Akoko’s Birth (Dramatic Irony)
After Aketch, the second wife of chief Odero Gogni of Yimbo, delivers her child, the baby yells so loudly that the chief says "another rock for my sling," by which he means another son. He assumes the baby is a boy because of how loudly it cries, however, in a case of dramatic irony, contrary to his expectations the child turns out to be a girl, later named Akoko “the noisy one.”
Peter Owuor Kembo Becoming a Priest (Situational Irony)
Akoko's son, Chief Owang' Sino, dies, leaving behind his heir Owuor Sino (later called Peter). Too young to rule, his uncle Otineo Kembo takes over. Akoko foresees her grandson, Owuor Sino, failing to become chief because of his uncle's greed, so she goes to Kisumu to seek justice from the Sirkal, the new colonial government. When the District Commissioner rules in her favor, readers are led to assume that Owuor Sino will become chief in the future and continue on the family legacy. However, in a case of situational irony, the opposite happens. He experiences a calling to the priesthood and willingly chooses to forfeit his claim as chief and not to marry.
Akoko’s Acceptance of Peter Becoming a Priest (Situational Irony)
When Peter tells Akoko he wants to become a priest, both he and the reader are surprised by his grandmother’s reaction. Akoko fought so hard to make sure he could be chief one day that the expectation is she would be upset to see him throw the opportunity away. Yet after he agonizes over telling her, Akoko is not only supportive of his decision but intuited that it would be coming. This is an example of situational irony, as it goes against what one would expect.
Mark Giving Elizabeth Malaria Pills (Dramatic Irony)
Elizabeth wakes up one morning and is nauseous and dizzy; she throws up but after having some tea feels better. That evening, Mark gives Elizabeth anti-malaria pills hoping they’ll help her feel better, but instead they give her horrible abdominal cramps and bleeding. In a case of dramatic irony, the reader realizes that the symptoms Elizabeth was experiencing were early signs of pregnancy, yet Mark and Elizabeth are unaware of this. Increasing the tension, the effects of the malaria pills make Elizabeth miscarry, but it is only once at the hospital that Mark and Elizabeth realize what has happened.
Starve Me to Death (Verbal Irony)
On the way to meet his parents, Aoro turns to Wandia and asks, “Did I ever tell you how my father once tried to starve me to death?” This is a reference to when Aoro got suspended from school and Mark punished his son by forcing him to find work to feed himself. This obvious overstatement is an example of verbal irony.
