Formalism · English Literature

In the context of New Criticism, 'Irony' refers to:

  1. Sarcasm directed at the reader
  2. The recognition of incongruities and experiential complexity within a text
  3. The gap between what a character and the audience know
  4. The use of language to mock the government
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Correct answer: The recognition of incongruities and experiential complexity within a text

For New Critics, irony is a structural principle that allows a poem to acknowledge competing perspectives and resist simplistic, one-sided interpretations.

Difficulty: Medium Question 19 of 20

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