1. What is it?

Sarcasm is using an ironic tone so that everybody knows the words are insincere.

The words should not be taken literally. Indeed, because the tone says ‘I do not mean this’, the meaning is probably the opposite.

It is generally used in conversation and spoken word. It is difficult to achieve in writing because tone cannot be portrayed.

2. Why use it?

3. Examples

“So, you thought you would share online your opinions on the work ethic of certain colleges. Now the boss has started fining people and the entire office despises you. Well done.”

Frank wanted to go home.
“What’s the score?” he asked in the hope that this purgatory was near an end.
“12-4”, Sheila responded. “And it’s your serve.”
12-4. Calculating it in his head, he reckoned there would be 30 minutes more, minimum, if he tried. The key, thus, was not to try at all. He raised his racket and flicked the shuttlecock into the net with a feigned sigh. It didn’t fool Sheila in any particular way.
“Don’t try too hard,” she said, walking to the net to scoop up the dormant feathers.
“I won’t” he replied. “Although nothing is more important to me than winning a game of badminton.”

4. Examples in literature

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams

Excerpt from Chapter 11:

  ‘Which government…’ started Ford again.
‘No government owns it,’ snapped the robot, ‘it’s been stolen.’
‘Stolen?’
‘Stolen?’ mimicked Marvin.
‘Who by?’ asked Ford.
‘Zaphod Beeblebrox.’
Something extraordinary happened to Ford’s face. At least five entirely separate and distinct expressions of shock and amazement piled up on it in a jumbled mess. His left leg, which was in mid stride, seemed to have difficulty in finding the floor again. He stared at the robot and tried to entangle some dartoid muscles.
‘Zaphod Beeblebrox…?’ he said weakly.
‘Sorry, did I say something wrong?’ said Marvin, dragging himself on regardless. ‘Pardon me for breathing, which I never do anyway so I don’t know why I bother to say it, oh God I’m so depressed. Here’s another of those self-satisfied doors. Life! Don’t talk to me about life.’
‘No one even mentioned it,’ muttered Arthur irritably. ‘Ford, are you alright?’
Ford stared at him. ‘Did that robot say Zaphod Beeblebrox?’ he said.

Emma
by Jane Austen

Excerpt from Volume III, Chapter VII:

“Oh! For myself, I protest I must be excused,” said Mrs. Elton. ‘I really cannot attempt – I am not at all fond of the sort of thing. I had an acrostic once sent to me upon my own name, which I was not at all pleased with. I knew who it came from. An abominable puppy! – You know who I mean (nodding to her husband). These kind of things are very well at Christmas, when one is sitting around the fire; but quite out of place, in my opinion, when one is exploring about the country in summer. Miss Woodhouse must excuse me. I am not one of those who have witty things at every body’s service. I do not pretend to be a wit. I have a great deal of vivacity in my own way, but I really must be allowed to judge when to speak and when to hold my tongue. Pass us, if you please, Mr. Churchill. Pass Mr. E., Knightley, Jane, and myself. We have nothing clever to say – not one of us.” 
“Yes, yes, pray pass me,” added her husband, with a sort of sneering consciousness; I have nothing to say that can entertain Miss Woodhouse, or any other young lady. An old married man – quite good for nothing. Shall we walk, Augusta?”
“With all my heart. I am really tired of exploring so long on one spot. Come, Jane, take my other arm’.
Jane declined it, however, and the husband and wife walked off. “Happy couple!” said Frank Churchill, as soon as they were out of hearing: – “How well they suit one another! – Very lucky – marrying as they did, upon an acquaintance formed only in a public place! They only knew each other, I think, a few weeks in Bath! Peculiarly lucky! – for as to any real knowledge of a person’s disposition that Bath, or any public place, can give – it is all nothing; there can be no knowledge. It is only by seeing women in their own homes, among their own set, just as they always are, that you can form any just judgment. Short of that, it is all guess and luck – and will generally be ill-luck. How many a man has committed himself on a short acquaintance, and rued it all the rest of his life!”

5. Tasks

Task 1: Write a short scene in which one person’s actions trigger a sarcastic response from a second person.
Task 2: Write a prose paragraph in which sarcasm is used to express a point.