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

## Step 1<br />The first step in solving this problem is to understand the context of the excerpt. The County Attorney is discussing with Mrs. Peters, implying that the items they are discussing are not dangerous. However, his actions suggest otherwise, as he is moving things around and disturbing the quilt pieces covering the box.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Next, we need to identify the type of irony that is being used in this excerpt. Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning of words is different from their actual meaning. There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic, and situational.<br /><br />### **Verbal Irony**: <br />This occurs when a speaker says one thing but means another, often the opposite of what is said.<br /><br />### **Dramatic Irony**: <br />This happens when the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not.<br /><br />### **Situational Irony**: <br />This occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />In this excerpt, the County Attorney's words suggest that the items are not dangerous, but his actions indicate otherwise. This discrepancy between what he says and what he does is an example of verbal irony.