What's the word for something that is purposefully generalised and understated?

Question

“By the time his arrival was reported, Lindbergh was the world’s hero, and nobody was interested in an Italian who reached his destination at the end of a tow rope.”

Like this example, the Italian guy has a name and did much more than just what was stated. What is this type of tone called? (generalizing the facts + understating the situation) Is there a name for this type of writing? Throughout the book (One Summer: America 1927) this strategy of intensified understatement is used multiple times, but I can't find the word for this kind of tone. It purposefully downplays the exciting scenario while intentionally stripping detail to amplify the contrast, which ends up not being 100% accurate, but funny nonetheless.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Answer 1

It seems that the two answers above have been voted down as they contain two options.

There is really only one choice:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_of_speech

Classical rhetoricians classified figures of speech into four categories or quadripartita ratio:[2]

• addition (adiectio), also called repetition/expansion/superabundance

• omission (detractio), also called subtraction/abridgement/lack

• transposition (transmutatio), also called transferring

• permutation (immutatio), also called switching/interchange/substitution/transmutation

We can say that "an Italian [...] tow rope" is detractio as it diminishes the status of the achievement

Further down we have:

meiosis: Use of understatement, usually to diminish the importance of something.

And this is a perfect fit for the example.

There is also an element of satire (q.v.) about it as the whole sentence is an oblique comment on the fickleness of society.

Satirical meiosis would therefore be the term.

Answer 2

Litotes is a rhetorical device that uses understatement to draw attention to the positive by using the negative. It's a form of irony. Often you'll hear it in introductions, i.e. "I don't have to tell you how the great generosity of our talented guest has helped influence the community...."

[Beowulf] raised the hard weapon by the hilt, angry and resolute – the sword wasn’t useless to the warrior… (Beowulf, line 1575)

Meiosis is a more specific figure of speech or rhetoric than litotes.

In The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield says "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."

Answer 3

I think meiosis may be more exact than litodes.

As Merriam Webster defines it:

the presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect

Whereas, litodes has a more specific meaning:

the use of a negative statement in order to emphasize a positive meaning, for example "a not inconsiderable amount of money (= a considerable amount of money)"

However, just understatement itself can convey that meaning.

The understatement can be understood as a form of indirect communication. Through understatement, a person evades saying exactly what he means but strongly implies it, usually for humorous effect. For example, if someone says that the state of Alaska is "pretty big", he would be engaging in understatement regarding the obvious fact that Alaska is enormous and larger in itself than most European nations.

and

Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole and overstatement and helps develop irony and sarcasm in writing or speech. Its first known use was in 1824.

(from Ultius glossary of rhetorical devices)