Select the correct answer. Which sentence in this passage from Herman Melville's short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" is an example of verbal irony?

Must read story will give if ! in “perseverance,” which theme is reflected in the lines, “life’s field will yield as we make it / a harvest of thorns or of flowers”? a: life is a field in which flowers and thorns will grow. b: accept what you are given, because you cannot change it. c: your life is the result of the work you put into it. d: working together people achieve their goals in life.

Which statement best describes the intended aesthetic impact of this excerpt?

Identify how chekhov’s background and beliefs may have influenced his short story “the bet”.