1. Irony and Understatement:
* Mrs. Packletide's grand plan: The very premise of the story is ironic. Mrs. Packletide, driven by vanity and a desire for fame, goes to great lengths to shoot a tiger, only to find that the whole affair was a staged event.
* Miss Mebbin's motives: While pretending to be a selfless companion, Miss Mebbin is secretly manipulative, exploiting Mrs. Packletide's vanity and ultimately profiting from the situation. The reader is privy to her true intentions, adding a layer of irony to her actions.
* The tiger's demise: The "tiger" is revealed to be an old, harmless creature. The fact that Mrs. Packletide brags about "killing" it, despite its harmlessness, is inherently humorous.
2. Character Foibles and Exaggeration:
* Mrs. Packletide: She is portrayed as an eccentric, wealthy woman obsessed with social status and public perception. Her actions are often driven by vanity and a desire to appear sophisticated, making her a source of amusement for the reader.
* Miss Mebbin: She is a cunning and opportunistic character who embodies the adage "all is fair in love and war." Her manipulative behavior and constant scheming provide comedic relief.
* Loona Bimberton: Loona's reaction to Mrs. Packletide's "achievement" is overblown, highlighting the superficiality of the social world they inhabit. Her exaggerated jealousy fuels the humor of the situation.
3. Absurdity and Unexpected Situations:
* The staged tiger hunt: The entire plan is ridiculous and unrealistic. The fact that Mrs. Packletide, a wealthy and pampered woman, willingly participates in this absurd scheme is funny in itself.
* The tiger's "death": The tiger's accidental demise, caused by an unexpected explosion, is both comical and unexpected.
* The aftermath: The consequences of the plan are farcical, with Mrs. Packletide's reputation ruined and Miss Mebbin walking away with the spoils.
4. Wordplay and Witty Dialogue:
* Saki's writing is characterized by sharp wit and subtle humor. The dialogue often reveals the characters' true motives and exposes their hypocrisy.
* For example, Miss Mebbin's constant references to her own "selflessness" are ironic and humorous, given her ulterior motives.
By combining these elements, Saki creates a humorous and satirical portrait of the social climbing and vanity that characterized the upper class in the early 20th century. The story's humor ultimately serves to highlight the absurdity of Mrs. Packletide's actions and the shallowness of the society she inhabits.