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This image shows empathy because the figure to the right of the picture was asking itself, "What if that was me?" This shows empathy because the figure is putting itself into the mind of the crying figure.

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This article talks about perspective taking and how to teach children early about taking perspective of others into account.

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Perspective Taking Activities for Kids | Examples and Lessons

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What is Perspective Taking? A child's inability to understand a situation from another person's point of view is called "perspective taking". Perspective taking allows us to feel what it would be like to be in the other person's shoes during a situation.

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This image shows prejudice like in the section where the group of people are saying "Back to your den!" and "What's that smell?" Something similar to this is found in part 1 of T.K.A.M  when people around town start assuming that Boo Radley had something to do with all the small crimes happening around the town. The people assuming that Boo Radley was doing all those crimes, didn't have any or enough evidence that proved that he had done such things making his reputation towards townsfolk worse than it was before.

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This article shows some examples of discrimination and talks about the differences between prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice was a big part of the culture back in the 1930's, when TKAM takes place.

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Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude (usually negative) toward an individual based solely on the individual's membership in a social group.

For example, a person may hold prejudiced views towards a certain race or gender, etc. (e.g. sexist).

Discrimination is the behavior or actions, usually negative, towards an individual or group of people, especially on the basis of sex/race/social class, etc.

Differences Between Prejudice and Discrimination

A prejudiced person may not act on their attitude. Therefore, someone can be prejudiced towards a certain group but not discriminate against them.

Also, prejudice includes all three components of an attitude (affective, behavioral, and cognitive), whereas discrimination just involves behavior.

There are four main explanations for prejudice and discrimination:

1. Authoritarian Personality

2. Realistic Conflict Theory - Robbers Cave

3. Stereotyping

4. Social Identity Theory

Conformity could also be used as an explanation of prejudice if you get stuck writing a psychology essay (see below).

Examples of Discrimination

Conformity as an Explanation of Prejudice and Discrimination

Influences that cause individuals to be racist or sexist, for example, may come from peers, parents, and group members. Conforming to social norms means people adopt the "normal" set of behavior(s) associated with a particular group or society.

Social norms - behavior considered appropriate within a social group - are one possible influence on prejudice and discrimination.

People may have prejudiced beliefs and feelings and act in a prejudiced way because they are conforming to what is regarded as normal in the social groups to which they belong:

The effect of Social Norms on Prejudice

Minard (1952) investigated how social norms influence prejudice and discrimination. The behavior of black and white miners in a town in the southern United States was observed, both above and below ground.

Below ground, where the social norm was friendly behavior towards work colleagues, 80 of the white miners were friendly towards the black miners. Above ground, where the social norm was prejudiced behavior by whites to blacks, this dropped to 20.

The white miners were conforming to different norms above and below ground. Whether or not prejudice is shown depends on the social context within which behavior takes place.

Pettigrew (1959) also investigated the role of conformity in prejudice. He investigated the idea that people who tended to be more conformist would also be more prejudiced and found this to be true of white South African students.

Similarly, he accounted for the higher levels of prejudice against black people in the southern United States than in the north in terms of the greater social acceptability of this kind of prejudice in the south.

Rogers and Frantz (1962) found that immigrants to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) became more prejudiced the longer they had been in the country. They gradually conformed more to the prevailing cultural norm of prejudice against the black population.

Evaluation: Conformity to social norms, then, may offer an explanation for prejudice in some cases. At the same time, norms change over time, so this can only go some way toward explaining prejudice.

References

Minard, R. D. (1952). Race relationships in the Pocahontas coal field. Journal of Social Issues, 8(1), 29-44."> Race relationships in the Pocahontas coal field. Journal of Social Issues, 8(1), 29-44.

Pettigrew, T. F. (1959). Regional differences in anti-Negro prejudice. Journal of abnormal psychology, 59(1), 28.

Rogers, C. A., & Frantz, C. (1962). Racial themes in Southern Rhodesia: the attitudes and behavior of the white population (p. 338). New Haven: Yale University Press.

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Prejudice and Discrimination in Psychology

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Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude (usually negative) toward an individual based solely on the individual's membership in a social group. For example, a person may hold prejudiced views towards a certain race or gender, etc. (e.g. sexist).

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This image shows perspective taking because the two people are excited for different reasons like, "There's someone a boat coming to save me!" or "I found land at last!"

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This video describes situational irony and it connects to T.K.A.M part 1 because at that time it was ironic to see someone like Calpurnia having authority and even being a motherly figure towards Jem and Scout Finch.

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Situational irony: The opposite of what you think - Christopher Warner

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This is an informational video about family. Family is connected to the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" since the Finches (Atticus, Scout, and Jem) live and work along side with Calpurnia who is the mother figure of the Finches' family even though she is not a blood relative of the family.

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This link goes to an article on sibling rivalry and is important in T.K.A.M part 1 because Scout goes to school for the first time and Jem is shown fighting many times with Scout after this.

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Sibling rivalry is the jealousy, competition and fighting between brothers and sisters. It is a concern for almost all parents of two or more kids. Problems often start right after the birth of the second child. Sibling rivalry usually continues throughout childhood and can be very frustrating and stressful to parents.

Fortunately, there are lots of things parents can do to help their kids get along better and work through conflicts in positive ways.

Further, most likely your kids' relationship will eventually develop into a close one. Working things out with siblings gives your children a chance to develop important skills like cooperating and being able to see another person's point of view.

What causes sibling rivalry?

There are many factors that contribute to sibling rivalry:

Each child is competing to define who they are as an individual. As they discover who they are, they try to find their own talents, activities, and interests. They want to show that they are separate from their siblings.

Children feel they are getting unequal amounts of your attention, discipline, and responsiveness.

Children may feel their relationship with their parents is threatened by the arrival of a new baby.

Your children's developmental stages will affect how mature they are and how well they can share your attention and get along with one another.

Children who are hungry, bored or tired are more likely to become frustrated and start fights.

Children may not know positive ways to get attention for a sibling or how to start playful activities, so they pick fights instead.

Family dynamics play a role. For example, one child may remind a parent of a relative who was particularly difficult, and this may subconsciously influence how the parent treats that child.

Children often fight more in families where parents think aggression and fighting between siblings is normal and an acceptable way to resolve conflicts.

Not having time to share regular, enjoyable family time together (like family meals) can increase the chances of children engaging in conflict.

Stress in the parents' lives can decrease the amount of time and attention parents can give the children and increase sibling rivalry.

Stress in your children's lives can shorten their fuses, and decrease their ability to tolerate frustration, leading to more conflict.

How parents treat their kids and react to conflict can make a big difference in how well siblings get along.

How can I help my kids get along better?

First and foremost, don't play favorites.

Try not to compare your children to one another. For example, don't say things like, "Your brother gets good grades in math-why can't you?"

Let each child be who they are. Don't try to pigeonhole or label them.

Enjoy each of your children's individual talents and successes.

Set your kids up to cooperate rather than compete. For example, have them race the clock to pick up toys, instead of racing each other.

Pay attention to the time of day or other patterns in when conflicts usually occur. Are conflicts more likely right before naps or bedtime or maybe when children are hungry before meals? Perhaps a change in the routine, an earlier meal or snack, or a well-planned quiet activity when the kids are at loose ends could help avert your kids' conflicts.

Teach your kids positive ways to get attention from each other. Show them how to approach another child and ask them to play, and to share their belongings and toys.

Being fair is very important, but it is not the same as being equal. Older and younger children may have different privileges due to their age, but if children understand that this inequality is because one child is older or has more responsibilities, they will see this as fair. Even if you did try to treat your children equally, there will still be times when they feel as if they're not getting a fair share of attention, discipline, or responsiveness from you. Expect this and be prepared to explain the decisions you have made. Reassure your kids that you do your best to meet each of their unique needs.

Plan family activities that are fun for everyone. If your kids have good experiences together, it acts as a buffer when they come into conflict. It's easier to work it out with someone you share warm memories with.

Make sure each child has enough time and space of their own. Kids need chances to do their own thing, play with their own friends without their sibling, and to have their space and property protected.

Help your children learn to manage conflict with other children.

Be there for each child:

Set aside "alone time" for each child, if possible. Each parent should try to spend some one-on-one with each kid on a regular basis. Try to get in at least a few minutes each day. It's amazing how much even 10 minutes of uninterrupted one-on-one time can mean to your child.

When you are alone with each child, you may want to ask them once in a while what are some of the positive things their brother or sister does that they really like and what are some of the things they do that might bother them or make them mad. This will help you keep tabs on their relationships, and also remind you that they probably do have some positive feelings for each other!

Listen-really listen-to how your children feel about what's going on in the family. They may not be so demanding if they know you at least care how they feel.

Celebrate your children's differences.

Let each child know they are special in their own way.

Convene regular family meetings

If you have older children, call a family meeting every once in a while.

The purpose of the family meeting is to recognize that everyone's opinion makes a difference. The meeting allows the family to share their opinions, seek understanding, and find resolutions to problems. Family meetings help to build cooperation and responsibility, and make anger and rebellion less likely. Also, it is a time to share love, develop unity, and to build trust and self-esteem. The social skills and attitudes that children develop within the family circle are the skills and attitudes they will carry with them the rest of their lives

A family meeting is a meeting for all family members to work together to make family decisions. Parents, children, and any others who live in the home and have a stake in decisions affecting the daily life of the family should take part.

To make your family meetings successful, establish some general rules, for example:

Everyone gets a chance to talk

One person talks at a time and does not get interrupted

Okay to say what you feel

No one has to talk

Everyone has to listen

No one puts anyone else down

It may also be helpful to set an agenda, for example:

Discuss family issues, concerns, interests, and positive events of past week.

Determine priority issue(s).

Clarify the issue to be discussed.

Generate possible solutions.

Determine the most effective solutions.

Make plans to implement the solution.

Plan one fun activity for the coming week.

Additional resources:

Suggested reading:

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too, by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life, Dr. Laura Markham

Suggested reading for kids:

I Love You the Purplest, by Barbara Joosse. Ages 4-adult. Two brothers compete for their mom's attention and love. She shows them she loves each of them for their special selves.

You're All My Favorites, by Sam McBratney. Ages 2-5. Mommy and Daddy Bear convince three worried cubs that there's plenty of love to go around.

Do Like Kyla, by Angela Johnson. Ages 4-9. A younger sister wants to do everything like her older sister.

Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick, by Kevin Henkes. Preschool. Sheila Rae taunts and torments her little sister and refuses to share her peppermint stick. Has a win-win ending.

Naughty Toes, by Ann Bonwill. Ages 3-6 A gentle story embracing your individuality, helped by understanding and sensible adults.

Reviewed by Sara Laule, MD

Updated by Sydney Ryckman, MD, February 2022

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Sibling rivalry is the jealousy, competition and fighting between brothers and sisters. It is a concern for almost all parents of two or more kids. Problems often start right after the birth of the second child. Sibling rivalry usually continues throughout childhood and can be very frustrating and stressful to parents.

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This article on children dealing with grief can connect to part 1 of T.K.A.M because Jem Finch would often go to the tree house when sad about something and he has many memories with his mother unlike Scout didn't really get a chance to remember memories with her mother since she was 2 years old when her mother died.

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Most young children are aware of death, even if they don't understand it. Death is a common theme in cartoons and television, and some of your child's friends may have already lost a loved one. But experiencing grief firsthand is a different and often confusing process for kids. As a parent, you can't protect a child from the pain of loss, but you can help them feel safe. And by allowing and encouraging them to express their feelings, you can help your child build healthy coping skills that will serve them well in the future.

Kids grieve differently

After losing a loved one, a child may go from crying one minute to playing the next. Their changeable moods do not mean that they aren't sad or that they've finished grieving; children cope differently than adults, and playing can be a defense mechanism to prevent a child from becoming overwhelmed. It is also normal to feel depressed, guilty, anxious, or angry at the person who has died or at someone else entirely.

Very young children may regress and start wetting the bed again or slip back into baby talk.

Encourage a grieving child to express feelings

It's good for kids to express whatever emotions they are feeling. There are many good children's books about death, and reading these books together can be a great way to start a conversation with your child. Since many children aren't able to express their emotions through words, other helpful outlets include drawing pictures, building a scrapbook, looking at photo albums, or telling stories.

Be developmentally appropriate

It is hard to know how a child will react to death or even if they can grasp the concept. Don't volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer their questions. Very young children often don't realize that death is permanent, and they may think that a dead loved one will come back if they do their chores and eat their vegetables. As psychiatrist Gail Saltz, MD, explains, "Children understand that death is bad, and they don't like separation, but the concept of 'forever' is just not present."

Older, school-age children understand the permanence of death, but they may still have many questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. It's okay if you can't answer everything; being available to your child is what matters.

When discussing death, never use euphemisms. Kids are extremely literal, and hearing that a loved one "went to sleep" can be scary. Besides making your child afraid of bedtime, euphemisms interfere with their opportunity to develop healthy coping skills that they will need in the future.

Whether or not to attend the funeral is a personal decision that depends entirely on you and your child. Funerals can be helpful in providing closure, but some children simply aren't ready for such an intense experience. Never force a child to attend a funeral. If your child wants to go, make sure that you prepare them for what they will see. Explain that funerals are very sad occasions, and some people will probably be crying. If there will be a casket, you should prepare them for that, too.

Keep in mind that even the best-prepared child might get upset, and their behavior can be unpredictable. "Kids will not behave in a way that you might want or expect," Dr. Saltz notes. "If you decide that a funeral is not the best way, there are other ways to have a goodbye." Planting a tree, sharing stories, or releasing balloons can all be good alternatives for providing closure to a child.

Discussing an afterlife

The idea of an afterlife can be very helpful to a grieving child, observes Dr. Saltz. If you have religious beliefs about the afterlife, now is the time to share them. But even if you aren't religious, you can still comfort your child with the concept that a person continues to live on in the hearts and minds of others. You can also build a scrapbook or plant something that represents the person you have lost.

Don't ignore your own grief

Children will often imitate the grieving behavior of their parents. It is important to show your emotions as it reassures children that feeling sad or upset is okay. However, reacting explosively or uncontrollably teaches your child unhealthy ways of dealing with grief.

Children find great comfort in routines, so if you need some time alone, try to find relatives or friends who can help keep your child's life as normal as possible Although it is important to grieve over the death of a loved one, it is also important for your child to understand that life does go on.

Some specific situations

For many children, the death of a pet will be their first exposure to death. The bonds that children build with their pets are very strong, and the death of a family pet can be intensely upsetting. Don't minimize its importance or immediately replace the dead pet with a new animal. Instead, give your child time to grieve for their dog or cat. This is an opportunity to teach them about death and how to deal with grieving in a healthy and emotionally supportive way.

The death of a grandparent is also a common experience for young children, and it may bring up many questions, such as, "Will my mom be next?" It is important to tell your child that you will probably live for a long time.

After the death of a parent, children will naturally worry about the death of the remaining parent or other caretakers. Reassure a child that they are loved and will always be cared for. It is a good idea to rely on family members during this time to help provide additional nurturing and care. Dr. Saltz also recommends therapy in the case of a significant death, such as the death of a parent or sibling. "Therapy provides another outlet for talking when a child may feel like they can't talk with other family members because they are grieving as well."

Treating serious problems

If you notice that your child seems unusually upset and unable to cope with grief and loss, they may have something called adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorder is a serious and distressing condition that some children develop after experiencing a painful or disruptive event. It is a good idea to consult your child's doctor if you feel that your child isn't recovering from a loss in a healthy way.

How can I help a child grieve the loss of a parent?

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Helping Children Deal With Grief - Child Mind Institute

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Tips for families dealing with grief, from what parents should say to how they can help kids express their emotions in a healthy way.

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The irony in this picture that the school is announcing a literacy night, and misspelled it. The reason that irony is connected to To Kill A Mockingbird, is the role Calpurnia in teaching Jem and Scout (mainly Scout) about empathy.The ironic thing is that even though people have discriminated and hated against Calpurnia for who she is, she still teaches Jem and Scout to be good people, to think about the perspective of other people.

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This video is informational on what prejudice is it also connects to "To Kill A Mockingbird" because assuming something about one person and then making a judgement that is negative about that person is an important part of the "To Kill A Mockingbird" story.

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Prejudice,Daily Vocabulary lesson - 135 Prejudice

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This video talks about why empathy is a necessary skill for humans to have in order to relate and have emotional feelings for one another.

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This link is an  informational article
about irony and gives examples about the different types of irony through books like Harry Potter and the Hobbit.
This shows that you can find irony everywhere, including books like TKAM.

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Irony is the contrast between how things seem and how they are. The term comes from the Latin word ironia, meaning "feigned ignorance." Storytellers of all stripes use irony as a literary device to create tension, humor, or as the central conceit in a plot.

To help you make heads or tails of this literary technique, this article will dig into three common types of irony (plus one uncommon one):

1. Dramatic irony

A favorite device of William Shakespeare, dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows essential information that the main characters do not. That shot in a horror film when the killer slowly appears in the background, unseen by our hero? A short story set in the idyllic town of Pompeii in 78AD? Both of these are riddled with dramatic irony.

So, why might a writer employ dramatic irony in a story?

To build fear and suspense

Will the character discover the secret we already know? What will happen when they find out the truth? What if they find out the truth too late? Subconsciously, all of these questions run through our minds as the story unfolds.

Example: The Hobbit contains a perfect example of this when Bilbo happens upon the ring while lost on a mountain. He puts it in his pocket and soon afterward encounters Gollum.

At this point, readers understand the significance of the ring and its importance to Gollum. However, Gollum does not yet realize he has lost the ring, and Bilbo doesn't yet know who the ring belongs to. For this reason, the scene where Bilbo and Gollum engage in a game of riddles becomes even tenser for the audience.

For some truly impressive suspense-building, check out this list of the 50 best suspense books of all time.

To elicit sympathy for a character

If a character is happy, but we know that tragedy lies ahead, a reader cannot help but sympathize with them.If the reader or audience is already "rooting for" the characters, they will hold on to the hope that things will turn out okay for them.

The audience knew all along! (image: Touchstone Pictures)

Example: In the modern-day Shakespeare adaptation Ten Things I Hate About You, bad-boy transfer student Patrick is paid by his classmate to woo the cold and aloof Kat. The audience knows that Kat will eventually discover the truth. The deception will wound her, and Patrick will (justifiably) lose her trust. This dramatic irony gives the scenes where they fall in love a bittersweet edge, making us sympathize with both characters.
To create comical situations
A lot of comedy comes out of misunderstandings - where a character believes something that the audience knows not to be true. The dramatic irony turns into comedic tension as the character obliviously digs themselves (or other characters) into a deeper hole.

Example: In a season one episode of Friends, Joey tried to win back his ex-girlfriend Angela by arranging a double date. Joey brings Monica but tells her that Angela's new boyfriend, Bob, is actually her brother - making it seem as though Bob is Monica's date. This misunderstanding turns to hilarious confusion as Monica is creeped out by how 'close' Bob and Angela seem to be.

🖊️

2. Situational irony

When the truth contradicts an expected outcome, it's situational irony - also known as "the irony of events." Situational irony is closely related to the idea of cosmic irony, where the universe seemingly contrives an event for its own amusement. For example, when the "unsinkable" HMS Titanic met an untimely end on its maiden voyage.

To clarify: "the irony of events" is not the same as "coincidence" and "bad luck" (apologies to Alanis Morrisette). If you buy a new car and then accidentally drive it into a tree, that is coincidental and unlucky, but not ironic. However, if a professional stunt driver crashes into a tree on their way home from receiving a "best driver" award, that is situationally ironic.

Within the context of a story, why might a writer use situational irony?

To put a character in an impossible situation

A hero will often work towards a singular goal that they hope will solve all their problems. Instead of simply allowing the hero to win with no strings attached, a writer will often reveal a terrible cost to this 'victory,' forcing the character to choose between what they want and what they need.

Example: Throughout the seventh book of the Harry Potter series, readers follow Harry on his quest to find and destroy Voldemort's six Horcruxes. At the end of the novel, we find out that there is a seventh Horcrux, so to speak - and it's Harry himself.

This unexpected twist also comes with the ironic realization that Harry must sacrifice himself for Voldemort to die. So he willingly goes to meet Voldemort - and his own death. But when Voldemort uses the killing curse on Harry, it has the opposite of his desired effect. Harry lives while the Horcrux dies, bringing Voldemort closer to his greatest fear: mortality.

In this way, Harry being a Horcrux is actually a double case of situational irony. Harry believes he must die to vanquish his enemy, whereas Voldemort thinks he is killing Harry, but he's actually killing himself. Mind = blown, right?

To create a good ol' fashioned twist

You can draw strong reactions from readers by presenting them with carefully executed twists and turns. A plot twist is all the more delicious when it's the polar opposite of what you'd typically expect. Situationally ironic storylines inherently possess an element of surprise, so they're common in the thriller, crime, and mystery genres.

Example: In Roald Dahl's short story "A Lamb to the Slaughter," a betrayed housewife kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb. When the cops arrive, she cooks the lamb and feeds it to them, effectively making the police dispose of the evidence. Ironic, wouldn't you say?

Nom nom nom, delicious evidence. (image: NBC Universal)

To emphasize the theme or moral of a story

Steering readers to an unexpected destination in a story can emphasize a moral lesson - often reminding readers that an expected outcome is not always guaranteed. For this reason, authors often deploy situational irony in fables or morality tales.

Example: In Aesop's "The Tortoise and the Hare," the unexpected outcome teaches us that slow and steady wins the race. Or, if you ask us, the real moral is that you shouldn't be complacent and take naps during races.

You can also see this type of irony at play in Greek tragedies where the tragic hero is punished for their acts of hubris (excessive pride) - which was apparently the gravest sin in ancient Greece.

Example: In Oedipus Rex, the title character is, unbeknownst to him, a foundling adopted by King Polybus. As an adult, Oedipus seeks out the Oracle at Delphi, who deals a prophecy: he will mate with his mother and kill his father. In an attempt to circumvent this prophecy, Oedipus leaves home, thereby setting himself on the road to killing a man (who he later discovers is his father) and marrying the Queen of Thebes (actually his mother). By defying the will of the gods, he has dealt himself a fate dripping with irony.

3. Verbal irony

Verbal ironyis where the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of what is said. Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony, but it's almost always used to denigrate someone or something. However, verbal irony can also be used by characters who aren't petulant teens from the 90s. There are common phrases that perfectly exemplify verbal irony - many of them similes comparing two entirely unlike things.

"Clear as mud."

"Friendly as a rattlesnake."

"About as much fun as a root canal."

"Thank you so much" (about something bad).

"Fat chance!"

Broadly speaking, verbal irony works by either understating or overstating the gravity of the situation. As you might expect, an ironic understatement creates contrast by undermining the impact of something, though the thing itself will be rather substantial or severe.

Example: In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield casually says, "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain." Of course, Holden is lying here, which is why he can be so cavalier; nevertheless, the overall sentiment of this statement remains ironic.

On the other hand, ironic overstatement makes something minor sound like a much bigger deal to emphasize how minor it is.

Example: Say you win $5 in a lottery where the grand prize is $100 million. A friend asks you if you won anything, and you say, "Yeah, total jackpot" - that's an ironic overstatement.

Note: this is not to be confused with hyperbole, in which the overstatement isn't ironic, but stems from wanting to convey just how massive something is - even if it isn't that big. (E.g. "I'm so tired, I could sleep for a million years.")

Now that we know the two faces of verbal irony, that leaves the question: what effect does it have on a piece of writing?

It can highlight a fallacy

Verbal irony is often used for satirical purposes, exaggerating or underplaying their descriptions to reveal a deeper truth. Viewed through a lens of overstatement or understatement, the reader can see how flawed the original concept might be.

Example: Verbal irony can be found in the very first lines of Romeo and Juliet (a play riddled with irony).

Two households, both alike in dignity

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Though the first line may sound respectful, we can see by the end of this verse that Shakespeare doesn't mean both households are alike in their great dignity. Instead, these lines imply that both households are equally undignified. This irony also serves another purpose: notifying first-time readers that not all that glitters is gold. While both families might technically be considered nobility, their shared inability to act nobly toward one another ultimately leads to a bitter end for our tragic heroes.

It can provide insight into a character

Dialogue is an incredible tool for revealing what a character is like - and how they choose to say something will often speak volumes about who they are. Very often, people who use verbal irony tend to be highly self-aware - or entirely oblivious.

Example: In Casablanca, the corrupt (yet charming) police captain Louis Renault follows instructions from German officials to order a raid on Rick's nightclub under the pretext of closing an illegal gambling den. "I'm shocked - shocked! - to find that gambling is going on in here!" Renault exclaims while thanking Rick's croupier for bringing him his winnings. This knowing overstatement of 'shocked' reveals a lot about his cheerfully cynical worldview.

Before the beginning of a beautiful friendship. (image: Warner Bros.)

For comic relief

Of course, sometimes writers use verbal irony simply to be funny. Whether it's to highlight a witty character, lighten tension during a dark or difficult scene, or simply make people laugh, verbal irony can provide a much-needed moment of comic relief. As you might expect, verbal irony is a common joke component.

Example: In Annie Hall, Woody Allen's character Alvy Singer speaks directly to the camera and sums up his life philosophy with an old joke. "Two elderly women are at a Catskills mountain resort, and one of 'em says, 'Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.' The other one says, 'Yeah, I know, and such small portions.'

Speaking of philosophies, let's finish off with one last type of irony that has its origins in the ancient world.

4. Socratic irony

This one is a bit of a bonus because it's not technically a literary device - it's more of an "everyday life" type of irony. Socratic irony is named after the great moral philosopher Socrates, who would often feign ignorance to expose another person's faulty assumptions. It can often be used to uncover someone's deceit.

Example: Peter Falk's immortal detective Columbo was a big proponent of Socratic irony to catch criminals out on their lies. He would first ask the suspect questions that would give them the impression that Columbo believed their alibis before slipping in " just one more thing " and dropping a big question that would force the killer to contradict their earlier answers.

"Just one more thing..." (Image: NBC)

In a similar vein, Socrates gave birth to the Socratic teaching method, where the teacher pretends not to know about a subject to encourage the student to use their power of reasoning to arrive at the correct answer.

Example: A six-year-old student asks the teacher whether he is married. Instead of saying yes or no, the teacher asks the child if there is anything different about how married people look: something they might wear. After some encouragement, the child answers, "a wedding ring!" From there, they can deduce that the teacher is indeed married.

Irony creates a contrast between appearances and underlying truths. When done properly, this can significantly alter a reader's interaction with, expectations of, and insight into a story. But irony must be used with care: it requires people to read between the lines to understand its intentions: a reader who doesn't see the irony will take these words at face value, which would be, as they say, ironic.

- Originally published on Oct 04, 2019

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What is Irony? Four Types of Irony + Examples

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Irony is the contrast between how things seem and how they are. The term comes from the Latin word ironia, meaning "feigned ignorance." Storytellers of all stripes use irony as a literary device to create tension, humor, or as the central conceit in a plot.

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The idea of empathy is important in To Kill A Mockingbird because we follow Scout as she matures and begins to understand the need for empathy.

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This is an example of perspective taking. In this article, a girl is searched at the airport because of her nationality as an Arab. Instead of getting mad, she thanked the guards and wished them a good day. Just like Scout is taught to, the girl in the article stops, puts herself in others shoes, and thinks about their perspective of things.

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Newsela | The barrier-breaking power of learning someone else's story

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Narrative 4, an organization that aims to build empathy in people through storytelling, is reaching teens around the world.