Question

Who said this in Of Pride & Prejudice, and what type of irony does it show? “You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”

a.Mrs. Bennet: Situational Irony


b.Mr. Bingley: Dramatic Irony


c.Elizabeth: Proverbial Irony


d.Mr. Bennet: Verbal Irony

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

D. Mr. Bennet: Verbal Irony

Verbal irony is defined as an intentional product of the speaker, and is contradictory to his/her emotions and actions.  Mr. Bennet was asked if he had any compassion abour Elizabeth poor nerves, then he gave her this sarcastic answer, where the author counts on the reader intelligence to understand what Mr. Bennet really wanted to say.

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is D. Mr. Bennet: Verbal Irony.

Explanation: In Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Bennet is the father of Jane, Elizabeth, Lydia, Kitty and Mary. He is characterized for his sarcastic humor and his reserved attitude. Moreover, in this excerpt, he resorts to verbal irony to refer to his wife's nerves. Verbal irony occurs when a person says something but that means something else. In the fragment, Mr. Benett says he has respect for Mrs. Bennet's nerves and he calls them 'friends' when he actually does not appreciate them.