Types of irony in literature faced by Iraqi EFL students

Abstract EN

This study examines the ability of Iraqi EFL students in recognising and distinguishing of types of irony (verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony).

Irony is one of the important figures of speech because it is used to convey a message, to add humour, and criticise someone or something either intentionally or unintentionally.

In addition to its importance, irony is considered to be problematic for most of EFL students.

Therefore, this study aims to find out and solve the problems that the students encounter in this topic.

This research also aims to enable the students to recognise irony in literary texts and identify the difficulties that Iraqi EFL students face in understanding and recognising of irony.

The study introduces the concept of irony, its theories, types, and functions in detail.

In order to solve the problem of the study and achieve its aims, a test is designed to measure the students' ability in recognising types of irony.

The test consists of two questions: the first one is a multiple choice question which involves (20) items.

The second is an essay question that has (5) items.

The items are in the form of paragraphs taken from foreign literature.

After correcting the students' answers, the study finds out that most of the students failed in the test.

The study also explores that the students did not even know the types of irony at all.

On the bases of these findings, some solutions and recommendations are put forward at the end of the research.