poetic device: Irony

Irony is when what you expect to happen doesn’t occur, but instead results in the opposite action or effect. For example, if someone were run over by an ambulance, or if you went to “Camp Sunshine” and it rained the whole week.

All of these poems have at least one example of irony each, usually at the end of the poem. See if you can figure out what is ironic in each of these poems.

Octopus for Lunch
Christmas Shopping
The Biggest Burp Ever
Thanksgiving Leftovers
The Monster Mattress Superstore by Kenn Nesbitt
The Monster Mattress Superstore
Homework, I Love You
I’m Practically Perfect
I Went to the Doctor
My Brother's Not a Werewolf by Kenn Nesbitt
My Brother’s Not a Werewolf
The Pirate of Pickletown by Kenn Nesbitt
The Pirate of Pickletown
My Project for the Science Fair
Thanksgiving Dinner by Kenn Nesbitt
Thanksgiving Dinner
Don't Ever Bite Your Sister by Kenn Nesbitt
Don’t Ever Bite Your Sister
For My Brother On His Birthday by Kenn Nesbitt
For My Brother, On His Birthday
I Raised My Hand in Class by Kenn Nesbitt
I Raised My Hand in Class
How to Make People Like You by Kenn Nesbitt
How to Make People Like You
My Puppy Likes the Water
Homework for Christmas
A Reindeer for Christmas
My Robot Does My Homework
Our Teacher Sings the Beatles by Kenn Nesbitt
Our Teacher Sings the Beatles
Helping the Teacher by Kenn Nesbitt
Helping the Teacher
I Never Want to Go to Bed
I Don't Watch TV by Kenn Nesbitt
I Don’t Watch TV