Question

[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 Orwell’s 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 won't 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.

Answer 1

Squealer uses verbal irony because he does not mean that Napoleon is really dying. He’s deliberately lying/manipulating the animals — the “dying” announcement is false, and the later detail about the brewing booklets exposes the deception.