Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville (excerpt)
Ginger Nut, the third on my list, was a lad some twelve years old. His father was a carman, ambitious of seeing his son on the bench instead of a cart
before he died. So he sent him to my office, as student at law, errand boy, cleaner and sweeper, at the rate of one dollar a week. He had a little desk
to himself, but he did not use it much. Upon inspection, the drawer exhibited a great array of the shells of various sorts of nuts. Indeed, to this quick-
willed youth, the whole noble science of the law was contained in nutshell
... For the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering stinging melancholy seized me. Before, Thad never experienced aught but a not unpleasing
sadness. The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly lo gloom.
Select the correct answer.
Which sentence in this excerpt from Herman Melville's "Barleby, the Scrivener best exhibits the use of verbal irony?
A
Before, I had never experienced aught bul a not unpleasing sadness.
OB. Upon inspection, the drawer exhibited a great array of the shells of various sorts of nuts. Indeed, to this quick willed youth,
the whole noble science of the law was contained in a nutshell.
Oc. So he sent him to my office, as student at law, errand boy, cleaner and sweeper, at the rate of one dollar a week.
Op. For the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering Stinging melancholy seized me.