While Irving’s story is fictional, his use of Knickerbockers’ frame story creates a Select one:
a. Narrative pattern
b. Cause and effect pattern
c. Exemplification patter
d. None of the above

a. Narrative pattern

Explanation:

A narrative pattern is a literary style where a story is told by presenting connected events in a sequential manner.

Though Irving's story is fictional, the use of Knickerbockers' frame story creates a narrative pattern. The story identifies Knickerbocker as the supposed author. Irving used fictional narrators, allowing him to distance himself from the story. This made him act as a narrator reporting a story that was told to him thereby avoiding scrutiny because the supposed author no longer lives.