Irony Worksheets

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Irony is about expectations and opposites. I teach students that there are three types of irony. Verbal irony is when a character or person says one thing but means the complete opposite. This is more commonly known as sarcasm. Dramatic irony is when a character believes something and the opposite is true. The audience knows that the character is working under false beliefs. This can lead to hilarious or tragic situations. Situational irony is when the complete opposite of what is expected occurs. When most people think of irony, they are thinking of situational irony.

Of all the concepts with which my students struggle, irony may be the most challenging. These resources have been useful in my attempts, I hope that you may too find some use for these.

Irony Lesson 1

Here is a great worksheet to help students practice or review irony. They will read examples of irony and determine which of the three types of irony is used (verbal, situational, or dramatic). Then they will explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

Irony Worksheet 1 Links

This worksheet has five more examples of irony. Students read each examples and determine whether they are instances of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony and then explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Irony Worksheet 2 Links

This worksheet has six more practice problems. Students read the passage, determine whether it is using situational, dramatic, or verbal irony. They then explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Irony Worksheet 3 Links

Students need lots of practice to accurately identify irony. Give them some more practice with this irony worksheet. It is double-sided and has five problems. Students read the passages, determine how it is ironic, and explain the irony. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Irony Worksheet 4 Links

Do you need more irony practice? You're in luck! Here's another six problems to keep your irony skills sharp. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Irony Worksheet 5 Links

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This is the button to download the PDF version of Irony Worksheet 5. Use this version of Irony Worksheet 5 if you want to print or send the files as-is.

Answers

Irony Detectives Activity

Here's a fun irony activity. Students read the crime related passages, which have something ironic in each. Based on the clues in the passages, students will determine which type of irony is used (verbal, situational, or dramatic). Then they will make their cases by explaining their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Irony Detectives Activity Links

Preview

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This is the button to download the RTF version of Irony Detectives Activity. Use this version of Irony Detectives Activity if you want to make edits to the file.

This is the button to download the PDF version of Irony Detectives Activity. Use this version of Irony Detectives Activity if you want to print or send the files as-is.

Answers

I hope that these irony worksheets and activities will help you or your students master irony. Irony is a tricky skill and it's really great to get some extra practice with it.

This is an illustration of a man drowning in the water. He is a mere step away from a tall rock that would save his life. Since the audience is aware of this, and the man is not, this image is supposed to represent dramatic irony.

When it comes to dramatic irony, the audience knows more than the character. This can be funny or tragic.

Irony
Common Core State Standards

Irony Anchor Standards

R.6 - Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

RL.8.6 - Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
RL.11-12.6 - Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).

Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.6

L.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

L.6.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.7.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.8.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context.
L.9-10.5a - Interpret figures of speech in context and analyze their role in the text.
L.11-12.5a - Interpret figures of speech in context and analyze their role in the text.

Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for L.5

View CCSS Source

71 Comments

Kaylee
/ March 16, 2019

i can’t find my kids assignment answers anywhere?

Reply
gabby
/ March 7, 2019

hi i have a worksheet that we are working on in class and i need help one it and the teacher is not answering me and i am trying to ask a question and it is making me mad because she is not helping me please help me and

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karen
/ September 27, 2017

These activities were awesome. I enjoyed using them. I might caution you about the age level for the detective activity. You might want to consider moving it to a higher level like 8th-10th grade due to subject matter. I actually had parents complain to the principal because they thought it was inappropriate for their kids.

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- sunni blanton
  / February 26, 2019
  
  I felt the same way. I went to read this with my 4th grader and stopped – I was like what???!! Totally inappropriate for younger ages. Might need to be thrown out all together. It is not painting a good scene at all for any age child.
  
  Reply
  - Mr. Morton
    / March 6, 2019
    
    I welcome you to edit the worksheets using the provided RTF files until they fit your standards of decency. Best wishes, friend.
    
    Reply
Julie
/ April 3, 2017

I have absolutely LOVED this site!! I homeschool and haven’t found a grammar curriculum that my 6-7th grader likes and can learn from! I found it in your site!!
Thanks for the awesome site, tools, and ability to teach this without tears and drama!!!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / April 6, 2017
  
  That’s some high praise. Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. I wish you and your child the greatest possible success.
  
  Reply
Isabelle & Laura
/ January 10, 2017

Dear Morton,

We use your website for improving and practicing our English. Thank you for all your effort and time to build your website.

We are doing Irony worksheet 4 but there is no answer sheet for it. Would you please be able to add it to your website at your convenient time?

Thank you again.

Kind regards,
Isabelle & Laura

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Flyingfish
/ September 18, 2016

This is really helpful and thank you so much!

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Barbecued Beans
/ April 15, 2016

Hello, yes I understand but now all I want to do is thank you for making these GREAT and even AMAZING worksheets, so thank you soo much for taking a larhe part of your time to help us. I really love your work a true work of art.

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / April 18, 2016
  
  Thank you for the kind words and best wishes!
  
  Reply
bontle
/ April 12, 2016

I have just stumbled across this website and I have to thank you. I can’t thank you enough. I teach in a school where there are no resources and you had nonidea how this has helped.

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Timid Teach
/ April 11, 2016

I have been using these sheets for a the past few years, I started with your Figurative Language ones in my previous school and in my new role, I have used these Irony Activities. I love them. I see the someone asked you to make more for their use, and to use an idiom, that’s looking a gift horse in the mouth. Thank you so much for what you already shared. It kept me afloat my first year of teaching!

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- Mr. Morton
  / May 5, 2016
  
  Ha ha. You put it nicely. Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment.
  
  Reply
Barbecued Beans
/ March 11, 2016

Yes I also use this website a lot however when I was looking up the chapter Irony, I reached the website and I simply finished it in like 30 to 45 minutes, I would really appreciate it if you would make more worksheets like the last one you made which was the detective worksheet. As for me I would also rate the page however it would be a 4/5, not because it’s bad but because sometimes it needs more problems. Thank You
Great Job

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- Mr. Morton
  / March 15, 2016
  
  I am slowly but surely improving and expanding the content and scope of this site, but everything takes time, even replying to these comments…
  
  Reply
The Helper
/ March 11, 2016

Hey, great website but it needs more stories. I recommend doing more of that detective worksheet. Thanks, I love your website and I would rate it a 4.5/5. Just please add more worksheets. Thanks(AGAIN)

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / March 15, 2016
  
  I’ll see what I can do. Thanks.
  
  Reply
Brian
/ March 6, 2016

Some explanation and examples of situational irony on this site are incorrect. For example, Bill Gates using an Apple computer is not ironic per se. Saying situational irony is something unexpected happening is in itself not a correct definition.

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- Mr. Morton
  / March 15, 2016
  
  I find it to be ironic, but some people treat irony more stringently than others. Thank you for your contribution.
  
  Reply
MRS.Patterson
/ February 17, 2016

what about answers for worksheet 4

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HBates
/ April 17, 2015

The presentation needs to be changed. Not all verbal irony is sarcasm. The two are not synonyms. Sarcasm is a type of verbal irony, but it is not the only one. Sarcasm’s intent is to harm and comes from a term that literally means to tear the flesh. Commenting on the wonderful weather during a tornado is not meant to harm any one and is not sarcasm.

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- Mr. Morton
  / April 27, 2015
  
  Thank you for your input. You’ve added value to the discussion.
  
  Reply
Angelina Vinent
/ March 4, 2015

Thank for sharing these worksheets! You have saved me so much time. I will continue to use your website.

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Cindy
/ February 19, 2015

Is there an answer key available for #4? Thanks

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Rachel
/ December 16, 2014

Love using these activities! Is there an answer key for Irony 4?

Thanks!

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grazia
/ November 30, 2014

God bless You!
this is one of the greatest sites I’ve ever surfed….! Thanks

Reply
Student
/ November 13, 2014

I have been working for ever on one of these sheets one Edger Allen Po and I have come to the conclusion that I am unable to complete the assignment and I am in 7th grade.

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- Mr. Morton
  / November 19, 2014
  
  Poe can be tough. Maybe try a different worksheet?
  
  Reply
Karen
/ November 5, 2014

I cannot get the links to the Irony quizzes to work on my Android tablets. Can you advise?

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / November 5, 2014
  
  Hello.
  
  Can you please describe the problem that you are having more thoroughly,
  so that I can better diagnose the problem with you.
  
  What happens when you press the links?
  
  Do they go to the pages and the pages don’t load?
  
  Also, what browser are you using?
  Are you using the stock Internet browser?
  
  Can you install the Chrome browser?
  
  Let’s work through this.
  
  Reply
Karen
/ November 5, 2014

I can’t get the links to the tests to work on my android tablets.

Reply
Kathryn Smith
/ October 29, 2014

Just a suggestion. You may want to put a footer at the bottom of your page with your web address etc. and worksheet information.

Reply
Atef Mekdad
/ October 10, 2014

You were of a great help.
Thank you

Reply
Carl Richard C. Dagalea
/ October 6, 2014

May we have the answers for Worksheets Number 4? Thank you very much. 🙂

Reply
Dalia
/ January 24, 2014

Thanks a lot for sharing all these worksheets with us.They were of great help for me, saving time and effort.
Thanks a lot

Reply
mrs. poirier
/ January 5, 2014

Thanks again for the excellent examples and practice for my students. This website is invaluble for teachers at every level!

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George
/ November 4, 2013

Good worksheet, great for using in school

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joe hosni
/ November 1, 2013

this web site is amazing guys

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David
/ October 15, 2013

You have the best resources!

Thanks!

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JoAnn Jenkins
/ October 3, 2013

These are great! This is the first time in my career have I been able to present this lesson so well. Kudos to you!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / October 5, 2013
  
  Thank you for saying so.
  
  Reply
Brenda
/ September 29, 2013

Thank you so much. I didn’t even understand irony that well!

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JRICH
/ August 21, 2013

This is really great! My students were still having difficulty distinguishing between the types of irony. The detectives activity REALLY helped them. Thanks so so much!

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Kehinde Tasanmi
/ August 13, 2013

God bless you. I’ve been looking out for the best ways to test my students on figurative language and you just answered my prayers. More wisdom.

Reply
Rosa
/ August 11, 2013

Excellent worksheets! Thank you.

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Shirley
/ July 10, 2013

Thanks for the worksheets. 😀 They saved me from thinking. <3 ^_^

Reply
Debdraudt
/ December 17, 2012

Excellent! This really saved me several hours of work tonight; having the answers as well as the student sheets was such a time-saver. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this to share with others; your efforts are very much appreciated!

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tete
/ December 7, 2012

we need more fact about irony

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Mel
/ November 6, 2012

Thanks! You just made my planning so much easier. 🙂

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Mrs. J
/ November 4, 2012

Wow!!! Great activities for my ESOL students!!! Thank you very much!!!

Reply
SuCar
/ October 30, 2012

Excellent small group activities!

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Emiliy
/ October 19, 2012

This is by far the BEST site I’ve found for useful reading worksheets! Thanks!

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Miss Rees
/ September 24, 2012

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Reply
Annabelle
/ August 1, 2012

Thanks a lot it help and a fun/helpful activity!!!

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Myisha
/ May 14, 2012

Thank you again for your wonderful website. Is it possible that you can create more irony detective situations? My students really got a into a deep discussion about the answers.

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- Mr. Morton
  / August 10, 2012
  
  I’d like to, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Thanks for visiting!
  
  Reply
Augustine
/ April 29, 2012

Thank you so much. I teach hosp. kids and this has helped alot to hone in our specific areas that they may have missed.

Reply
vance emery
/ February 7, 2012

you helped me out a lot thanks.

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lois cox
/ January 1, 2012

Thanks!

Reply
Nancy
/ September 26, 2011

Your ppt and detective activity are great and really saved me a bunch of work tonight!
Thank you!

Reply
Myisha
/ May 9, 2011

These were great activities. You are a favorite!

Reply
- Mr. Morton
  / May 11, 2011
  
  Thank you kindly.
  
  Reply

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IronyCommon Core State Standards

71 Comments

Kaylee

gabby

karen

sunni blanton

Julie

Isabelle & Laura

Flyingfish

Barbecued Beans

bontle

Timid Teach

Barbecued Beans

The Helper

Brian

MRS.Patterson

HBates

Angelina Vinent

Cindy

Rachel

grazia

Student

Karen

Karen

Kathryn Smith

Atef Mekdad

Carl Richard C. Dagalea

Dalia

mrs. poirier

George

joe hosni

David

JoAnn Jenkins

Brenda

JRICH

Kehinde Tasanmi

Rosa

Shirley

Mel

Emiliy

Miss Rees

Annabelle

Myisha

Augustine

vance emery

lois cox

Nancy

Myisha

Mr. Morton

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Irony
Common Core State Standards