Which answer choice describes a moment of situational irony in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?

Question

Responses

Mr. Covey's attempts to break Douglass's will with oppressive violence only serve to inspire Douglass to seek his freedom.
Mr. Covey's attempts to break Douglass's will with oppressive violence only serve to inspire Douglass to seek his freedom.

Mr. Covey tries to whip Douglass for being disrespectful, but Douglass fights back, which makes Mr. Covey respect him.
Mr. Covey tries to whip Douglass for being disrespectful, but Douglass fights back, which makes Mr. Covey respect him.

Douglass finds that he will have to work as a field hand after trying to avoid field work his whole life.
Douglass finds that he will have to work as a field hand after trying to avoid field work his whole life.

Mr. Covey tries to tame a team of unbroken oxen by giving them to Douglass, even though he has no experience with oxen.

Answer 1

The answer choice that describes a moment of situational irony in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is:

Mr. Covey tries to whip Douglass for being disrespectful, but Douglass fights back, which makes Mr. Covey respect him.

This statement presents a situation where one would expect that Mr. Covey's violence would instill fear and subservience in Douglass, but the opposite occurs: Douglass's act of fighting back leads to a newfound respect from Covey. This reversal of expectations illustrates situational irony.