My what big eyes you have
Humor often relies on incongruity, surprise, and shared understanding. "My what big eyes you have" might be considered funny or ironic because it is a phrase characteristically linked to the tale of "Little Red Riding Hood." In this narrative, Little Red Riding Hood says these very words to the Big Bad Wolf disguised as her grandmother. The element of humor derives from the irony that Little Red Riding Hood doesn't realize the 'grandmother' in front of her is actually the wolf. For someone to use this phrase in a completely different context could be perceived as amusing or absurd.
In addition, if these words were said in a literal context referring to the physical appearance of a person, it might be seen as ironic humor. According to the norms of tactfulness, it is usually inappropriate to make direct, unflattering remarks about someone's physical features. So, when someone exclaims, "My, what big eyes you have," they're making a statement that is both socially unexpected and blatantly obvious, creating a situation ripe for irony.
Moreover, such a remark might create an amusing anecdote if it was directed towards something inanimate or an animal. Humor operates on the principle of the unexpected. If this remark were used to describe large objects such as a giant television, a painting, or a dog, it would result in irony because it is out of context, which can evoke laughter.
Besides, this sentence could be considered as a deadpan humor if said with a straightforward and emotionless demeanor. Deadpan humor is characterized by the delivery of amusing, ironic or outrageous remarks in a calm and unfloting tone. In such cases, the irony comes from the contrast between the nonchalant delivery and the sentence's inherent silliness.
Equally important, the humor or irony might come into play depending on the speaker's intent. If the speaker is deliberately trying to be deceitful or misleading, the sentence offers a form of irony known as verbal irony. The words spoken directly contradict the underlying meaning, akin to sarcasm, which is typically used to critique or mock.
Lastly, the phrase could be seen as humorous if used as a parody or satire. If it was used in a comedic skit or movie to poke fun at a serious situation, the irony stems from the disparity between the original fairy tale context and the contemporary, often ridiculous, usage. Humor in this instance leans heavily on the shared cultural knowledge of the audience. They know the original use of the saying, thus making the parody version amusing. My what big eyes you have
