Irony, Sarcasm, and Paradox Quick Check

Question

1 of 51 of 5 Items
Feature
1 Janelle ran the half-block from the subway station to the office. Thank you very much, subway, Janelle thought. Thanks for picking today, of all days, to get stuck for twenty-six minutes. That was very considerate of you. Thanks for picking the very day we have a new supervisor coming to work, someone I really want to impress.

2 She had risen before daylight that morning, planning to arrive to work even earlier than usual. She had planned to be at her desk, already hard at work, when the new supervisor arrived for the day. And now here she was, prompt, predictable Janelle, running late for the first time in her life.

3 Janelle entered the building and hurried to the elevator. A small crowd stood waiting for it. No, she decided; too slow. She would take the stairs, all sixteen floors of them. There was no time to waste.

4 By the time Janelle reached her floor, she was out of breath. She sprinted to her desk and threw herself into her chair.

5 Her coworker Mark leaned over from the next desk.

6 “Hi, Janelle,” he said. “Everything okay? I’ve never known you to be even a minute late.”

7 “I’m fine,” she said, busying herself with her computer. “Has the new supervisor come around yet?”

8 “The new supervisor?” Mark asked. “You mean the one starting next Monday?”

9 “Next Monday?” asked Janelle. “You mean, a week from today?”

10 “Yes,” said Mark. “It’s right here on the calendar.” He peered at Janelle. “You didn’t think it was today, did you?”

11 “Oh, no,” said Janelle. “Of course not. I would never make such a silly mistake.”

Question
Use the story to answer the question.

Which sentences are examples of irony?

(2 points)
Irony Not irony
Janelle ran the half-block from the subway station to the office.

Thanks for picking today, of all days, to get stuck for twenty-six minutes.

“Has the new supervisor come around yet?”

“I would never make such a silly mistake.”

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Answer 1

To identify the examples of irony from the story, we consider the definitions of irony:

1. Situational irony: This occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
2. Verbal irony: This occurs when someone says the opposite of what they really mean, often in a sarcastic tone.

Given these definitions, here are the sentences categorized under irony and not irony:

Irony:

• Thanks for picking today, of all days, to get stuck for twenty-six minutes. (This reflects situational irony as Janelle's frustration is heightened, and the irony lies in the fact that on a day when she wants to make a good impression, she is late.)
• “I would never make such a silly mistake.” (This is verbal irony; Janelle actually did make a silly mistake, but she pretends she would never do that.)

Not irony:

• Janelle ran the half-block from the subway station to the office. (This is a straightforward statement without irony.)
• “Has the new supervisor come around yet?” (This is a direct question without irony.)

So, the final answer is:

• Irony: Thanks for picking today, of all days, to get stuck for twenty-six minutes; “I would never make such a silly mistake.”
• Not irony: Janelle ran the half-block from the subway station to the office; “Has the new supervisor come around yet?”