Question

Read the excerpt from "The Lady or the Tiger?"

The arena of the king was built, not to give the people an opportunity of hearing the rhapsodies of
dying gladiators
Which clue would be most helpful in explaining the use of verbal irony in this excerpt?
The definition of gladiator is a fighter who cannot be bested. This is directly
contradicted by the phrase dying gladiators.
The arena was not built for the people at all, as only the king is allowed to observe the
activities that occur there
The people are too civilized to enjoy the savage activities of the arena. They only go
because the king forces them
The definition of rhapsodies is an extremely happy expression of feeling. This is not
what you'd expect to hear from dying gladiators.​

Answer 1

The definition of rhapsodies is an extremely happy expression of feeling. This is not what you'd expect to hear from dying gladiators.​

Step-by-step explanation:

Verbal irony occurs when someone means the opposite of what he or she means. In the excerpt from "The Lady or the Tiger?" the verbal irony is that dying gladiators do not do rhapsodies. In fact, the word rhapsody refers to an effusively enthusiastic expression of feeling, which is contrary to the apprehension and distress that a person facing death can experience on the king's arena.