Explain "irony" to a 9 year old...

[Middle Earther]

My daughter, who loves to read and write is very curious about the concept of irony. We've given her some examples, but we're getting kind of stumped and she's still wanting more.

So, I thought that there are some better writers than I am here, so what ideas do you have? How would you explain the concept of irony to a 9 year old?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

The introduction to irony I had as a kid was the example of a group of firemen rescuing a cat from a high tree, only to run it over while leaving on their fire truck. Try that one to your daughter for starters.

Don't make her listen to Alanis Morissette. Instead try this.

 

[Michael Chris]

The introduction to irony I had as a kid was the example of a group of firemen rescuing a cat from a high tree, only to run it over while leaving on their fire truck. Try that one to your daughter for starters.

Oh that reminds me of my brother and a lizard. My brother and I had a lizard we kept in an enclosure. One day we were all sad because we had decided to release it. Right after we released it my brother was playing with it and accidentally jumped on it and squished it causing its eyes to pop out.

 

[RandyS]

Take your daughter by the hand, walk her into your front yard, point to ANYTHING, and that should do it. If she doesn't get it, she not going to.

She's NINE??? Shit, I mastered irony by the time I was ONE.

Kids these days.........

 

[22 Stars]

I think the story of the Gift of the Magi should work, no?

 

[Middle Earther]

Thanks for the first two replies! They did help. The last two....no comment...

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Thanks for the first two replies! They did help. The last two....no comment...

Did the Byrne-ing of Morissette help too?

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

"The use of words expressing something other than their literal intention! Now that IS, irony!"
-Bender

 

[Spot's Meow]

I think the story of the Gift of the Magi should work, no?

This would be my suggestion, it's probably how I learned of irony at first.

 

[Michael Chris]

Yeah it is a good example.

 

[RandyS]

Thanks for the first two replies! They did help. The last two....no comment...

No, please, comment. Observing life is how I learned about irony. What's wrong with that?

 

[Middle Earther]

Thanks for the first two replies! They did help. The last two....no comment...

No, please, comment. Observing life is how I learned about irony. What's wrong with that?

Ummm...I'm an educator of young children and they go through this thing called stages of development. Your comment was just a snarky, idiotic comment that had no baring on the thread except to be just well...annoying.

To explain further: You had no idea what irony was until you were older - perhaps around the age my daughter is now. Irony is not an easily grasped concept, especially by children who think literally (which is true for most children throughout early elementary).

God - I was looking for some clever examples, not a guy with a stick up his ass!

 

[Middle Earther]

I think the story of the Gift of the Magi should work, no?

This would be my suggestion, it's probably how I learned of irony at first.

How is the Gift of the Magi relevant????

 

[RandyS]

Thanks for the first two replies! They did help. The last two....no comment...

No, please, comment. Observing life is how I learned about irony. What's wrong with that?

Ummm...I'm an educator of young children and they go through this thing called stages of development. Your comment was just a snarky, idiotic comment that had no baring on the thread except to be just well...annoying.

To explain further: You had no idea what irony was until you were older - perhaps around the age my daughter is now. Irony is not an easily grasped concept, especially by children who think literally (which is true for most children throughout early elementary).

God - I was looking for some clever examples, not a guy with a stick up his ass!

First off, I do not have a stick up my ass.

Secondly, Yes, I did know what irony was when I was a kid. Observing both my father and Grandfather back then taught me all about irony. If you don't like what I have to say, fine, but there's no need to be nasty about it.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I think the story of the Gift of the Magi should work, no?

This would be my suggestion, it's probably how I learned of irony at first.

How is the Gift of the Magi relevant????

The whole point of the story is irony. She cuts off her hair to buy him a watch band...he sells his watch to buy her a hair clip. Seems like the definition of irony to me.

 

[Middle Earther]

No, please, comment. Observing life is how I learned about irony. What's wrong with that?

Ummm...I'm an educator of young children and they go through this thing called stages of development. Your comment was just a snarky, idiotic comment that had no baring on the thread except to be just well...annoying.

To explain further: You had no idea what irony was until you were older - perhaps around the age my daughter is now. Irony is not an easily grasped concept, especially by children who think literally (which is true for most children throughout early elementary).

God - I was looking for some clever examples, not a guy with a stick up his ass!

First off, I do not have a stick up my ass.

Secondly, Yes, I did know what irony was when I was a kid. Observing both my father and Grandfather back then taught me all about irony. If you don't like what I have to say, fine, but there's no need to be nasty about it.

That makes absolutely no sense! And how YOU came off was fairly snarky - so that's why I reacted.

 

[Michael Chris]

I think the story of the Gift of the Magi should work, no?

This would be my suggestion, it's probably how I learned of irony at first.

How is the Gift of the Magi relevant????

It's not the Biblical story. It's a story that deals heavily with irony.

 

[Middle Earther]

This would be my suggestion, it's probably how I learned of irony at first.

How is the Gift of the Magi relevant????

The whole point of the story is irony. She cuts off her hair to buy him a watch band...he sells his watch to buy her a hair clip. Seems like the definition of irony to me.

I've never heard of that story referred to by that title. I thought you were talking about the Biblical story. It's a good idea, though.

EDIT: Thanks for the link! I've only heard that story anecdotally - didn't realize where it came from.

 

[DonIago]

So...someone tried to provide an ironic example to you, but you didn't make the intended association and were confused as to how it was ironic.

How ironic!

 

[Middle Earther]

So...someone tried to provide an ironic example to you, but you didn't make the intended association and were confused as to how it was ironic.

How ironic!

Not sure if it was, but OK.