Question

Maria is reading a humorous story in which many of the ideas are downplayed or treated casually. Which literary device is the author using in the story? hyperbole allegory symbolism understatement

Answer 1

Understatement

Hyperhole is exaggeration, but still part of humour.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The answer is understatement. 

An understatement is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.