One element I love to incorporate in my stories is the use of irony. It is a literary device in which words are used to convey a meaning that is contrary to its literary meaning. We see irony everywhere in speeches, literature, movies, and even real life. It can be employed to entertain or to attack.
One great example that I have to point out is the hit movie that just recently came out, Get Out. At first glance, I thought it was going to be another one of those cheesy horror flicks. But boy was I wrong, the movie is rife with situational irony, how it personifies racism and satirizes the political history of the U.S. Listen, I will not spoil anything, but it was enough to get me biting my nails and leave me hanging on the edge of my seat. You really have to pay attention to the minute details to grasp the bigger picture.
Another great example of irony can be found in college. Students say they will get things done but they end up not doing anything at all. Or this more personal example: I end up doing a group project alone! As Madea would say “Like Hellur, it’s called group project for a reason!” Irony may or may not work in your favor. But you have to ask yourself these, “How will my story benefit from this?” and “Will my audience be surprised or shocked?”
You have to achieve an optimal level of fear-arousal. Too little can bore your audience and too much can leave your audience feeling threatened or offended in one way or another. Just keep in mind, irony builds over time. Shakespeare, one of the greatest masters of irony, uses this in his works. Romeo and Juliet captures so many hearts because of how much irony it has. I saw the modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that UCF presented earlier this year. I suggest watching plays and musicals. You might learn a trick or two when it comes to irony.
Irony does not have to be serious. It can be funny and sarcastic. Verbal irony, for instance, expresses words that is opposite of the truth and often times involves someone saying the opposite of what they feel or what they actually mean. Take for instance, relationships. When you are mad at your girlfriend or boyfriend for whatever reason, you might say, “I hate you so much that I want to kill you.” They do not really mean that. You have to somehow make inferences and rather “translate” their language to what they actually mean. Often times, it means that they love you but you have done something that might have displeased them.
In the end, irony trumps everything. It is that one ingredient that spices up your story. To master irony, you have to first learn how to manipulate words to your advantage, whether they are puns, jokes, or a bit of satire. Who knows maybe you will finally get to control that “irony” fist.
