What is the purpose of Irony?

Some of the foolproof means to identify Irony are as follows:

·       Look for the outcome which is opposite to the expectations.

·       Can change the overall tone or mood of the plot, either from comedy to tragedy or vice versa.

·       Brings a surge in emotions, either in terms of humour, tragedy, or surprise. 

Yes, Irony can be used in day-to-day conversation, but it is mostly Verbal Irony, wherein the speaker says the exact opposite of what he or she means or feels. This is done to bring a touch of sarcasm or humour, or to highlight the actual emotion or message. Apart from that, Irony is commonly found in various media like literature, movies, plays, web series, advertisements, etc. 

Irony can be classified primarily into three types. These are Situational Irony, Verbal Irony and Dramatic Irony. Additionally, there is another type of Irony, which is Cosmic Irony.

Irony is one of the Figures of Speech or a literary device, which is used to bring a dramatic impact in the sentence or plot and heighten the emotional quotient of the readers or audience through amplifying the sense of suspense, humour or tragedy.

Here is a list of some good books for synecdoche: