Sheep as Detectives (Situational Irony)
It is ironic that a flock of sheep, creatures often stereotyped as passive and unintelligent, become the investigators of a human murder. This reversal subverts expectations and adds humor while critiquing how humans underestimate other forms of perception.
Understanding Through Misunderstanding (Dramatic Irony)
The sheep frequently misinterpret human behavior — sermons, books, or rituals — yet sometimes their mistaken interpretations bring them closer to the truth. Readers recognize the errors, creating dramatic irony, while also seeing how flawed understanding can still reveal deeper insights.
The Shepherd’s Role (Situational Irony)
George, who guided and protected the sheep, is killed, leaving them alone. The irony lies in the fact that the beings most dependent on him (the sheep) prove more proactive in solving his murder than the humans who were supposed to care for him.
Books as Wisdom (Verbal/Ironic Symbolism)
To the sheep, books are magical objects full of wisdom, though they cannot read them. The irony is that they treat books with more reverence than many humans in the village, who possess the ability to read but often ignore deeper truths.
The Quest for Truth (Thematic Irony)
The sheep set out to solve the murder, expecting a clear and final answer. Yet their conclusions are partial, fragmented, and uncertain — ironically mirroring the human condition, where truth is never absolute and understanding always incomplete.
