Question

Irony is the expression of meaning through the use of language signifying the opposite. Describe the use of irony in ‘The Luncheon’. Pick the sentences from the story that are examples of irony. Fill in the table ‘A’ the general direct meaning while in table ‘B’ its hidden meaning or the opposite meaning intended by the speaker. One is done for you.

Sentence	Direct meaning	Hidden meaning
If I cut out coffee for the next two days,	to stop drinking coffee	to stop spending money in order to save money for some purpose.

Answer 1

Sentence	Direct meaning	Hidden meaning
If I cut out coffee for the next two days,	to stop drinking coffee	to stop spending money in order to save money for some purpose.
I will eat nothing for dinner tonight	To avoid eating on that night	The author didn’t have a single penny in his pocket after footing the bill at Foyot’s and would otherwise have been unable to afford any food, beginning with his dinner that night.
I never eat anything for luncheon	To avoid heavy meals for luncheon	She doesn’t eat a single heavy meal, but she eats ample of other things which are more than equal to a single heavy meal.