The man is cold.  As he walks towards you across the field he shivers.  He thinks how good a fire would be.  You can see there is a  bonfire right in the middle of the field, but he doesn't notice it.  He moves forward, shivering and complaining until he exits the field.  This level shows people at their least capable.  He has overlooked the fire.  This level is real.  Even though we hate to admit it, at times we all live here.  You are late for school, you can't find your  math book, you look everywhere.  You miss the bus.  Your mom has to drive you.  You're late anyway.  You have to see the Principal.  He asks you why you were late, and you explain you were looking for your math book.  You gesture helplessly at your backpack, noticing suddenly and with embarrassment that the math book has been there all the time.  The Ironic Level. The Ironic Level exists where a character has less power to perceive, and hence to act,  than you normally do.  The word "irony" comes from the Greek eiron, which means "a man who makes himself appear less than he is." A huge realm of literature exists on this level: short stories, novels, poems, plays, films, TV shows....  Here are some examples...