Which term refers to a literary technique where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning?

The term that refers to a literary technique where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning is irony. Irony can manifest in various forms, such as verbal irony, where someone says one thing but means another, often the opposite, or situational irony, where the outcome of a situation is incongruous with what was expected. This technique adds depth to literary works, allowing for nuanced expressions and highlighting contrasts between appearances and reality.

In the context of literary analysis, recognizing instances of irony enhances comprehension of characters' motivations and themes, as it often reveals underlying truths or critiques societal norms. The other options—prose, bias, and subjectivity—do not convey this specific concept of opposing meanings but serve their own distinct purposes in literature and analysis. Prose refers to written or spoken language in its ordinary form without metrical structure, bias involves an inclination or prejudice toward a particular perspective, and subjectivity pertains to personal opinions and feelings rather than objective facts. Thus, irony is uniquely positioned as the only term that encapsulates this particular literary technique.