Examples Of Irony From Literary Classics
Example of Verbal Irony: The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allen Poe
A prime example of verbal irony in The Cask of Amontillado is when an unsuspecting Fortunato is being lead to his death by his former acquaintance Montresor. As Montresors lure him into the catacombs, he questions Fortunato about his well-being. Montresor notices Fortunato has a cough, which is growing more severe the further down the catacombs they travel. He asks if Fortunato would like to turn back. Fortunato replies “I shall not die of a cough.” Montresor knowingly replies, “True –true.” The audience finds out at the end that this was in fact use of verbal irony. Montresor appeared to mean that the cough was harmless, but what he was also saying was that he planned to kill Fortunato.