DefinePK

Abstract

This research focuses on the study of “The Ex-militant” written by Shahnaz Bashir in the light of the pretense theory of irony with reference to asymmetry of affect, victim, tone and audience. The paper introduces irony in the light of the definitions by different pragmatists and theorists to reach its postmodern usage as given by Linda Hutcheon and finally locates it in the pretense theory as explained by Herbert Clark and Richard Gerrig. The research analyzes the short story through this perspective to demonstrate how it has asymmetric affects after pinpointing the victims and interpreting the tones of the main character. It also demonstrates show how the main victim hides true meanings until the end and discloses through deception. The research leaves room for the application of the mention theory of irony for further derivation of meanings of the narrative of Ghulam Mohiuddin