what is the theme and literary device used in the lesson mrs packletide's tiger.
Answers
Theme
Saki has satirized the flaws of human character in his chapter Mrs. Packletide’s Tigers. Not only the flaws, but also the wanton killing of tigers has also been made the focus. The flaws of human character that he has tried to bring to light are jealousy, vanity, and apathy to wild animals. The readers are shocked to see the jealousy between Mrs. Packletide and Loona Bimberton. In order to outshine her rival, Mrs. Packletide arranges for a tiger hunt in an Indian village. The tiger she plans to kill is already on the verge of death due to old age and decrepitude. The humorous thing is the tiger dies of the heart attack hearing the loud report of the gunfire. Though Mrs. Packletide achieves the purpose of outshining Loona Bimberton by getting enough coverage in the media on account of the tiger hunt, she really incurs a heavy financial loss at the hands of Miss Mebbin who blackmails her. Thus the author succeeds in bringing flaws of man’s character to light and satirizing them.
Literary Devices Used in the Chapter
Irony
The irony in the lesson, Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger is this that Mrs. Packletide had hoped shooting of tiger would help her outsmart Loona Bimberton. She felt her jealousy would be satisfied. However, the shooting of tiger proved quite a source of stress, tension, worry, and loss to her. She not only had to pay a very heavy amount to pacify Mrs. Mebbin, but also had to face the fears of her secret revealed to Loona Bimberton.
Metaphor
the lust to kill had suddenly descended on her
a heavy harvest of press photographs
Venerable Herd Robber
Simile
her face changing colour as rapidly as though it were going through a book of patterns before post-time.
Alliteration
Algerian aviator
personally procured
proved propitious