Which literary device is illustrated by the misinterpretation of 'knock' in this scene?

• A. Dramatic irony
• B. Situational irony
• C. Verbal irony
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (C)

Verbal irony shows up when what is said carries a meaning different from, or opposite to, what is actually meant. In this scene, the word “knock” is interpreted by the characters in a way that differs from the speaker’s intended sense, making the spoken line carry an ironic edge. The humor and tension come from that mismatch between the surface meaning of the word and its true implication, which the audience recognizes. This isn’t about a broader gap between expectation and outcome (that would be situational irony), nor about the audience knowing more than the characters (that would be dramatic irony), and it isn’t simply a metaphor.