Paradox vs. Irony
Difference between Paradox and Irony: – Understanding our own language can often prove to be a rather difficult task,
especially when the nature of certain phenomena that have given rise to concepts like “irony” and “paradox” is deepened. What do these two terms mean?
In both cases, there are statements about contradictory things and conversations.
however, many find it difficult to point out the difference between paradox and irony;
as they often are not as simple to differentiate as at first instance you might think it would be.
If you also have doubts or just search for a little more information to complement what you already know, then continue reading,
because below we explain everything you need to know about the Paradox and Irony.
What is Difference between Paradox and Irony
Paradox
A paradox is a type of statement that contains contradictory statements that are false and true at the same time.
At first glance the statement may seem false, when it comes to testing it, then it turns out to be true.
A classic form of paradox would be the philosophical paradox.
This is where the statement is both true and false at the same time.
For example, the question "Is the answer to this question not?” If the person answers "no" then he is denying that the answer is "no", but this confirms that yes is "no" the answer.
However, if it answers “yes”, it is implicitly stating that the answer to the question is “no”.
In this way, there is no way to approve or disapprove of the statement.
Irony
Irony can be somewhat more complicated to identify and, even more, to differentiate.
The reason this happens is that there is in fact no universally accepted definition of what irony is.
Definitions have appeared in textbooks, but over time have come to interpret in different ways;
which is why, although some people accept something like irony, others may argue that it is.
There are 4 types of irony:
- verbal,
- Comic
- dramatic,
- situational.
The irony is a kind of literary technique, a rhetorical device or it could refer to an event in which what really happens is completely different; often quite opposite, of what is expected.
9 Types of Rhetorical Devices
- Narration,
- description,
- comparison,
- example,
- illustration,
- definition,
- process,
- causal analysis
- argument.
For Further Reading
The verbal is when what is said is opposite to what is meant or implied.
Example: The bed is as soft as concrete.
In another order, dramatic irony occurs with literature, plays, or films when the viewer has more information than the characters in the story.
Thus the viewer sees how the characters face tragedies that they have created themselves.
Example: when Juliet takes the sleeping potion and Romeo thinks she is dead.
Finally, an example of situational irony would be the following:
the driver of an ambulance that runs over the victim who is supposed to help.
Conclusion
In Summary, Irony refers to real situations or conversations, while Paradox contradicts itself and has less truth.
