There are various methods to create an engaging story. The concept of “interesting” can have different interpretations, but generally it refers to capturing someone’s attention. Irony, which involves unexpected outcomes, is a technique used to make a story interesting. It encompasses three types: situational irony, verbal irony, and dramatic irony. Situational irony occurs when the result contradicts expectations. Verbal irony appears when spoken words convey a meaning opposite to their intended message.
Dramatic irony occurs when the reader is aware of information that a character does not possess. Several stories, including “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote, “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton, “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, and “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty, utilize irony to enhance their intrigue. In “A Christmas Memory,” Buddy and his friend endeavor to create a perfect Christmas. “The Lady, or the Tiger?” revolves around a lover accused of having feelings for the king’s daughter, who must choose between two doors – one hiding a potential wife and the other a lethal tiger. In “Thank You, M’am,” Roger attempts to steal a woman’s purse but is shown kindness instead, as she brings him home to have dinner together. “The Sniper” tells the tale of a Republican sniper inadvertently killing his own brother, who happened to be an enemy sniper. Irony has the power to captivate readers and intensify stories; however, there are instances where irony falls short.
Situational irony is the most effective way to create intriguing stories as people can relate to realistic situations. In the story “The Lady, or the Tiger?,” the king, who believes he knows everything happening in his kingdom, is unaware of his daughter’s secret love affair for months. “This love affair progressed happily for many months, until one day the king accidentally uncovered its existence” (Daniel 301). Despite being portrayed as all-knowing, the king remained oblivious to his daughter’s romance.
People can relate to the theme of unknowingness between parents and their children, similar to how the king in the story doesn’t know much about his own children. In “The Gift of the Magi,” Della and Jim make the decision to sell their prized possessions in order to buy each other gifts. Della asks Madame if she will buy her hair and Madame agrees, offering twenty dollars for it. Della then reveals that she sold her watch to buy Jim’s combs as a gift (Daniel 291-292). This act of sacrifice shows the depth of love between Della and Jim, as well as the thought behind their gift.
People can relate to this because individuals in love are willing to give up their precious possessions as a way to demonstrate their love and thoughtfulness through gift-giving. In the story “A Christmas Memory,” Buddy and his friend encounter Mr. Haha Jones, who initially appears intimidating due to his appearance. However, their perception changes when he interacts with them and Buddy’s friend comments, “Well, there’s a lovely man” (Daniel 55).
Buddy and his friend had anticipated encountering a tough, imposing individual, only to discover that Mr. Haha was actually a kind-hearted man. This resonates with people because most individuals are often judged based on their outward appearance, such as their clothing or initial impression of their personality. Situational irony can introduce a major twist or surprise in a story. In the narrative “The Gift of the Magi”, Della and Jim both relinquished their dearest belongings in order to purchase gifts for one another that they ultimately couldn’t utilize. “‘I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs'” (Daniel 292).
The unexpected actions of Della and Jim, who sell each other’s prized possessions in order to buy gifts, surprise people. In the story “Thank You, M’am,” when Roger fails to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’s pocketbook, she decides to take him to her apartment and feed him instead of reporting him to the police. “‘Then we’ll eat,’ said the woman. ‘I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pocketbook'” (Daniel 89). This story presents a different outcome than what the reader would have anticipated, creating situational irony that surprises the reader.
Another example that illustrates the effectiveness of situational irony in creating interesting stories is found in the story “The Sniper.” In this narrative, the protagonist unknowingly kills an enemy sniper, only to discover that the fallen soldier is his own brother. The unexpected revelation is evident when it is stated, “[T]he sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother’s face” (Daniel 215). This twist adds a surprising element to the story, captivating readers and encouraging their continued engagement. While dramatic and verbal irony can also be employed in storytelling, they are generally not as potent in generating interest as situational irony.
The story “The Gift of the Magi” provides examples of dramatic irony. The reader is aware of Della’s gift to Jim, but Jim himself remains unaware. As the author states, “Jim had not seen his beautiful present” (Daniel 292). However, this does not add excitement or surprise to the story, as the reader’s knowledge does not lead to any interesting developments. Another instance of dramatic irony in the same story occurs when Jim remains unaware that Della cut off her hair to procure his gift. Della reveals, “‘You’ve cut off your hair?’ asked Jim. ‘Cut it off and sold it,’ said Della” (Daniel 290). Again, this lack of knowledge on Jim’s part does not create any significant changes or surprises in the story. Another form of irony, verbal irony, can be found in “The Lady, or the Tiger?”. In the story, it is stated that the king’s trial is fair, despite its true unfairness in reality. The author describes the trial venue as a place where “crime was punished, or virtue rewarded, by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance” (Daniel 299).
This quote of sarcasm does not make the story interesting because there are no surprising or twist changes in the story. However, irony can make life interesting by leading to unexpected situations and enjoyable experiences. It can also bring about humorous outcomes that make people laugh. Ultimately, irony can lead to an interesting lifestyle.
