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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 The Sign of the Four
Chapter 6 — Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration
Explanation and Analysis—The Erudite Holmes:
In Chapter 6, Holmes must contend with the incompetent Athelney Jones, a local policeman whose shoddy intuition about Bartholomew's murder hinders Holmes's own investigation into the crime. As Holmes disparages Jones to Watson (and the reader), he lets loose two literary allusions—one in French, one in German:
'He can find something,' remarked Holmes, shurgging his shoulders; 'he has occasional glimmerings of reason. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui on de l'esprit?'
Related Themes:
