Verbal Irony and Sarcasm
Verbal Irony and Sarcasm
"It's a little hot in here, don't you think?"
The expression about, when used in this instance, is an example of verbal irony. More specifically, it is an understatement.
In this case, the knight is surrounded by flames and has a dragon breathing down his neck. It's more than a little hot. It's a burning inferno. That's what makes the knight's words slightly humorous.
Verbal irony is when someone says the opposite of what is expected.
There are three types of verbal irony:
- Sarcasm
- Overstatement
- Understatement
The practice questions and video below will introduce you to each type of verbal irony.
Required Video:
Related Worksheets:
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