Concept:Verbal irony is a literary device where the intended meaning is the direct opposite of the literal words spoken.
Explanation:In verbal irony, the speaker says one thing but actually means the opposite.
For example, saying “What lovely weather” during a heavy storm is verbal irony.
This device relies on tone, context, and the listener’s understanding to convey the true meaning.
It is different from dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the character, or situational irony, where events turn out unexpectedly.
Therefore, the key feature of verbal irony is the deliberate contrast between the speaker’s words and the speaker’s real intention.
Among the options given, only the definition that states “the speaker means the opposite of what he says” matches this device accurately.
Answer:A. device in which the speaker means the opposite of what he says.