Final answer:
Irony in 'The Odour of Chrysanthemums' serves to engage the reader by contrasting reality with expectations, similar to the ironic tone in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey,' which entices reader interest through an unconventional heroine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of irony in "The Odour of Chrysanthemums" by Mrs. Bates while waiting for her husband illustrates a literary device where the reality is different from the expectations set by her statement. Irony in 'The Odour of Chrysanthemums' serves to engage the reader by contrasting reality with expectations, similar to the ironic tone in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey,' which entices reader interest through an unconventional heroine.
In this context, irony heightens the intrigue of the narrative, as the reader is led to question why a character such as Mrs. Bates, positioned in a seemingly mundane domestic scene, is cast in such a detached and ironic light.
Similar to the effect in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, the irony serves as a mechanism to engage the reader by presenting a central character who defies the traditional expectations of a heroine, thereby promising a unique and unconventional story.