essay 9, Final Draft

Colin Burlingham
Mr. H Salsich
8 English
12/5/09

IRONY:

What, Where, Why

_____(TS)What is "irony"? (CM)According to Dictionary.com, irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. (CM)Irony is found everywhere; in books, at home, at work, and even just walking down the street, you might see irony. (CS)Two of the many places you might find irony is in the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and also in my own life.
_____(TS)Irony is everywhere in the novel. (SD)In the beginning of the book, Scout goes to school for the first time and is instantly at the top of the class because she knows how to read. (CM)Scout gets in trouble by her new teacher for “knowing to much.” (CM)This is ironic because she has learned and enjoyed doing it, but when she gets to school, ready for more knowledge, the teacher thinks she is too smart so she sits in class silently. (SD)As you get farther into the book, Scout and Jem are getting many small surprises in the nut hole in front of the Radley’s house. (CM)These gifts were given to them by Boo on his quest for a friend, but when Scout and Jem tried to give him a note thanking him for all the wonderful gifts, the nut hole was filled with cement. I find this very ironic because the moment they tried to thank him, they couldn’t. (SD)As you get farther into the book, you will get to Atticuses big trial day. (CM)On the way to the trial, Scout and Jem saw Mr. Dalphus Ramond sitting with some black people and Scout asked, “Why’s he sittin’ with the colored folks,” when she saw him there (dependent adverb-clause). I find it ironic how later, Scout went to the court trial and had to sit with only “colored folks”. (CS)As you can see, irony plays an important role in the epic tail of To Kill a Mockingbird.
____(TS)Irony is in every aspect of my life. (SD)Whenever my sister comes back from Middlesex Boarding School, I will say she is lazy. (CM)I say this because she doesn’t do the simplest of tasks like getting the remote off the top of the TV, but later, I might not get up to do the same task. (CM)This is ironic because I will not do what I am telling my sister to do. (SD)General speaking, Christmas comes but once a year and my house always looks beautiful. (CM)Unlike a lot of people, I almost always go away for Christmas so no one is able to see all the decorations at my house. (CM)The irony exists, because there is no point in setting up all the lights and decorations because no one sees them. (SD)In addition, I am not the most religious person around, but I do believe in God. (CM)I never go to church, but still claim to be part of the church and in a few places around my house; you might find an angel or something. (CM)Here, you see some irony again because we are not religious at all and we are doing something different than what we say. (CS)As you can see, irony is a important part of my life and it is everywhere.
_____(TS)In the street, in books, in stores, at home, and even at work you might find irony. (CM)Irony can mean many different things, but irony usually means the opposite of its actual meaning. (CM)Now take a minute to think about irony in your life. (CS)If you can not think of anything, well that's irony right there.