Question

read the excerpt from alexander the greats speech at opis. and then tell them that, when his fleet had successfully completed its voyage along the whole coast from india to persis and you were safe back in susa, you deserted him and took yourselves off, leaving him to the mercy of the very barbarians he had defeated. a fine tale indeed, sure to raise you in mens esteem and meet with the gods approval. which rhetorical device does alexander use? antithesis hyperbole irony meiosis

Explanation:

• Antithesis is a rhetorical device that contrasts ideas. Here, there is no such contrast.
• Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement. The text does not have an exaggerated statement.
• Irony is when the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning. The phrase "A fine tale indeed, sure to raise you in men's esteem and meet with the gods' approval" is ironic because deserting someone is not a fine - tale or something that raises esteem.
• Meiosis is an understatement. This is not the case here.

Answer:

irony