What are the main themes in saki horror short stories?

Another theme is the power of the unexpected. For example, in 'The Open Window', the sudden turn of events when the men are seen approaching the window as if they are ghosts is a great example of how Saki likes to surprise his readers. His stories often have plot twists that keep the reader on their toes.

One characteristic is their clever use of irony. Saki often sets up situations where the outcome is the opposite of what one would expect. For example, in 'The Open Window', the girl's made - up story seems so real at first.

The relationship between the young and the old or the powerful and the powerless is also a theme. In stories like 'The Lumber - Room', we see how a young boy challenges the authority of the adults. It shows the different perspectives and power dynamics between different age groups.

In 'The Open Window', the main characters are Vera, a young girl who is a great storyteller, and Mr. Nuttel, a rather nervous man who falls for Vera's false story. Vera is very clever in creating a spooky scenario for Mr. Nuttel.

Satire is also a prevalent theme. Saki often uses his stories to poke fun at the social norms and pretensions of the upper class. His characters are sometimes foolish or self - centered, and through their actions, he shows the absurdity of certain social behaviors. For instance, in some of his stories, the upper - class characters are more concerned with their status than with real human relationships.

Another interesting Saki horror short story could be 'Sredni Vashtar'. It involves a boy's rather dark and disturbing relationship with a polecat - ferret. The story builds a tense atmosphere as the boy's secret worship of this creature unfolds, and the final outcome is quite shocking.

One common theme could be the fear of the supernatural. Ghosts, demons, or otherworldly entities often play a role in horror stories, and probably in these 14 as well.

One well - known saki horror story is 'The Open Window'. It has an unexpected and rather spooky twist at the end. The way the young girl in the story fabricates a terrifying tale about the hunters who never returned is quite chilling.

Children also play important roles in some of his stories. These children are usually very clever and sometimes naughty, like in 'The Lumber - Room' where the boy outsmarts his aunt.

I'm not entirely sure without reading the book specifically, but typically in Saki's works, there are often characters from the upper - class society, like aristocrats or wealthy individuals.