Expectation of Safety
Iris and Attie arrive at Marisol's B&B expecting a haven but they soon discover that Avalon Bluff is far from the idyllic setting they envisioned. They anticipate a peaceful stay but encounter imminent dangers due to the war's proximity. The narrator asserts, "The building was quaint, with shutters that looked to be black in the starlight. Rosebushes crowded the front yard with scraggly limbs, still bare from winter, and ivy grew up the walls, reaching for the thatched roof. But it was dark within as if the old house was sleeping or under a spell. A sense of uneasiness washed through Iris as she knocked." The irony lies in the stark contrast between the girls' anticipation of a charming B&B and the eerie atmosphere they encounter upon arrival. Despite their expectation of safety in a picturesque setting, the sense of foreboding within hints at the dangers lurking.
Roman's Intentions
Iris' determination to suppress personal emotions—notably her attempts to push away thoughts of Roman Kitt—contrasts with her unawareness of Roman's true intentions. While Iris assumes a competitive yet impersonal dynamic with Roman, the readers know that Roman has developed feelings for her through their anonymous exchanges. For instance, the narrator asserts, "Iris's internal struggle with her emotions, especially regarding Roman, showcases her resilience in suppressing personal concerns in the face of impending dangers." This instance of dramatic irony heightens the tension and anticipation within the narrative. It creates a sense of expectation about the characters' eventual realization of the hidden truths.
The Dance of Misconceptions
An instance of dramatic irony occurs when Roman confronts Iris about the assignment. He possesses information about the last assignment on missing soldiers assuming Iris is unaware of its topic. He challenges her by implying that she does not have all the necessary information to tackle this assignment. However, Iris's feigned nonchalance and her quick-witted response hint at her knowledge about the topic. This leaves Roman unaware that Iris might be more informed than he assumes. This disconnect between what Roman believes Iris knows and what she knows creates dramatic irony for the reader.
Reality of Violence
Marisol, Iris, and Attie begin gardening in the backyard to cultivate and plant the garden. They hope for a serene gardening experience but discover signs of violence inflicted by the mythical hounds. Marisol says, "That’s the trouble with planting a garden in Avalon Bluff. The hounds like to trample everything when they stalk the town at night. Sometimes we go months without seeing them, but sometimes Dacre sends them every night. Iris and Attie stared at the gouges, which they now could recognize as claw marks." The situational irony here lies in the contrast between the expectation of a peaceful gardening task and the grim reality of the garden being ravaged by the mythical hounds. Their intention to nurture and cultivate life through gardening is contradicted by the violent destruction inflicted by creatures associated with the ongoing war among gods.
Uncomfortable Scrutiny
Roman denies being told that he squints when lying attributing Iris's observation to her excessive attention to him. However, the context reveals a different reality. Roman is uncomfortable because Iris has keenly noticed his habitual response when lying. Throughout their interaction, Iris and Roman engage in a verbal spar regarding an assignment. Roman's response, "No, but only because no one has spent as much time looking at me as you do, Winnow," serves as verbal irony. He tries to deflect her observation by attributing it to Iris paying too much attention to him. However, the subtext implies that Iris's statement has hit a nerve exposing his discomfort at being caught in a lie.
