* Situational irony occurs when there's a contrast between what is expected or appropriate and what actually happens.
* Verbal irony is when someone says something but means the opposite.
In Poe's stories, the carnival setting is often used to highlight the darker side of human nature and the fragility of happiness. This contrast between the joyous, festive atmosphere of a carnival and the macabre or tragic events that unfold within it creates the ironic situation.
Here's how it works:
* Expectation: A carnival is a place of fun, excitement, and celebration.
* Reality: Poe uses the carnival setting to explore themes of death, decay, and the sinister aspects of human psychology.
Therefore, the carnival setting in Poe's stories creates a sense of situational irony, playing on the contrast between the expected joy and the actual darkness that lies beneath the surface.