Question

Which statement best explains why this passage is an example of irony?

An unexpected event occurs that surprises the reader.
The text ridicules the animals for their naive way of thinking.
The characters make statements that are the opposite of what they really mean.
The reader knows that there is a difference between what is expected and what occurs.

Answer 1

"The reader knows that there is a difference between what is expected and what occurs."

This choice best captures irony: it highlights the contrast between expectation and reality (what actually happens), which is the core of situational and dramatic irony.