Mark lies sleepless, his supine eyes rolling as he counts the rafters- vertically, horizontally, diagonally-over and over. There is continual rumbling in his belly. Lying so still, whom can he blame now? Isn’t it his own fault to be like this? Three months ago, Atongo and Agbenya said they were leaving town because “things have become too hard.” as they put it. They asked Mark to come along. He declined saying that he would have to prepare. Of course, he simply could not go-dare not. He had a pact with Akwele who sells kenkey downtown: neither could leave town without the other. At the time Mark’s friends were ready, Akwele had travelled to Accra and would, unknown to anyone, not return in a hurry. This is why Mark is lying dejected on his bed, a hungry man. Anyhow, he is not an angry man.
A. oxymoron
B. paradox
C. verbal irony
D. synecdoche.
Correct Answer:
Option C – verbal irony
