Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY. Oh, I guess they’re not very dangerous things the ladies have picked up. (Moves a few things about, disturbing the quilt pieces which cover the box. Steps back.) No, Mrs. Peters doesn’t need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff’s wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?Which of the following most accurately describes this excerpt?
Answer
A
It is verbal irony because the County Attorney means precisely the opposite of what he is actually saying.
B
It is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the County Attorney does not actually mean what he is saying.
C
It is situational irony because the County Attorney has actually issued a relevant warning to Mrs. Peters without realizing it.
D
It is not an example of any type of irony because the County Attorney is simply making a statement.
Explanation
The County Attorney casually says that a sheriff’s wife is “married to the law,” not realizing that Mrs. Peters is helping conceal evidence from the investigation. His remark therefore becomes an unintended, relevant warning about what she is doing. This is situational irony, not verbal irony, because he does not mean the opposite of his words.
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