what literary device does gwendolen use when she says, i think there must be some slight error”? pun paradox understatement epigram
What literary device does Gwendolen use when she says, “I think there must be some slight error”?
In this line, Gwendolen uses the literary device of understatement. Understatement is a figure of speech where a writer or speaker deliberately represents something as less important, intense, or significant than it actually is. Gwendolen’s statement indicates that she believes there is only a small, insignificant error, while the reality is that the error might be significant or even substantial. This use of understatement creates irony and adds humor to the dialogue.