Irony is a literary device characterized by a contradiction between what is expected and what occurs or between what is said and what is meant. It involves an incongruity that may be humorous, poignant, or thought-provoking. Joyce’s reliance on irony in the story contributes to the narrative’s modernist elements. The story’s title can be linked to the author’s use of irony to situate and contextualize the story. The word “gallant” traditionally describes a chivalrous individual of noble character. Joyce’s use of “gallant” in the story’s title ironically denotes the absence of nobility and chivalry that defines Corley and Lenehan. This irony creates a stark contrast between the term’s traditional meaning and the characters’ status as degenerates. Joyce also uses irony in the characters’ dialogue. A notable example occurs when Lenehan condemns one of Corley’s former lovers as a “base betrayer.” This statement ironically underscores the fact that Corley regularly manipulates and betrays women.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating that one thing is another thing. Joyce relies on poetic and metaphorical language throughout “Two Gallants.