The Bachelor's Story and Bertha's Medals
Irony in the story mostly lies in the bachelor's story. After the aunt tells what she sees as an appropriate story, the bachelor proposes that he tell his own. This story is a satirical take on the aunt's story and her beliefs. Instead of a polite, neat, and proud child being rewarded and saved, these traits lead to her death. This irony is symbolized by Bertha's medals, which she is given for being good and which directly lead to the wolf catching her. The surprising moral of the story is that being good can be bad.
Telling Stories to Children
"It's a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and appreciate." (5)
This quote, spoken by the aunt, becomes ironic because it is quickly refuted by the bachelor's story. It is clear from the children's questions and comments that they understand the story, and they praise the bachelor and his story after he finishes. The aunt is proved wrong in her belief about stories for children, perhaps because she would have never thought to tell a story like the bachelor's.
Flowers
Saki writes a small, humorous moment of irony in the scene of the bachelor's story when Bertha entered the park. The bachelor says that Bertha was upset that there weren't any flowers, but he explains that she was upset because she had promised not to pick any flowers and now there weren't any to tempt her. This ironic moment sets Bertha apart from normal, playful children like those on the train by exaggerating her goodness.
