Which term describes a figure of speech in which intended meaning differs from the literal meaning?

Which term describes a figure of speech in which intended meaning differs from the literal meaning?

• A. Irony
• B. Metaphor
• C. Parable
• D. Onomatopoeia

Answer: (A)

Irony describes a figure of speech in which the intended meaning is different from the literal words. This mismatch is what signals the reader or listener to read between the lines, often for humor, critique, or emphasis. For example, saying “What a beautiful day” during a storm uses verbal irony—the speaker’s actual message is the opposite of the literal words. Other types include situational irony, where outcomes defy expectations, and dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the characters. Metaphor is a direct comparison between two things without using like or as. Parable is a short story with a moral lesson. Onomatopoeia are words that imitate sounds. Together, these describe different ways language conveys meaning, but only irony centers on meaning that diverges from what the words literally say.

Irony describes a figure of speech in which the intended meaning is different from the literal words. This mismatch is what signals the reader or listener to read between the lines, often for humor, critique, or emphasis. For example, saying “What a beautiful day” during a storm uses verbal irony—the speaker’s actual message is the opposite of the literal words. Other types include situational irony, where outcomes defy expectations, and dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the characters.

Metaphor is a direct comparison between two things without using like or as. Parable is a short story with a moral lesson. Onomatopoeia are words that imitate sounds. Together, these describe different ways language conveys meaning, but only irony centers on meaning that diverges from what the words literally say.