The year was 1998. I was a freshman in high school. Brandy & Monica were fighting over a boy and Savage Garden loved me Truly Madly Deeply (with a side of cherry cola). I was sitting in English class laughing about last night’s Ally McBeal episode and drawing doodly hearts around Leo DiCaprio’s face in my planner. Then my English teacher, Mr. Miller, stood in front of the class, cleared his throat, and pointed to a word he scribbled on the white board.
He shuffled around to face us and asked the question he would soon regret.
Hands flew up, smiles lit up our faces. He called on each one and the answers followed something like this:
“A black fly in my chardonnay!”
“A traffic jam, when you’re already late!”
“A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break!”
“Meeting the man of your dreams and then meeting his beautiful wife!”
He smiled. Scratched his bald head, and blinked.
“No, no, no. That is not ironic. That is just unfortunate.”
I stared at him. Wait. What? But Alanis said this is irony! I mean, the song is called “Ironic.” You cannot disagree with a Top 40 song. I heard it on the radio, it must be true.
Hands went down, I shuffled my doc martens and adjusted my overalls. The class had no response. We just opened our books to page 52 to read the true definition of irony – some poor married couple that didn’t have gifts on Christmas because they wanted to surprise each other by selling their most prized possessions for each other. (100 points if you can name this story!)
I will never look at irony in English the same way again.
O. Henry… Gift of the Magi? Or was that the one with the rich man who always bought the beggar Christmas dinner? I love O. Henry.
YOU WIN!!!! I seriously want to give you ALL THE COOL POINTS 🙂 Yup, Gift of the Magi 🙂 I remember my 15 year old self was very saddened at the outcome of that story.
ha someone beat me to it, but you know hair grows back!
Right – but he will never get his watch back! stupid story LOL
I remember reading that story in English. And then seeing it reproduced in many, many Christmas tv episodes. It never makes me happy. Why do people feel this is a classic? I mean, I know it is about giving up your favorite thing for the person you love, but I just feel bad for both of them in the end.
Thank you Tracie! I am not alone 🙂 It is just incredibly unfortunate. I think dramatic irony is my least favorite kind. When you build up for this super happy ending and then BAM it is completely the opposite!
Oooh ooh Gift of the Magi! 5 points!
….or 100 points. lol I was too excited to get the number right…or notice that someone else beat me to it. 🙂 That song always bugs me because it’s just wrong.
LMAO I love it, best answer ever
Yep, I remember Gift of the Magi. I loved Alanis Morissette, though. Even if she didn’t know the true definition of ironic. 🙂
Yeah, I would say this is one of the most misused terms in the English language. I catch myself using it wrong on occasion.
I often catch myself using this term even now 15 years later. It’s funny how things get drilled into our heads at such a early age and STICK!
that song has always grated my nerves. my teenager and I recently had the same conversation about none of those situations were ironic.
After all this time, I really thought Alsnis was right! But I still love that song and totally miss Ally McBeal. BTW I was already a mom back then 😉