"Ironic" Alanis Morissette

In the song “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette, Alanis Morissette demonstrates magnificent Irony, descriptive imagery, and distinctive paradox to show that life is ironic in many ways, and sometimes there is not an explanation for everything. Throughout the song the literary device that is used most frequently is irony. The title is even ironic, because the song is named “Ironic”. “An old man turned ninety-eight, He won the lottery and died the next day.”. That is very ironic because most people never even live to win the lottery, and as soon as the old man wins he dies the next day, and doesn’t even get the chance to appreciate, and enjoy the money. Also, “He waited his whole damn life to take that flight, And as his plane crashed down he thought, ‘Well isn’t this nice…’ ” .This quote is ironic because as soon as he gets to take the plane he’s been waiting to take for his whole life it crashes down.

            The song “Ironic” also demonstrates descriptive imagery, which really puts a detailed picture in your head of what exactly is going on. Morissette explains “It’s a traffic jam when you’re already late”. She also says “It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife”, this is referring to how life is ironic, and things don’t always work out in the way you want them to. However, you just have to have a good attitude, and never give up. “It’s like rain on your wedding day” makes me picture a cold, rainy, and romantic night.

            A lot of Paradox is also shown throughout the song. Alanis says “It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid. If you think about that it doesn’t make any logical since because, if you’ve already paid it’s not a free ride. Also, “It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late”, explains that a person is going to be put to death, and then he gets his death sentence pardoned two minutes after he has already been killed. This whole song explains how life is ironic, however “Life has a funny way of helping you out”.