The Safety and Sanctity of the Round House (Situational Irony)
In Chippewa tradition, the round house is an important gathering place where people practice rituals and celebrate their ancestral ties. However, there are a few instances in which events that occur in and around the round house ironically flip its meaning. During one of the annual sweat sessions hosted at the round house, Randall infiltrates the space with a "medicine" that in fact turns out to be hot peppers. This situation lightens the mood of the ritual and of the space overall.
Additionally, the round house was a "space safe" in which members of the tribe could practice their own rituals outside of the Christianity/Westernization that was imposed on them. It is ironic that, following Geraldine's attack, the round house is no longer a safe space. Instead, it is a location riddled with trauma and pain.
Curtis Yeltow (Situational Irony)
In The Round House, Curtis Yeltow is the governor of South Dakota. Following the death of Mayla, he attempts to adopt her orphaned daughter. Curtis's hastiness to tend to the situation is ironic, as he has spent his entire career disenfranchising and neglecting the Native American population.
Linda Lark's Desirability (Situational Irony)
When Linda Lark was born, her family put her up for adoption due to her birth defects. They were embarrassed that she was their daughter, and they did not want to spend their lives tending to her special needs. After being both rejected and neglected by her birth family for her entire life, Linda suddenly becomes desirable when she inherits her adopted mother's land. This is ironic, and it demonstrates the Lark family's greediness.
Floating Money (Situational Irony)
Joe rejoices when he discovers that the doll head floating in the lake contains thousands of dollars. However, as the novel progresses, he realizes that the doll head is evidence that Mayla has been another victim of Linden Lark's crime at the round house. He also realizes that his acquisition of the money could implicate him in the crime. It's ironic that Joe's good fortune is, in fact, riddled with bad luck.
