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Definition of Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean... read full definition
3. Kaa’s Hunting
Explanation and Analysis—Still and Cool!:
When he gets back from his time with the apes, Baloo’s reaction to Mowgli’s protestations is rich with verbal irony and hyperbole. In this passage, Baloo demonstrates his disdain toward the idea of monkeys showing genuine pity or kindness:
‘When Baloo hurt my head,’ said Mowgli (he was still on his back), ‘I went away, and the grey apes came down from the trees and had pity on me. No one else cared.’
He snuffled a little.
‘The pity of the Monkey-People!’ Baloo snorted. ‘The stillness of the mountain stream! The cool of the summer sun! [...]'
By comparing the monkeys’ pity to the "stillness of a mountain stream" and the "cool of the summer sun," Baloo uses hyperbolic language to exaggerate the unlikeliness of the monkeys' good behavior. These comparisons are hyperbolic because mountain streams are naturally flowing, not still, and the summer sun is hot, not cool. Baloo uses these unlikely scenarios to point out the absurdity of expecting empathy and kindness from the monkeys.
The verbal irony here lies in Baloo’s sarcastic tone. He implies that expecting pity from monkeys is as ridiculous as expecting the sun to be cold. Although Baloo’s own teachings might be a little too rough, he knows Mowgli is better off with him and Bagheera than with the chaotic Bandar-log.
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