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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 2
Explanation and Analysis—Methuselah:
After Benjamin is born a 70-year-old man—to the shock of his parents and the hospital staff—his father Roger Button takes him home. On their way home, as they discuss how Roger will refer to Benjamin, Roger makes a biblical allusion, as seen in the following passage:
His son took the hand trustingly. “What are you going to call me, dad?” he quavered as they walked from the nursery—“just ‘baby’ for a while? till you think of a better name?” Mr. Button grunted.
“I don’t know,” he answered harshly. “I think we’ll call you Methuselah.”
Related Themes:
