In “Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing,” the definition for irony states, “In language, a discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. In life, a discrepancy between what is expected, and what occurs” (715). In Sharon Olds poem “Rite of Passage,” a mother observes her son and the rest of the children, at her son’s birthday party (703). The mother describes the boys as if they are men from the lines “Hands in pockets, they stand around jostling, jockeying for place” (5-6). In the lines “like Generals, they relax and get down to playing war, celebrating my son`s life,” it is ironic because the mother is picturing the boys as if it were a real war, and they were all grownups (25- 26). The mother looks at
