The Storyteller

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of child death and antigay bias.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Saki’s “The Story-Teller” presents two contrasting narratives about “good” children. Which of these stories did you find more compelling, and why? Does the bachelor’s subversive story remind you of other works that challenge traditional morality tales, such as Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where seemingly “good” children often meet unfortunate fates?

2. The children in the story immediately recognize that being “horribly good” contains a “ring of truth” absent from the aunt’s moralizing tale. What truth about human nature or morality did you find most striking in Saki’s story?

3. How did the humor in “The Story-Teller” affect your reading experience? What purpose does this humor serve in delivering the story’s darker messages about goodness and societal expectations?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The bachelor tells a story that subverts traditional moral lessons, suggesting that being “good” doesn’t always protect us from harm. Have there been times in your own life when following all the rules didn’t necessarily lead to a positive outcome? How did this affect your perspective?