Reading well means reading the situation, the person, the tone, not just the words. Humor and satire depend upon reading the tone and mood properly. 

Irony depends on incongruence, that is, things not matching up.  

Verbal irony...Verbal irony is the most common type of irony that a reader will come across when examining literature. In this type of irony, a character or speaker in the narrative will say or do something that is the opposite of what he means or intends.  What impression does she intend to give? What does impression create with the reader?  What impression does she create with various members of the audience?


For example, in a story, the wife of a thief might tell her husband to, “do the respectable thing and bring back some jewels tonight so that we can have food on the table tomorrow.” This is ironic because she is encouraging her husband to steal jewels in order to sell them for money. This act is far from respectable, thus ironic. Whether or not verbal irony is readily understood by the reader depends on the skill of the writer. It is up to the author to put the irony into context in order for the readers to understand its meaning and use.

Definition of Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is an important stylistic device that is commonly found in plays, movies, theaters and sometimes in poetry. Storytellers use this irony as a useful plot device for creating situations where audience knows more about the situations, the causes of conflicts and their resolutions before leading characters or actors. That is why the readers observe that the speech of actors takes on unusual meanings. For instance, the audience knows that a character is going to be murdered or making a decision to commit suicide; however, one particular character or others may not be aware of these facts. Hence, the words and actions of characters would suggest a different meaning to the audience from what they indicate to the characters and the story. Thus, it creates intense suspense and humor. This speech device also emphasizes, embellishes and conveys emotions and moods more effectively.

Example:

Jonathan Richman’s comedy movie, “There’s Something About Mary” contains several instances of dramatic comedy. For instance, when Ted thinks that the police have arrested him for picking up hitchhiker, the audience knows that the police interrogate him about a murder. Therefore, Ted delivers innocuous lines by saying,

“I’ve done it several times before’ and ‘It’s no big deal,’ generate laughter.”

This looks quite funny due to his misunderstanding.
(There’s Something About Mary by Jonathan Richman)

In what way is there some degree of dramatic irony in the drawing room scene? What do we know that some of the characters do not?

The final kind of irony is called situational irony. Situational irony is an incongruence in what is expected to happen and what actually takes place. It is sometimes referred to as a twist of fate and usually has tragic consequences in literature. One example of situational irony is a pair of siblings who are separated at a young age, only to find out that they are living next door to one another after one suddenly dies.

When it comes to questions of money, what does middle class morality in America consist of? How is it perhaps similar to the middle class morality in Victorian England? You've got to be deserving... What do most Americans believe it mean to be "deserving" of financial assistance? I gave some money to an older (probably 65) homeless guy the other day..he told me a story about having served in the military and needing money for a bus.  I didn't believe him, but I talked with him for awhile and gave him a couple of bucks anyway.  A young couple scowled at me as they walked by, clearly pissed that I was giving money to a guy that might be telling a story.  I also realize he might use the money to buy alcohol or get hi. Is he the deserving or undeserving poor? Should I have given him money?

Let's take a closer look at Liza. How do disconnects or differences between expectations 

 Write an analysis of how Shaw uses a variety of elements to make Liza's "small talk" scene so humorous. Some elements you might consider include the rhetorical situation, irony, setting, dramatic irony, differences between the background of Liza (speaker) and audience, grammar (diction and syntax), and content/topics of Liza's talk come together to create a humorous situation.

What do you think of Higgin's and Pickering's experiment with Liza?  Is it ethical? How do the perspectives of some of the women in the play differ from the perspective of Higgins and Pickering?

What makes Doolittle's comments seem both contradictory but also to possess a sort of "rough logic", as Higgins says? 

Professor Higgins is not dumb.  Why is he impressed by the persuasive skills of Doolittle? As a student of rhetoric, what do you think impresses him about Doolittle's argument and delivery?

Homework: 

Finish reading the play (Act V)