Final answer:
The author's use of irony in 'The Tortoise and the Hare' creates contrast, emphasizes the moral, and adds humor to the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author's use of irony impacts the meaning of 'The Tortoise and the Hare' by creating a sense of contrast and highlighting the foolishness of certain characters or institutions. Irony is a literary technique in which there is a difference between what is expected and what actually occurs. In this fable, the irony lies in the fact that the slow and steady tortoise ends up winning the race against the fast and overconfident hare.
The irony serves to emphasize the moral of the story, which is that persistence and determination are more important than natural talent or speed. It also provides a humorous element to the story, making it engaging and entertaining for the reader.