Irony - AP® English Definition

Irony is when there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant. In AP English, students study irony to explore how writers create humour, tension, or deeper meaning.

There are different types of irony: verbal irony (saying the opposite of what you mean), situational irony (when the outcome is the opposite of what’s expected), and dramatic irony (when the audience knows something the characters don’t). Analysing irony helps students understand tone, character, and theme.

Example of irony in an AP English text

In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, there is strong dramatic irony.

The audience knows from the beginning that Oedipus himself is the cause of the plague in Thebes, but he does not. His efforts to find the guilty person build tension and highlight the theme of fate. This use of irony makes the play’s ending even more tragic and powerful.