Question

analyzing the authors use of irony
squealer called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. comrade napoleon was dying!....
by the evening, however, napoleon appeared to be somewhat better, and the following morning squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. by the evening of that day napoleon was back at work, and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed whymper to purchase in willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling.

• animal farm,

george orwell
which statement best explains orwells use of irony in this passage?
the unexpected action of napoleon changing his opinion on alcohol is situational irony.
dramatic irony occurs because the reader knows that napoleon wont die - he drank too much alcohol.
squealer uses verbal irony because he does not mean that napoleon is really dying.
the fact that napoleon seems to be dying is situational irony because he is a strong leader.

Explanation:

• Situational irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. In the first option, there is no mention of a previous stance on alcohol by Napoleon in the given passage, so it's not a valid example of situational irony here.
• Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that the characters in the story do not. In the passage, Squealer tells the animals Napoleon is dying. But the reader can infer (from the context of the story - animals on a farm, and the later action of Napoleon getting alcohol - related booklets, which implies he drank too much alcohol, a common cause of illness but not death in a story - like context where he recovers quickly) that Napoleon won't die. This fits the definition of dramatic irony.
• Verbal irony is when a speaker says one thing but means another. There is no indication in the passage that Squealer is using words in a sarcastic or opposite - meaning way when he says Napoleon is dying. He seems to be delivering the news as a serious announcement (even if it's false, there's no verbal play).
• The fourth option about Napoleon being a strong leader and seeming to die as situational irony is weak. Just being a strong leader doesn't create a strong contrast for situational irony in the context of seeming to die (as there's no build - up of him being "immortal" or something similar in the given passage).

Answer:

Dramatic irony occurs because the reader knows that Napoleon won't die—he drank too much alcohol.