Which is verbal irony?

Which is verbal irony?

• A. Uses words opposite to the meaning
• B. The opposite of what happens
• C. What happens contrasts with expectation
• D. Narrative informs audiences more than characters know

Answer: (A)

Verbal irony happens when the speaker says something that means the opposite of what they intend. It relies on the contrast between the literal words and the intended meaning, often featuring sarcasm or a joking tone. The option that describes using words opposite to the meaning matches this idea precisely. The other ideas point to different kinds of irony: when the outcome is opposite of what one would expect, that’s situational irony; when the audience knows more than the characters, that’s dramatic irony.

Verbal irony happens when the speaker says something that means the opposite of what they intend. It relies on the contrast between the literal words and the intended meaning, often featuring sarcasm or a joking tone. The option that describes using words opposite to the meaning matches this idea precisely.

The other ideas point to different kinds of irony: when the outcome is opposite of what one would expect, that’s situational irony; when the audience knows more than the characters, that’s dramatic irony.