In this lesson, you will discover how writers can use irony to create humorous inconsistencies in their stories. Mark Twain was a master at creating ironic situations, and there are quite a few within this short story. Once you have completed this lesson, write a journal entry explaining the irony of Jim Smiley teaching his frog to jump and catch flies. Your entry should be approximately 150 words in length and contain at least one quotation from the story to support your ideas.

Araby every morning i lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. the blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that i could not be seen. when she came out on the doorstep my heart leaped. i ran to the hall, seized my books and followed her. i kept her brown figure always in my eye and, when we came near the point at which our ways diverged, i quickened my pace and passed her. this happened morning after morning. i had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood. what is the general tone of the passage? a. courageous b. comical c. passionate d. fearful