Situational irony: The Old Man’s life
It is ironic that the Old Man goes on to list a whole string of characters who are far unluckier than Duckie yet he does not include himself in the list. The reader would find this unusual as the old man spends his day sitting on top of a prickly cactus, which must be uncomfortable.
Dramatic irony: The Desert of Drize
The old man urges Duckie and the reader to be grateful for what they have. This is starkly ironic because the Old Man himself does not have much at all, indeed not even home. And yet he is still grateful for what he has.
Verbal Irony: Duckie’s life
It is ironic that ducky continues to complain about his life when his alternative counterpart, Ali Sard, really does have a far unluckier life.
Dramatic irony: Ali Sard’s life
Though Ali Sard has a difficult life, mowing his uncle’s lawn and risking his life to paint flagpoles for extra money, he never once complains about his life. The irony of course, is that he has far more to complain about than Duckie!
Dramatic irony: The use of color
Seuss uses various bright colors at the beginning of the book, but as the Old Man continues with his tales of those that are unluckier, the pages become emptier and the shades much bleaker. The change in color scheme is ironic because it reflects the mood of those that are unlucky.
