Final answer:
The title 'One Art' is ironic because it refers to the complex and emotional experience of loss as if it were a simple, singular skill, contrasting the poem's deeper exploration of the difficulty of coping with loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The title "One Art" is ironic because it suggests that the art of losing, as explained in the poem, is a simple, mastered or singular endeavor. In reality, the poem delves into the complex emotions associated with loss, highlighting the irony that loss is neither easy nor a mastered "art." The poet, Elizabeth Bishop, uses a tone of casualness and playful instruction to delve into this heavy topic, which is juxtaposed with the cumulative sense of mounting loss, leading to the finale where the speaker attempts to convince themselves that loss is no disaster, even though it's clear it is not so easily dismissed. This technique reflects postmodern ideas of irony and fragmentation, where there's an understanding that stances are unstable, leading readers to question the sincerity and simplicity implied by the word "art" in the context of loss.