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Definition of Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean... read full definition
Key Examples in Pale Horse, Pale Rider
Verbal Irony
Explanation and Analysis—The Dears:
During a pointed moment of reflection, Miranda adopts the exaggerated voice of a Red Cross volunteer to ridicule the shallow performance of wartime femininity expected of women like herself. Using verbal irony and satire, she describes her own role at dances for enlisted men in a voice dripping with sarcasm:
It must be frightfully hard on them, the dears, to be floored like this when they’re all crazy to get overseas and into the trenches as quickly as possible….I didn’t know there were so many good-looking men in this country, good heavens, I said, where do they come from?…the way I feel about it is this, we must do everything we can to make them contented, but I draw the line at talking to them. I told the chaperons at those dances for enlisted men, I’ll dance with them, every dumbbell who asks me, but I will NOT talk to them, I said, even if there is a war.
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