Irony and Pun Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.8.5.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Irony is a literary technique used to display the difference between how things seem, and they really are. In most cases, irony is used for comedic purposes. Irony often examines extremely contrary situations. They are so extremely different than expected, that they are funny. Puns are often comedic as well. Puns are a play on words where a word has multiple meaning. Puns usually involve a homophone, homonym, or homograph to work. These worksheets help students identify and use irony and puns as tools of language.

Irony and Pun Worksheets To Print:

Figures of Speech: Puns - Find the puns in the sentences and then explain it briefly. What does it really mean?

Time to be Punny - See how funny you can make these sentences. You will be given a target word pair to work off of.

What's It Mean? - Explain what you see going on in each sentence. You may need to think deeply about a few of these.

Irony - It is pretty ironic that you can actually underline the irony that can be found in each sentence.

Using Verbal Irony - Let the true comedian in you flourish. You will finish off each sentence that is started for you to make it more fun.

Recognizing and Understanding Irony in Literature - Irony is often sarcastic you can use it in general conversation and just about any type of media.

Writing Dialogue with Irony - For each situation below, write a line of dialogue that uses irony. The situations are very scattered and will be fun to work with.

Figures of Speech - Identify the type of figure of speech. Write the correct letter on the line. There are a total of six to work with.

Making Fun - Read each sentence. Identify the pun. Then briefly explain it on the line near each sentence.

Hoo-Is That? - Do you get the "Hoo" part? Most people don't. See if you can find the uses of personification and allusion in these sentences.

That's an Understatement! - Read each situation. Then create an ironic understatement in response to it.

Sarcasm - Create a sarcastic ironic statement in response to that which you read. You will be given text to work from.

In the Headlines - Newspapers sometimes use puns to catch the attention of potential readers.

Types of Puns - Read each sentence and identify whether it is a simple or compound thought that is going on here.

For the Birds! - Fill in the blanks below to complete each pun, using the word bank of ten words and where they fall.

Focusing on Puns Worksheets:

Play on Words - Explain how each these terms are being usd to jazz up the sentence.

Box of Thoughts - How would you best complete each thought. Check the box for answers.

Is It There? - Read each of the sentences and see if there is any word play present.

Homophones - On the line, write the homophone that gives the pun its double meaning.

Composition - Choose a pair of homophones. Can you think of a way to tie them together to create your own sentence?

True or False - Which of the concepts are true and which of them doesn't make sense.

Choose a Word - Which of these would be the best choice?

Puns with Idioms - Read each sentence. Explain the literal and the figurative meaning behind each of these.

What's It Mean? - Deliver meaning from a series of sentences.

Double Entendre - How do these two concepts relate and differ.

In the News - Explain each of these real-life headlines.

Shakespearean - As you read or watch the play(s), look for puns. Write them down. Explain them.

Plop in - Pick the word or phrase that will finish off what you read.

Yes or No - Classify each of the sentences as you pass through them.

Shared Concepts - Determine which of these concepts will work and if there is any overlap.

Types of Irony Worksheets:

Dramatic Irony - What kind of effect does this have on the audience? What are the ingredients?

Explore - This will allow you to explore each of the different types and help differentiate between them and their overall effect.

Situational Irony - Have you seen this form present in literature?

Situational Examples - The reader/viewer expects one thing to happen, and the opposite happens instead. Here is an example for you.

Verbal - The speaker intends that something other than the literal meaning of their words be understood.

Dramatic Examples - This is a literary technique, first used in Greek tragedy, in which the audience knows more than the characters.

Irony Detective - You will find direct quotes in text.

3 Examples - You will find evidence of each type in the same work or you can use multiple sources.

Drama - We explore the nature and uses of this by authors.

Composition - In this writing assignment, you will create a scene that employs dramatic irony. Before beginning to write the scene, establish what is going on, and who knows what. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, write your scene.

Thinking or Saying - Students learn how this can take place internally or externally within a cast of characters.

The Evidence Log - This can help you track exactly where these instances take place within a piece of literaure.

Verbal Dialogue - Write a brief passage of dialogue that includes verbal irony. Remember your intention is to avoid the literal meaning of what you are communicating.

In Your Words - Use your own words to answer this series of questions.

Socratic Irony and Sarcasm - How would you bets differentiate between these concepts?

What is the Difference Between Irony and a Pun?


Irony and puns are two important elements in the writing and are frequently used in English literature. Both these terms fall under the category of humor yet their application differs. One thing must be kept in mind regarding their use is that puns and irony are not synonymous for jokes. Given below is a detailed explanation of irony and puns along with their basic types:


Irony


Irony is a term, in which the actual meaning of the word is not the same as the intended meaning of the word. It is also defined as an expression that means one thing but signifies a different meaning in a given context. This technique is added to a text mostly to create humor. The three main types of irony are situational, verbal, and dramaticy. Situational irony is used in case of some situation or event whose final result is not the same as that of the result expected. Verbal irony is used when words said to mean something different from the truth, or someone tells contradictory of what one is feeling. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience takes different meaning than the meaning intended by the characters. The last type of irony is mostly used in the case of many live performances.


Authors will often use this in their work to make their audience stop and think. This is helpful to underscore a central message or thought which you are attempting to communicate.


Pun


Pun, also known as paronomasia, is also used for humor. It is a set of words that mean differently at the same time. Puns include some similar sounding words that differ in meaning. Such types of puns are called homophonic puns. Puns that use words with the same spellings but different sounds are called Homographic Puns. Words used with same spellings and same sound but with different meanings are also used in puns and are called Homonymic Puns. Early writers used to include more than one pun within a statement called the compound pun. A pun that requires the reader to understand its first part to understand the second part is called recursive pun.


When an author uses this play on words within their work, they are often attempting to create a humorous effect. This is often to add a section of comic relief to the work, but it could also be a broader strategy that is aimed at heightening the use of creative language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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