Question

Study the three examples below:
i) In George Orwell’s novel 1984, the interior ministry of the totalitarian state is called the ‘Ministry of Love’.
ii) In the genre of horror fiction, the reader knows that the killer is hiding in the closet, but the protagonist does not.
iii) “But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.” (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
These are instances of _______

• A. metaphor
• B. irony
• C. parody
• D. synecdoche

Hint:

Irony can be verbal, dramatic, or situational, depending on how meaning and expectation are reversed.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding irony.
Irony is a literary device in which the intended meaning is different from, or opposite to, the literal meaning or the expected outcome.
Step 2: Analysis of example (i).
In 1984, the ‘Ministry of Love’ is responsible for torture and repression, which is the opposite of what the term ‘love’ implies. This is an example of verbal irony.
Step 3: Analysis of example (ii).
The reader’s awareness of the killer’s presence, while the protagonist remains unaware, creates dramatic irony.
Step 4: Analysis of example (iii).
Mark Antony’s repeated assertion that “Brutus is an honourable man” is said sarcastically, meaning the opposite of what is stated. This is verbal irony.
Step 5: Conclusion.
All three examples illustrate different forms of irony.