Section: English Language & Composition

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In paragraph 6, the Accusers decide to use their Holy Writ (Bible) to "prove" the guilt of the Accused. How is the outcome of this experiment ironic?

1. Since it succeeds, the Accusers are clearly justified in their methods.
2. Their use of an improper translation leads to a failed result.
3. It actually proves that the Accused are practicing witchcraft.
4. Taken literally, the outcome actually proves the innocence of the Accused. The Accusers don't like this result, however, and end up changing the rules to get their desired outcome.
5. It leads to the successful conversion of the witchcraft practitioners.

Irony as a literary technique means the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character. Answer 4 describes this in the context of the essay.