Ouy do Moupassant (1850-1893) was a fronch outhor of novels and short stories. The following story is a shortened English translation of one of the hundrods of short stories he published. from "An Uncomfortable Bed" by Guy de Maupassant One autumn I wont to stay . . . with some frionds in a chateau'... My friends woro fond of practical joking, as all my friends aro. I do not care to know any other sort of poople. When I arrived, they gave me a princely reception, which at once aroused distrust. .. Thoy embracod mo, they cajoled me , as if 1 2 3 4 5 6 How does the author develop the theme of the story? He uses humor to show how the narrator's belief that his friends will play a practical joke on him is the result of him having been tricked in the past. He uses irony to show that the narrator's fear of being the victim of a practical joke causes him the embarrassment he wishes to avoid. He uses figurative language to show that the narrator does not really like practical jokes as much as he thought he did. He uses suspense to show how the narrator puts himself in a tense situation solely to make his frlends faugh. My Progress

The correct answer is: **He uses irony to show that the narrator's fear of being the victim of a practical joke causes him the embarrassment he wishes to avoid.** ### Explanation: Guy de Maupassant masterfully employs **irony** in "An Uncomfortable Bed" to highlight the protagonist's internal conflict. The narrator arrives at his friends' chateau anticipating practical jokes based on their known penchant for such antics. This anticipation leads him to feel uneasy and distrustful, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. His fear and suspicion ironically lead to the very embarrassment he aims to avoid, illustrating how his expectations shape his experiences. **Why the Other Options Are Less Suitable:** 1. **Humor:** While the story may contain humorous elements, the primary mechanism driving the theme is irony rather than straightforward humor related to past tricks. 2. **Figurative Language:** Although Maupassant uses rich language, the central theme revolves around the ironic consequences of the narrator's fears rather than his feelings about practical jokes per se. 3. **Suspense:** The story isn't primarily about building suspense for the sake of tension but rather about the ironic outcome of the narrator's anticipatory fears. ### Summary Irony is the key literary device Maupassant uses to develop the theme, demonstrating how the narrator's own fears lead to the uncomfortable situation he tries to avoid.