Anthony Hecht: Selected Poems Irony

Anthony Hecht: Selected Poems Irony

Irony of Juxtaposition: Elevated Language vs. Brutal Reality

Hecht frequently contrasts sophisticated, formal diction with violent or shocking subject matter, creating a stark tension.

Situational Irony: Art's Beauty vs. Its Helplessness

Hecht often presents the beauty of art as powerless against real-life suffering, creating ironic tension.

Dramatic or Narrative Irony: Detached or Unreliable Perspectives

Hecht often employs narrators whose formal or detached tones ironically reveal emotional truths.

Irony of Serious Comedy

Hecht balances humor or wit with grave subject matter, creating an ironic lens that amplifies the thematic weight.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

Cite this page