What is Inherent and Actualized Irony of the Religious Slaveowners from Frederick Douglass' s Autobiography?

Question

What does "analyze the author’s use of irony, both inherent and actualized, in the religious slaveholders" mean? What is meant by inherent and actualized irony? I don' t understand what these questions are asking for, esp. inherent and actualized.

Answer 1

"Inherent and actualized" Irony is not a technical term, it means exactly what it says. Inherent irony is the irony included in the text by the author to achieve a higher reading experience. Actualized on the other hand would be irony what which was present there in real life and not just conceived by the author. Regarding the "religious slaveholders," the phrase itself is ironical because the Christian faith advocates freedom and kindness for all of God's creatures, possessing slaves and being religious is thus contradictory, the question thus requires to point out irony in holding slaves and being Christan simultaneously.