Mark Twain uses irony in The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County to highlight the absurdity and humor in the story. One of the key examples of irony is the character of Jim Smiley, who is known for his gambling habits. Despite his confidence and seemingly foolproof strategies, Smiley is ultimately outsmarted by a stranger. This is ironic because Smiley, who prides himself on his ability to win bets, loses to someone who uses a simple trick to cheat him.
Another example of irony is the way the narrator, who is supposed to be a sophisticated and educated man, is completely taken in by Simon Wheeler’s long-winded and seemingly pointless story. The narrator expects to hear a serious and informative tale about a man named Leonidas W. Smiley, but instead, he is subjected to a humorous and exaggerated account of Jim Smiley and his jumping frog. This contrast between the narrator’s expectations and the reality of the story adds to the overall irony of the situation.
Finally, the title itself is ironic. The story is called The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, but the frog, named Dan’l Webster, is not celebrated for its jumping abilities in the end. Instead, the frog is rendered useless by the stranger’s trick, which involves filling it with quail shot. This unexpected turn of events underscores the theme of irony throughout the story.