The Rhetoric of Irony

Wayne C. Booth's work on irony examines how authors deploy ironic strategies to convey meanings that differ from surface statements, emphasizing the role of the reader in interpreting these cues.

The book explores the ethics and aesthetics of ironic communication and the relationship between authorial intent and audience reception.

Booth situates irony within broader rhetorical and narrative practices, offering frameworks for identifying and analyzing ironic discourse.

His approach influenced subsequent generations of scholars in literary studies and related fields, including biblical scholars who applied his insights to scriptural texts.

The study remains a frequently cited touchstone in discussions of verbal and dramatic irony.