In R.K. Narayan's short story "A Horse and Two Goats," how does the narrator make use of comic irony to describe the incident surrounding the statue?
Answers
Irony is defined as the difference between what happens and what is expected. Situational irony is defined as...
...irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.
In "A Horse and Two Goats" by R.K. Narayan, the comic irony takes place between a very poor Indian man, Muni, and a very rich American tourist because they lack the ability to communicate. While this might cause anger or frustration in another similar situation, Narayan chooses to make the story amusing.
Muni, an old man who was once wealthy, spends his days with his two goats—he cannot sell them for money nor eat them for they are worthless. They are, however, his constant companions.
Answer:
Specifically, the comic irony is that Muni thought he was selling his goats. Without knowing it, he has sold the statue of the horse. Muni unexpectedly gets to keep his goats, and his scolding wife leaves him to live with her parents.