1 As travellers like to give their own impressions of a journey, though every inch of the way may have been described a half a dozen times before, I add some of the notes made by the way, hoping that they will amuse the reader, and convince the skeptical that such a being as Nurse Periwinkle does exist, that she really did go to Washington, and that these Sketches are not romance.
2 New York Train--Seven P.M.--Spinning along to take the boat at New London. Very comfortable; much gingerbread, and Mrs. C.'s fine pear, which deserves honorable mention, because my first loneliness was comforted by it, and pleasant recollections of both kindly sender and bearer. Look much at Dr. H.'s paper of directions--put my tickets in every conceivable place, that they may be get-at-able, and finish by losing them entirely. Suffer agonies till a compassionate neighbor pokes them out of a crack with his pen-knife. Put them in the inmost corner of my purse, that in the deepest recesses of my pocket, pile a collection of miscellaneous articles atop, and pin up the whole. Just get composed, feeling that I've done my best to keep them safely, when the Conductor appears, and I'm forced to rout them all out again, exposing my precautions, and getting into a flutter at keeping the man waiting. Finally, fasten them on the seat before me, and keep one eye steadily upon the yellow torments, till I forget all about them, in chat with the gentleman who shares my seat. Having heard complaints of the absurd way in which American women become images of petrified propriety, if addressed by strangers, when traveling alone, the inborn perversity of my nature causes me to assume an entirely opposite style of deportment; and, finding my companion hails from Little Athens, is acquainted with several of my three hundred and sixty-five cousins, and in every way a respectable and respectful member of society, I put my bashfulness in my pocket, and plunge into a long conversation on the war, the weather, music, Carlyle, skating, genius, hoops, and the immortality of the soul.
Question
Which of these best serves as an example of ironic humor?
Responses
A The narrator presents a series of conversation topics, ranging from mundane to outlandish, in order to impress her companion with her range of expertise.The narrator presents a series of conversation topics, ranging from mundane to outlandish, in order to impress her companion with her range of expertise.
B The narrator exaggerates the number of relatives she has in order to highlight the ease with which she and her companion engage in conversation.The narrator exaggerates the number of relatives she has in order to highlight the ease with which she and her companion engage in conversation.
C The narrator's significant effort expended in protecting her tickets results in her inability to easily obtain them when the conductor appears.The narrator's significant effort expended in protecting her tickets results in her inability to easily obtain them when the conductor appears.
D The narrator takes copious notes in order to ensure that the reader believes her narrative about Nurse Penwinkle.
1 answer
The best example of ironic humor from the provided options is:
C The narrator's significant effort expended in protecting her tickets results in her inability to easily obtain them when the conductor appears.
This option highlights the irony in the narrator's situation: despite her efforts to keep the tickets safe, her meticulousness leads to the opposite outcome, making it difficult to access them when needed. This irony creates a humorous situation in which her intention to be organized backfires.
1 answer