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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
Chapter Three: 1982, Pithead
Explanation and Analysis—Life in Her Cheeks:
In Chapter 16, Agnes uses a bit of verbal irony as she puts makeup on her mother's dead body:
Agnes pushed out her bright lipstick and drew it across her mother's thin lips. Rubbing a little on her thumb she smoothed it into her gaunt cheeks as rouge. She wanted to straighten the emerald-green cloche but was afraid to touch the back of Lizzie's head, so instead she licked gently at the auburn curls on her crown with the end of a pick comb. "There, you look better for a little life in your cheeks." The words stuck in her throat.
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