Sarcasm is saying something cutting or intended to hurt, often using irony to deliver the wound. Irony is a word used to say something other than what the words usually stand for, most often meaning the opposite of the literal meaning of the words. The tone of the voice and inflection are also often used to underscore the ironic/sarcastic part of the statement.
Examples in common speech:
A man comes to breakfast after a night of drinking, he looks hung over and is unshaven, wearing the wrinkled clothes he slept in, with hair disheveled, and his eyes are red and squinted from the sunlight.
His wife takes one look at him and says, "Well, now, don't you look just bright and shiny this morning?!"
TEEN 1: "Don't you just love brown?"
TEEN 2: "Yeah, it's like the prettiest color ever!"
^^^This is not sarcasm at all. This is exaggeration.^^^
Examples in literature: See any of Christopher Moore's works for examples of sarcasm in literature. Especially "Lamb: The Gospell of Christ's Childhood Pal, Biff"
Another extremely good example of sarcasm in literature is the character Silk in the wonderful series "The Belgariad" by David Eddings. I'm not sure if Silk is in "The Mallorean" but I know he's in the "Belgariad". Everything he says is sarcastic.
Said to a man who paints poorly:
Yes, I'm absolutely sure you will be the next Picasso.
Said to a CEO of a company doing poorly:
You have definitely brought us to the top.
etc...
ee Cummings used sarcasm in a lot of his poems, but this is the one you're probably referring to:
humanity i love you
humanity i love you
because you would rather black the boots of
success than enquire whose soul dangles from his
watch-chain which would be embarrassing for both
parties and because you
unflinchingly applaud all
songs containing the words country home and
mother when sung at the old howard
humanity i love you because
when you're hard up you pawn your
intelligence to buy a drink and when
you're flush pride keeps
you from the pawn shops and
because you are continually committing
nuisances but more
especially in your own house
humanity i love you
because you are perpetually putting the secret of
life in your pants and forgetting
it's there and sitting down
on it
and because you are
forever making poems in the lap
of death humanity
i hate you
Oh, because getting stuck in traffic is exactly what I wanted to do on a Friday evening.
Sarcasm is saying something in such a way as to imply that you mean the exact opposite.
Biggie Smalls
sarcasm is not taught. Sarcasm is the main part of his books.
your so supid that you cant even make a sentence for sarcasm
The Sarcasm was great. Without Sarcasm he was boring.
His sarcasm way of talking was humorous.
Oh great, another meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon, just what I was hoping for.
"He doesn't know the meaning of sarcasm...", he said.It is painfully obvious that my attempts at sarcasm are wasted on you.
Not like THIS!
He uses sarcasm very effectively.When you use sarcasm, it is how you say it more than what you say.
This sentence is saturated with sarcasm. :)
yes you can
For example: The way Shelby used sarcasm made Mike feel insecure.
You just did. Congratulations.