Irony, satire, and sarcasm all fall into the category of, "That's funny but I'm not sure what my English teacher wants me to call it." Irony describes situations that are strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite …

Need help on symbols in Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit? Check out our detailed analysis. From the creators of SparkNotes.

This study guide and infographic for Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Sartre uses the manufacture of a paper knife (or letter opener) to explain the difference between objects whose essence precedes their existence and the human subject whose existence precedes its essence.

Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of satire, but satirists can take aim at other targets as well—from societal conventions to government policies.

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Eyes have three symbolic meanings in the play. First, eyes are symbols of the vision needed …

Symbolism — Sartre uses symbols to represent complex ideas. For example, the closed room in “No Exit” symbolizes hell and the inescapable reality of the characters’ choices and consequences.

Here we can see how Sartre is using travel as an allegory for the transformation which occurs to Antoine during the novel. Although he stays in Bouville, he is totally changed (one might even say unrecognizable) at the novel’s end.

Irony punctuation is any form of notation proposed or used to denote irony or sarcasm in written text. Written text, in English and other languages, lacks a standard way to mark irony, and several forms of punctuation have been proposed to fill the gap.

Satire, by definition, is a literary and rhetorical device that uses sarcasm, irony, and ridicule to expose the flaws of individuals or society. The word “satire” made its way into the English …