The effectiveness of irony in selected Sabiny folktales

Abstract

This research looks at how irony enriches meaning in selected Sabiny folktales. It was carried out using a qualitative research design with the use of interviews, observation, recording of different Sabiny folktales and how they are depicted among individuals during the story telling times. The research looked at irony as a means of enriching meaning in storytelling and one that brings forth different contexts of different tales. The folktales looked at how irony forwards the different perspectives of individuals towards tales in the community. I also examined how different individuals in the community grasp the message in the tales. A case in point is that the older children and persons in community understand faster and better the irony in the tales as compared to children with ages like 5 and 7 years old. This is because the elder persons have had more encounters with ironic sayings, situations and actions in life. Different folktales presented different modes of irony. Verbal irony, where what is said is the opposite of what is meant by the speaker. Dramatic irony is when the characters in the tale are not away of what is really taking place but the audience is aware. Situational irony, where characters are going through life events they didn't expect. The different tales selected presented different ironies, some presented one and some presented more. In general the different ironies cited in different tales bring the intended meaning of the tale. In conclusion, the study gives irony credit in developing and enriching the tales. Therefore, there is an urge to use and understand the concept of irony and its different modes.