Question

FRITZ—Oh—but de talk—de talk—I can't stand it for you. When you go out like dis people don't believe it is for your work. They say you have a lover—they say he writes your books.
FRANK—That's very flattering. It means that they think they are too good for a woman to do.

Which best describes why this excerpt is ironic?
Frank should be insulted that people say that a man writes her books, but she actually views it as a compliment.
Fritz feels that Frank should not go out alone, but Frank does not seem to care what other people think.
Frank actually has a man who writes her books, but she denies this fact because she does not want people to know.
Fritz warns Frank that people will question why she is going out alone at night, but it is actually Fritz himself who does not want her to go.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A.

The irony in this excerpt is given by the fact that what is intended to be an insult is taken as a compliment.

Fritz warns Frank that, because of her going out so much, people are starting to believe that she has a lover and that he is writing her books for her. He intents this as an insult, as if people are calling her a fraud.

However, for Frank, it is a compliment because if they believe her lover, a man, is writing them, then her books must be very good.

Answer 2

Frank should be insulted that people say that a man writes her books, but she actually views it as a compliment.