Irony Lesson Plans & Worksheets | Lesson Planet - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one and figure out the correct answer based on what irony means in literature.

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Question 1:
> The audience knows that Matilda has been going to the library for years, but her parents are unaware.

This is a classic example of dramatic irony — when the audience (or reader) knows something important that the characters don’t. Here, we know Matilda’s secret habit, but her parents don’t. That creates tension or humor because we’re “in on it” while they’re not.

✔ Correct answer: A. dramatic irony

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Question 2:
> When Matilda’s brother says, “Hey, Dip Face, have a marshmallow.”

He’s calling her “Dip Face” — which is clearly an insult — and then offering her a marshmallow. He’s being sarcastic or mocking. This is verbal irony, where someone says something but means the opposite (or uses words to mock).

✔ Correct answer: A. verbal irony

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Question 3:
> Matilda punishes her father by putting peroxide in his hair oil, which he uses to make his hair look better. He is unaware that his hair has been bleached blonde, and he looks ridiculous. Choose TWO!

First, this is situational irony — because he’s trying to make his hair look better, but instead it ends up looking ridiculous. The outcome is the opposite of what he expected.

Second, it’s also dramatic irony — because *we* (the audience) know what Matilda did, but *he* doesn’t. We’re watching him walk around unaware, which makes it funny or satisfying.

So two correct answers:
✔ C. situational irony
✔ D. dramatic irony

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Question 4:
> when one outcome is logically expected, but something very different (usually opposite) happens

That’s the definition of situational irony — when things turn out differently than you’d expect.

✔ Correct answer: A. situational irony

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Question 5:
> when someone says or writes one thing but means the opposite

That’s verbal irony — like saying “Great job!” when someone messed up.

✔ Correct answer: A. verbal irony

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Question 6:
> when the audience knows something that the characters don’t

Again, that’s dramatic irony — same as Question 1.

✔ Correct answer: D. dramatic irony

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Final Answer:
1. A
2. A
3. C, D
4. A
5. A
6. D