What is the irony is this passage?
In that direction, my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade; which wall required no spy-glass to bring out its lurking beauties, but, for the benefit of all near-sighted spectators, was pushed up to within ten feet of my window panes.
Is t the Black all wit unexpected beauty? But I don't know what that means.
"an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall"
Usually, when "an unobstructed view" is used, the expectation is of a wide vista -- lots of beach and ocean or big sky and lots of mountains or something absolutely beautiful and huge like one of those.
Another way to look at is that the view is not unobstructed; the wall is obstructing whatever view might be out there.
However "an unobstructed view" of a wall within 10 feet of the window is the opposite of what one would expect!
The sentence is filled with verbal irony. If taken literally, the reader would think that the narrator enjoys the beauty of old, blackened brick walls, and is pleased that his window is so close to one as to afford him a good view. Identifying the use of verbal irony in this sentence allows the reader to understand that the narrator is actually disgruntled with the scene his window presents.
Ah, irony, the comedic spice of life! In this passage, the irony lies in the description of the "lofty brick wall" as having "lurking beauties." Now, normally, we associate "beauties" with something visually appealing and pleasant to behold. However, the wall is described as "black by age and everlasting shade," which suggests the opposite of beauty. The irony is that the author sarcastically refers to the wall's supposedly hidden allure, even though its true nature is quite unattractive. It's like saying, "Oh yes, that wall over there is just bursting with irresistible charm!" when in reality, it's just a plain, old, black wall. Silly wall, trying to hide its lack of beauty!
The irony in this passage is the juxtaposition between the description of the "lofty brick wall" and the statement that it has "lurking beauties." The author sarcastically remarks that the wall does not require a spy-glass to appreciate its beauty, because it is "pushed up" so close to the window panes. The irony lies in the contradiction between the unattractive nature of the brick wall and the sarcastic suggestion of it possessing hidden beauty.
The irony in this passage is that the narrator refers to the brick wall as having "lurking beauties" and being pushed up to within ten feet of the window panes, suggesting that the wall is unexpectedly beautiful. However, the wall is described as being black by age and everlasting shade, implying that it is not, in fact, beautiful. The irony lies in the contrast between the narrator's attempt to find beauty in something that is traditionally considered unattractive or mundane.
To understand irony in a passage like this, you need to closely analyze the text and identify any discrepancies or contrasts between what is expected and what is actually being described. In this case, the expectation is that a beautiful view can be seen from the window, but the reality is that the view is obstructed by a dull and unattractive brick wall. By recognizing this contrast, you can identify the irony in the passage.