Question

Is the following statement true or false.
The irony is a figure of speech in which there is a contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is really meant.
A) True
B) False

Answer 1

Hint: Irony is a rhetorical device or a literary technique, which originated in ancient Greece. It is used with the purpose of creating emphasis or humour.

Complete answer:
The irony is a rhetorical device or a literary technique in which the expression of the speaker’s meaning, by using language, signifies an opposite meaning. Irony can be of different types, which include;

i) Classical irony – It is the first kind of irony ever used. It was used by ancient Greeks, and it referred to how people would delineate from their word.
ii) Romantic irony – It is a self-aware and self-critical form of irony.
iii) Cosmic irony – This shows the difference or contrast between the absolute and the relative of anything.
iv) Situational irony – This type of irony is experienced when we perform a certain action with the expectation of a certain outcome, but the actual result is absolutely contrary.
v) Verbal irony – It is the kind of irony that is seen when a person says something but his/her intended meaning is completely different from what is said. For e.g. when a person shouts at someone, “I am not angry”, it is verbal irony. This is the definition that matches with the definition given in our question.

Thus, the statement given in the question is true.

Note: In terms of usage in literature, irony refers to a scenario in which the complete significance of a character’s words and actions is known to the audience or the reader but it is completely unknown to the character itself and this type of irony is known as dramatic irony.