Irony (See also Last Laugh.) Allusions, Definition, Citation, Reference, Information - Allusion to Irony (See also Last Laugh.)
- Alvaro attempt to disarm accidentally causes opponent’s death. [Ital. Opera: Verdi, La Forza del Destino, Westerman, 316]
- Arrigo fight for freedom means opposing new found father. [Ital. Opera: Verdi, Sicilian Vespers, Westerman, 308–309]
- Artemidorus presents Caesar with scroll outlining conspiracy; it remains unopened. [Br. Lit.: Julius Caesar]
- Barabas perishes in trap he set for Turks. [Br. Lit.: The Jew of Malta]
- Barnaby Rudge Dennis, the public hangman, is sentenced to be hanged on his own scaffold. [Br. Lit.: Dickens Barnaby Rudge]
- Bazaroff reformed radical; dies accidentally. [Russ. Lit.: Fathers and Sons]
- Bel-Ami subtitled: “The History of a Scoundrel.” [Fr. Lit.: Bel-Ami]
- Bigger Thomas finds freedom through killing and life’s meaning through death. [Am. Lit.: Native Son, Magill I, 643–645]
- Bishop, the dying in a delirium, he speaks of pomp and luxury rather than salvation. [Br. Poetry: Browning “The Bishop Orders His Tomb”]
- Carlos, Don loves bride he procured for his father. [Ital. Opera: Verdi, Don Carlos, Westerman, 319]
- Cassandra true prophet, doomed to go unbelieved. [Gk. Myth.: Espy, 40]
- Catch-22 pleading insanity to leave army indicates sanity. [Am. Lit.: Catch-22]
- Claudius emperor-scholar in soldier-worshiping nation. [Br. Lit.: I, Claudius]
- Così fan tutte illustrates comically some shortcomings of feminine fidelity. [Ger. Opera: Mozart, Cosi fan tutte, Westerman, 97–98]
- Creon victim of his own harsh tyranny. [Gk. Lit.: Antigone]
- Defender of the Faith Henry VIII’s pre-Reformation title, conferred by Leo X. [Br. Hist.: Benét, 258]
- Gaigern, Baron attempts to rob ballerina; becomes her lover. [Ger. Lit.: Grand Hotel]
- Gift of the Magi, The young couple sell their dearest possessions to buy Christmas gifts for one another, discover that the sacrifice made the gifts unusable. [Am. Lit.: O. Henry The Gift of the Magi in Benét, 395]
- Harmony Society embraced communism and celibacy; the latter caused their extinction. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 349]
- John of Balue imprisoned in an iron cage he invented. [Br. Lit.: Quentin Durward]
- Magic Mountain, The sanatorium as escape from “insane world.” [Ger. Lit.: The Magic Mountain, Magill I, 545–547]
- Mayor of Casterbridge, The Henchard dies in care of man he tyrannized. [Br. Lit.: The Mayor of Casterbridge, Magill I, 571–573]
- Modest Proposal, A essay in which Swift advises the Irish to eat their babies or sell them in order to relieve famine and reduce overpopulation. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 677]
- Otternschlag, Dr. attempting suicide, discovers will to live. [Ger. Lit.: Grand Hotel]
- Pagliaccio clown forced to be funny despite breaking heart. [Ital. Opera: Leoncavallo, Pagliacci, Espy, 339]
- Patterne, Sir Willoughby egoist’s actions lead to self-defeat. [Br. Lit.: The Egoist, Magill I, 241–242]
- Point, Jack jester who must be funny even when events break his heart. [Br. Opera: Gilbert & Sullivan The Yeomen of the Guard]
- Polycrates tyrant of Athens who, renowned for his continual good fortune, is ignominiously trapped and crucified by an envious ruler. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 801]
- Popeye murderer; hanged for murder he did not commit. [Am. Lit.: Sanctuary]
- R. U.R. robots, manufactured for man’s ease, revolt. [Czech. Lit.: R. U.R.]
- Rachel executed as Jewess; revealed to be Christian clergy-man’s daughter. [Fr. Opera: Halevy, The Jewess, Westerman, 168]
- Rigoletto arranges murder of daughter’s seducer; she dies instead. [Ital. Opera: Verdi, Rigoletto, Westerman, 299–300]
- Sitzkrieg “phony war”; lull between Polish conquest and invasion of France. [Eur. Hist.: Hitler, 815–819]
- Sohrab unaware, engages in single combat with Rustum, the father he had been seeking, and is slain. [Br. Poetry: Sohrab and Rustum in Benét, 943]
- War of 1812 Jackson’s New Orleans victory occurred after treaty was signed. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 893]