Abstract: As one of the representative works by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations emphasizes that social patterns and human behavioral consciousness are interrelated with the change of the hero’s psychological journey, reflects the dark sides of the contemporary society and praises the good quality of ordinary people and the laboring people. From the aspect of narrative art, narrative irony is a basic way of ironical discourse in the novel. It aims to highlight or latent the two through opposition so as to produce a unique effect of irony. It reveals further the real will opposite to the literal meaning. The major narrative irony in the work consists of three categories: situation irony (parody or funny imitation), intonation irony (narrative attitude and content contrary) and discourse irony (antiphrasis). The in-depth analysis of the three kinds of irony in the novel not only helps the readers understand the essence of the work better, but also learn the relationship between environment and character from the ups and downs of life and mentality, and finally reflect about the world seriously and our hearts deeply.

Key words: Great Expectations; Situation Irony; Intonation Irony; Discourse Irony

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction1

  1.1 Introduction to Charles Dickens

  1.2 Introduction to Great Expectations

2. Ironic Narrative Technique in the Novel.3

  2.1 Introduction to Irony

  2.2 Detailed Analysis of Irony

 2.2.1 The Situation Irony. 3

2.2.2 The Intonation Irony5

2.2.3 The Discourse Irony6

3.Significance of Irony in the Work8

4.Conclusion9

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgments .12