Question

Which sentence in this passage from Herman Melville’s short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" is an example of verbal irony?

A.
I seldom lose my temper, much more seldom indulge in dangerous indignation at wrongs and outrages.
B.
In that direction, my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade, which wall required no spyglass to bring out its lurking beauties, but, for the benefit of all nearsighted spectators, was pushed up to within ten feet of my windowpanes.
C.
At one end they looked upon the white wall of the interior of a spacious skylight shaft, penetrating the building from top to bottom.
D.
Owing to the great height of the surrounding buildings, and my chambers’ being on the second floor, the interval between this wall and mine not a little resembled a huge square cistern.

Answer 1

B) In that direction, my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade, which wall required no spyglass to bring out its lurking beauties, but, for the benefit of all nearsighted spectators, was pushed up to within ten feet of my windowpanes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Plato/Edmentum

Answer 2

Answer: B. In that direction, my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade, which wall required no spyglass to bring out its lurking beauties, but, for the benefit of all nearsighted spectators, was pushed up to within ten feet of my windowpanes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Verbal irony is defined as the figure of speech when a person says a particular thing but he or she actually means something else.

Based on the information given in the passage, the verbal irony will be "In that direction, my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade, which wall required no spyglass to bring out its lurking beauties, but, for the benefit of all nearsighted spectators, was pushed up to within ten feet of my windowpanes".

Therefore, the correct option is B.