The question of what irony is most often arises when it is difficult to distinguish between a mild ironic allegory and sarcasm or ridicule. The Greeks are rightfully considered the founders of many philosophical movements related to the awareness of the role of man in society, the interaction of each individual and society as a whole, as well as the self-determination of man. Therefore, the ancient Roman thinkers could not disregard such a concept as irony. According to their definition, this word means "pretense", the use of words and sentences in the opposite sense, with the aim of ridicule.
The use of the ironic context in antiquity is becoming one of the main elements in the speeches of philosophers and statesmen. Even then, it was clear that the information presented in an ironic manner was more memorable and interesting than a dry statement of facts.
At the end of the nineteenth century, a special literary style was formed, which contrasts the literal and hidden meaning of words. Irony in literature is becoming one of the most common methods for attracting the attention of readers, for giving imagery and lightness to the text. This was largely due to the emergence of the media: newspapers, magazines. The media began to enjoy incredible popularity thanks to the ironic comments of journalists. Moreover, this literary device was used not only in stories about funny incidents, but also in the coverage of new laws and events of international importance.
Irony is a subtle mockery expressed in a latent form (evil irony, irony of fate, strange accident). So S.I. writes about it in his explanatory dictionary Ozhegov is one of the most famous linguists of the twentieth century, a lexicographer in the field of studying the Russian language.
What is irony in the modern sense of the word? First of all, this is an expression where the true meaning of the subject matter is hushed up or denies explicit. Thus, it seems that the subject of discussion is not the same as it seems. Irony refers to the rhetorical figurative form, which serves to enhance artistic expression.
It is formed under the influence of mentality, national characteristics and priorities in various ethnic groups. Therefore, it is impossible to talk about what irony is without considering its interpretation in one way or another.
A simple model of this style is various speech turns. By their expressive form, they help give the aforementioned opposite emotional revealing meaning. Examples of irony: "The bullet was poisoned after falling into the leader's poisonous body."
In literature, often in order to remove the pompousness, excessive solemnity of an event, self-irony is used. It allows you to convey the author’s attitude to what is happening. For example: "My face, if only it obeyed me, expressed sympathy and understanding." An ironic mockery allows you to hide the negative attitude to what is happening and make his style not so obvious.
The irony has various forms.
- Direct is used to humiliate and make the situation funny.
- Anti-irony performs the opposite task - to show that a phenomenon or person is better than it seems, underestimated, not discerned.
- Self-irony - aimed at a loved one.
In self-irony and anti-irony, negative words imply a hidden positive: "Where are we, fools, to drink tea."
A special type is Socratic. Self-irony, thanks to which a person comes to a logical conclusion and finds a hidden meaning.
What is the irony for each of the people? This is a special state of mind. The ironic worldview shows that his adherent does not believe what the majority believes, takes general concepts not too seriously, allows himself to think differently, easier, not so unambiguously.
Despite the complexity of the perception of irony by some people, in life, in literature, in films, in theatrical productions and even in painting - this is the highlight that make our life more interesting, not so fresh, boring, driven into some kind of rigid framework. This gives an impulse to look at oneself from the side. To see one’s imperfection, but not hopelessness. Try to change yourself for the better and help this action not only to yourself, but also to people nearby.
You shouldn’t respond to aggression with any even insulting joke, but it’s better to just smile, and “the smile will make everyone brighter.”
