Help on an assignment!!

Question

Hey, i have to read a book called Narrative of federick douglas: an american slave.

I have to write an essay with the prompt: analyze the author’s use of irony, both inherent and actualized, in the religious slaveholders.

i don't want someone to tell me the answer...cause i understand most of it..but the only thing i have trouble with is the inherent and the actualized part, i don't quite understand that.

If someone can help me.. he/she is much appreciated!!

Answer 1

If it helps to see the definition of the words

inherent - existing as an essential constituent or characteristic; "the Ptolemaic system with its built-in concept of periodicity"; "a constitutional inability to tell the truth"

built-in, inbuilt, integral, constitutional

Ac`tu`al`i`sa´tion

A making actual or really existent; giving the appearance of reality.

Irony occurs when the meaning of a statement differs from what is actually asserted.  Douglass frequently uses this ironic tone in the Narrative to highlight the discrepancy between supposed and actual justice.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/narrative/...

Study guide

Answer 2

ok, inherent is all the bits that are not overtly stated but we would consider today as shocking, and actualized are the bits that are stated out loud.  So the inherent irony is the religious slaveholders taking about compassion and generosity will not showing the same to the slaves and the actual would be bits where they verbally stae racism.