Which is NOT an example of irony in "The Lottery"? Old Man Warner is old and sick, but he is always cheerful. A lottery suggests a positive event, but the "winner"receives something negative. The town seems nice and peaceful, but in reality it carries out a brutal act.

In "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, irony is used to highlight the contrast between expectations and reality. Let's examine each option:<br /><br />1. **Old Man Warner is old and sick, but he is always cheerful.** <br /> This statement does not inherently contain irony related to the central theme of the story. It describes a character trait that may seem contradictory but doesn't directly relate to the ironic twist of the lottery itself.<br /><br />2. **A lottery suggests a positive event, but the "winner" receives something negative.** <br /> This is an example of situational irony. Typically, a lottery is associated with winning a prize or something beneficial, but in this story, the outcome is grim and deadly.<br /><br />3. **The town seems nice and peaceful, but in reality it carries out a brutal act.** <br /> This is another example of situational irony. The setting creates an expectation of tranquility and normalcy, which starkly contrasts with the violent ritual that takes place.<br /><br />Therefore, the statement "Old Man Warner is old and sick, but he is always cheerful" is NOT an example of irony in the context of the main themes of "The Lottery."