What is the difference between irony, sarcasm, and being sardonic?
Irony has to do with unexpected outcomes – often with tragic or humorous overtones. It is situations, not people, that are ironic. Sarcasm has the essence of being dismissive of other people and having an assumed sense of being a wit. Sardonicism directs its aim at the world and the fates in general. It has an element of “gallows humor.” People can be classified as sarcastic, and it is suggestive of a beligerent personality. People can also be classified as sardonic, and that is suggestive of a pessisimistic but human philosophy. Jewish humor, which I adore, can largely be classified as sardonic.