Lesson Plan: Writing about Irony

Overview:
The following lesson is designed to assist students in identifying and understanding the concept and the use of irony in literature. Through the discussion of the different types of irony, students can more effectively identify irony and its important role it plays in the literature they read.

Objective:
Following a brief discussion of irony, each student will display his/her understanding of this literary concept by identify at least one example of each type of irony and discuss the role each example of irony plays in Julius Caesar in the essay.

Materials:
Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Activities and Procedures:

1. Begin the class with a brief discussion and analysis of the following questions:
• "How is Caesar's behavior toward Descius and other conspirators in Act II, Scene ii? What does the audience know that Caesar does not know?"
• "What is ironic about the outcome of the assassination, given the expressed goals of the conspirators?"
• "In Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral, what kind of effect does it create through Antony's remarks:'Say I love Brutus and I honor him', (the first of series of ironic statements that disguise his true feelings) 'As here by Caesar, and by you cut off/ The choice and master spirits of this age' (the reader may already guess that Antony's description of the assassin is ironic).
2. Use the discussion of the above questions to introduce irony to students.
• What is an irony?
  The term irony refers to a discrepancy, or disagreement, of some sort. The discrepancy can between what someone says and what he or she really means (verbal irony). The discrepancy can be between a situation that one would logically anticipate or that would seem appropriate and the situation that actually develops (situational irony). The discrepancy can be between the facts known to a character and the facts known to us, the readers or audience (dramatic irony).
3. Identify one example of each type of the irony in Julius Caesar by answering the following questions:
• Verbal irony: what does the character say that is the opposite of what is really meant?( use the direct quotations from the play which could be used as evidence for your generalizations when you begin to write the essay)
• Situational irony: What happens that we would not expect or that seems inappropriate in this situation? In particular, does the ending introduce a twist or surprise of any kind?(use direct quotes to answer the question)
• Dramatic irony: what knowledge do we have that the character does not?(use direct quotations in answering the question)
4. What are some common uses and benefits of irony in literature?
When you are asked to write about irony in a work of literature, you are often answering an essay question, such as, "In what ways does the author use irony in this selection?" or "How does the irony support the theme of the selection?" Determine how the examples of irony support or highlights the theme of the selection.
5. The structure of the essay
• Begin the introductory paragraph with a thesis statement that addresses the main points of the essay question, for example, "With verbal, situational, and dramatic irony, Julius Caesar by Shakespeare presents…(use a few sentences to state the theme of the play). Fill out the rest of the introductory paragraph by giving details related to the thesis statement.
• Development: In each of the following paragraphs, identify and supply examples of the kind or kinds of irony used in the play. You might dedicate one paragraph to each of the kinds of irony.
• In another paragraph show how the author's use of irony helps you recognize the theme of the play or support the theme.
• In the concluding paragraph, restate in other words the thesis statement from the introduction of the essay. You may also offer an opinion on the effectiveness of the irony in the play.

Assessment:
The final essay on the topic.

The follow-up activities:
Use the learned techniques in analyzing a short story by Mark Twain.