The homecoming Irony
When Mero Corn receives a call that his younger brother Roll is dead, he decides to make a journey home to attend his burial. Mero Corn has not been home for the last sixty years. Details about the death of Mero Corn's father are not precise from the story but the reader is certain that Mero Corn did not attend his father's burial because he has never returned home. This time around, he is determined and full of energy despite his age that he will drive home to pay last respect to his younger brother, Rollo who was killed by an emu. Ironically, at the end of the story, the reader realizes that Mero Corn is killed by the snowstorm before he attends the burial. It is ironic because after driving all the way, he dies after getting close home.
The Irony of Tick and Louise
Louise is married to Tick, the son of Roll, who is a brother to Mero Corn. When Roll is killed by an emu, Louise calls Mero Corn to notify him of the demise of his younger brother. However, it is ironic that Mero Corn does not know either Tick or Louise because he has never seen them. These are his brother's children but he has never seen them! The irony, in this case, shows the reader the extent to which the Corn's family is spread apart and each family only minds its own business.
The Irony of the Girlfriend
The old man (Mero Corn' father) is a charming man who decides to have a side woman (girlfriend). Mero is not happy about his father's decision to have a girlfriend at his age. However, Mero admits that the old man has a good taste because the girlfriend just like a horse because she is beautiful, cheerful, talkative and a good storyteller. However, it is ironic that the old man's girlfriend has an affair with Rollo who should be her stepson. They fall in love and she gives birth to a son for Rollo. This goes beyond the expectation of the reader because it is immoral for the girlfriend to date both the old man and his son, Rollo.
The Irony of the Steer
Tin Head attributes all his shortcomings in life to the steer. When he sees the steer, he also feels embarrassed because it blames him for the sufferings it is going through. The reader finds it ironic when Tin Heads sees the steer as a sign of bad luck to his family. On the contrary, it is the steer that has the right of blaming Tin Head for its misfortunes because he is the reason for its suffering. When he was slaughtering it, he absentmindedly forgot to remove all its skin and it managed to escape before it died. It survived and more often it meets with Tin Head who subjected it to its current suffering. Therefore, it is satirical for Tin Head to blame the steer for his challenges in life.
The Irony of the Multi-car crash
Mero Corn seems to be in deep thought as he drives to attend his brother's burial. He keeps on remembering his childhood escapades and at the same time is trying hard to concentrate on driving. Unfortunately, he is involved in a multi-car crash. His car is destroyed but he buys another car and continues with his journey with the hope of arriving home in town to pay last respect to his late brother. The reader can interpret that the multiple-car crash is a sign that Mero Corn is not going to arrive home alive. Ironically, Mero Corn did not ask himself why he is involved in a car crash. He buys another car and continues with the journey but unfortunately, he is killed by a snowstorm.
