A Vault of Words
The foundational irony of Melody’s story is that she is highly intelligent with a particular love of language. Her mind has been described as a “vault full of words and ideas just bursting to be let out.” The irony lies in the fact that her medical condition is such that she has never actually vocalized a single word herself.
Horseback Riding
Melody is terrified of the thought of actually fulfilling the promise of the summer camp that all campers will get the opportunity to ride a horse. The irony is that this ambition has been built up for her as a projection of the ambitions of her parents.
“Why do red cars go faster?”
Melody’s father is characterized by his dryly ironic sense of understated humor. An example occurs when his other daughter inquires about the relative speed of red cars on the interstate. Daddy’s reply:
“Because that’s the rule, Penny. Red cars, especially sleek, fast ones, are required to pass all the other cars…so they can get there first!”
Stupid Movie Always Ending the Same Way!
A comment made by one of Melody’s fellow campers may be intended irony. Or it maybe unintended irony. It’s hard to say for sure because the divergence is all in the delivery and the delivery cannot be fully intuited. The topic of conversation is the sinkability of the camp’s pontoon boats to which Karyn makes the comment filled with some kind of irony:
“I’ve watched that movie about the Titanic like ninety-nine times. Trust me, ‘unsinkable’ boats can go down.”
The Prom Dress
When packing Melody’s belongings before heading off to camp, the last item her mother stuffs into the duffel bag is a pretty red dress. Melody complains that it’s not necessary since she’ll hardly have any need for it since, after all, “It’s camp, Mom, not the prom!” Ironically, not only will she wind up needing it, but she will actually wear it to prom-like dance.
