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Similes
Situational Irony
Explanation and Analysis—The Feud:
Ulrich and Georg’s decision to set aside their conflict is one of the major turning points in the story. Their multi-generational feud has propelled them into violent confrontation, and it is only after they both end up in a dangerous situation stuck beneath a fallen tree that they begin to reconsider their hatred. Eventually, after Ulrich extends a peace offering, Georg realizes:
“[...] what peace there would be among the forester folk if we ended our feud tonight. And if we choose to make peace among our people there is none other to interfere, no interlopers from outside…”
This revelation—that the elimination of their conflict would be mutually beneficial—changes the story immensely. The implied violence of their conflict and meeting is replaced by hope for a future in which Ulrich and Georg can work together to create a better community. However, in the story’s final ironic twist, this peaceful future is interrupted by "interlopers" after all. Instead of being rescued by one of their hunting parties, they are discovered by a pack of wolves. The irony in the story’s end lies in the fact that the central characters have overcome a multigenerational feud only to die anyway. Although each character most likely expected to die by the hand of the other, they end up dying together while facing the same threat, having focused too much on their own conflict and not enough on the dangers lurking in the woods themselves.
Related Themes:
