ABSTRACT

First published in 1970 and revised in 1982, this work provides a critical overview of the concept of irony in literary criticism. After establishing the relationship of the ironical and the non-ironical, it summarises the history of the concept of irony, before isolating and discussing its basic aspects and the variable features that determine its nature, effect and quality.

The book will be a useful resource for those studying irony and English Literature.

chapter 1|13 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|19 pages

The evolution of a concept

chapter 3|23 pages

The anatomy of irony

chapter 4|46 pages

The practice of irony