Question

Read the sentence from an interpretive literary analysis.

Amy Tan describes Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."

Which revision of this sentence most accurately uses a literary term?

Amy Tan points out the allusion in Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."
Amy Tan points out the irony in Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."
Amy Tan points out the imagery in Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."
Amy Tan points out the theme in Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."

Answer 1

b. Amy Tan points out the IRONY in Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Amy Tan points out the irony in Jing-mei's mother's efforts to get her to become a prodigy: "I soon found out why Old Chong had retired from teaching piano. He was deaf."

Step-by-step explanation:

There are several meanings of irony.

Irony can be the use of words to express a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning. For example, if there is a storm going on outside, someone can ironically say: It's such nice weather today!

Irony also refers to the situation the outcome of which is the opposite of what someone would expect. This is called situational irony. That is the case we have here. A piano teacher has gone deaf. That is something you would never expect to happen to someone who plays the piano.