This story by H. H. Munro (aka Saki) satirizes the way many traditional children’s stories had become so “sanitized” during the prudish Victorian period that they lost much of their original appeal. A major theme of the story is pride. The outer or “frame” story highlights the Aunt’s false pride in thinking that a bachelor couldn’t possibly tell a better children’s story than her. The inner story illustrates the meaning of the English idiom Pride comes before a fall. Other themes include childhood, curiosity, control and “goodness” vs. reality (not all things in life end happily!)
Original Text / PDF / Audio (2,000 words)