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.

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
Thanksgiving Dinner by Kenn Nesbitt
Thanksgiving Dinner
My Puppy Likes the Water
My Robot Does My Homework
A Reindeer for Christmas
Homework for Christmas
Helping the Teacher by Kenn Nesbitt
Helping the Teacher
Our Teacher Sings the Beatles by Kenn Nesbitt
Our Teacher Sings the Beatles
Bernadette the Burper by Kenn Nesbitt
Bernadette the Burper
I Never Want to Go to Bed
I Don't Watch TV by Kenn Nesbitt
I Don’t Watch TV
New Year's Day Promises by Kenn Nesbitt
New Year’s Day Promises
Today I Had a Rotten Day by Kenn Nesbitt
Today I Had a Rotten Day
Alphabet Break by Kenn Nesbitt
Alphabet Break
Skylar the Sculptor by Kenn Nesbitt
Skylar the Sculptor
Electronic Christmas
December 26
Josh, Who Didn’t Like to Wash
I Love to Do the Laundry by Kenn Nesbitt
I Love to Do the Laundry
Morning Sports
Moving to China
Snow Mail by Kenn Nesbitt
Snow Mail
My Family Portrait by Kenn Nesbitt
My Family Portrait

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