you visual learners, The Oatmeal has a fan-freaking-tastic version of what I’m about to do here, so jump on over there, skip my fancy pictures, and come on back when this post gets wordy again.)
Verbal Irony
Sarcasm. Being a teenager. What EVER. This is the irony where you say one thing but clearly mean another, oh my gawd. Try to roll your eyes, that helps. Conveying this type of irony in writing can be challenging, though – keep an eye on it and make sure you’re not inadvertently presenting yourself as serious.
Dramatic irony
Dramatic irony is evident where the reader knows something that is in direct conflict with what the characters in the story know. Think of Huckleberry Finn – Huck idolizes people that he thinks are “classy” while the reader knows that they are not in fact good people at all. Or any comedy where you know that the character is about to humiliate himself but….
Situational irony
Situational irony shows up when the outcome of a situation is the reverse of what should logically be expected. For example, Hannibal Lecter being called for jury duty on a murder trial would be situational irony.
So how do you use irony in your work, and what’s the point?
Irony can create tension in an otherwise simple story. By showing the reader that what they perceive and what you perceived at the time are vastly different, you can keep them interested. Spider Robinson’s short story God is an Iron uses all the various types of irony to good effect to create an ultimately touching story- even if you don’t don’t read a lot of science fiction, it’s worth a look.
Your challenge for this month is to play with dramatic irony. Pick a family photo – or a news photo – and think about how what’s actually happening isn’t represented by that image. Using the image as a reference point for your viewer, see if you can tell them what’s really going on.
I really love that you’ve extended the monthly themes to non-fiction too! And this post was super helpful too, Rowan.
Wow! Thanks for sharing this. Irony can be used so well and I agree – many time penning that down gets difficult. I am going to come back again for more tips. Happy Monday!