What is the most effective literary device used in short story writing? Retrieved from Dictionary.com; Irony is a technique for indicating, through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated. In "An Ounce of Cure" by Alice Munro, irony is used to demonstrate the unfortunate consequences that can result from underage drinking. The story is ironic because the narrator's parents rarely drink alcohol and are strongly opposed to the idea of ​​alcohol. Alistair MacLeod uses irony in his short story “The Boat” so that unfortunate events can occur even if the characters do not make it clear that they will happen soon. In this short story, the narrator's father suffers a tragic death that the reader did not expect. In the short story “The Doctor” by André Dubus, irony is used to create false hope and sadness in the face of an unfortunate event. In this story, it is ironic that an obstetrician who usually brings life into the world cannot save the life of a young boy. In the three central texts mentioned above, it is obvious to the reader that irony is used to surprise them and bring about an unexpected outcome in the presence of an unfortunate event. Authors are often expected to use irony to demonstrate different views in their writing. In the short story "An Ounce of Cure" by Alice Munro, the narrator's parents disapproved of drinking alcohol, so one might expect the narrator to disapprove of alcohol as well. consumption. It becomes evident that the narrator's parents are opposed to alcohol when the narrator says, "My parents didn't drink" (Munro 51). This quote simply shows that the parents did not consume alcohol. The story is in the middle of paper......the doctor is an obstetrician but cannot save the child's life. In the three central texts discussed so far, it has become apparent to the reader that irony is used to aid in the representation of an unfortunate event. Studying shorter stories could show how irony can be used to demonstrate many events that end with different outcomes, whether positive or negative as in this case.Works CitedDubus, Andre. “The Doctor”. Halifax, Nova Scotia; Ministry of Education, 2002. [Print]Dictionary. Dictionary.com | Free online dictionary for English definitions. Internet. March 1, 2011. MacLeod, Alistair. “The boat”; Arc of experience. Printed in Canada: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada, Ltd., 1987 Munro, Alice. “An Ounce of Healing”; Sunlight and shadows. Toronto, Canada: Nelson Canada Limited, 1974.