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Unreliable Narrator
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 3
Explanation and Analysis—Children's Rate:
During the transactional negotiations between Mattie Ross and Rooster Cogburn, Mattie attempts to hire him to hunt down Tom Chaney. They discuss payment while he is playing cards and drinking whiskey, and Rooster demands a significantly higher price than the government reward. In doing so, he uses verbal irony:
“If I’m going up against Ned Pepper I will need a hundred dollars,” he says, adding that he’ll want fifty in advance. “You are trying to take advantage of me,” Mattie says, to which Rooster replies, “I am giving you my children’s rate.”
Related Themes:
