Identify the key details that contribute to the irony in "The Colomber" by Dino Buzzati

There are three types of details that contribute to the irony in "The Colomber." First are details that encourage the fear of the unknown and emphasize the spookiness of the colomber. When Stefano’s father first describes the legend of the colomber, it builds fear and suspense in Stefano and the reader. Stefano’s father says, "It’s the fish that sailors fear above all others, in every sea of the world." Not only does this detail enforce the idea that the colomber is a thing to be avoided, but it also emphasizes how difficult it will be to avoid it. After all, it is known throughout all the seas in the world. There are also details that build suspense by emphasizing the danger that Stefano believes he faces. For example, Stefano runs to the pier every time he returns home and still the shark is there waiting for him or when Stefano obsesses over the colomber even while hundreds of miles away. Finally, the details in the story that hint that Stefano plans to meet the colomber (his death) also contribute to the irony. These three types of details give the impression the colomber is something to be feared and that nothing good will come of meeting it face-to-face. When the actual meeting goes completely against Stefano (and the reader’s) expectation, the situational irony is complete.