Literature Glossary
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Sarcasm
Definition:
If you have an older brother, then you know—perhaps painfully well—what sarcasm is: It's just when what somebody says is different from what they actually mean. Usually, it's used for a bitter, comedic, or mocking effect.
Let's return to your charming older brother. (Yep, we're already modeling sarcasm.)
We'll call him Ralph. If you ask Ralph if he wants to help you with your geometry homework and he says, "Oh, yeah. I can't wait. I definitely wouldn't rather be out playing basketball with my friends," that's sarcasm. Ralph would totally rather be out playing roundball with his friends than be a model big bro, so his words and their meaning don't match up.
He's also making fun of you for asking. Isn't Ralph lovely?
Want to read some more literary examples of sarcasm? Start with Mark Twain. The American humorist was a master of mockery.