Question

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?
○ it is verbal irony because the county attorney means precisely the opposite of what he is actually saying.
○ it is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the county attorney does not actually mean what he is saying.
○ it is situational irony because the county attorney has actually issued a relevant warning to mrs. peters without realizing it.
○ it is not an example of any type of irony because the county attorney is simply making a statement.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Verbal irony: When a speaker says the opposite of what they mean. The County Attorney isn't saying the opposite here. Eliminate this.
• Dramatic irony: When the audience knows more than the characters. Here, the audience (or readers) know that Mrs. Peters might be involved in the crime, and the County Attorney's statement "a sheriff’s wife is married to the law" is ironic because he doesn't realize the implications (Mrs. Peters could be hiding evidence), while the audience does. This fits.
• Situational irony: A contrast between expected and actual outcome. The Attorney isn't issuing a warning unknowingly in a situational irony way. Eliminate.
• Not irony: The statement has irony as the audience knows more, so this is wrong.

Answer:

B. It is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the County Attorney does not actually mean what he is saying.