The Open Window by Saki

• Reading Notes

• Theme• Plot• Characters• Irony• Foreshadowing• Setting

Saki•Pen Name (What’s another

word for a pen name?)•Pseudonym•Author’s real name is H.H.

Munro

Theme• What is the theme: the message of the

story/main point the author is making?• More than one answer.• People make assumptions based on first

impressions• Vera and Frampton Nuttel (What are their

impressions?)• Vera seems trustworthy/innocent• Nuttel seems anxious/nervous/weak

Theme Continued• Vera seems concerned and

informative in a helpful way, but she is only setting up Nuttel to be a fool.

Verbal Irony in the NamesVera•Veri means truth but she doesn’t tell the truth•Verbal: fools everyone through stories

Frampton Nuttel•Nuts •Framed by Vera (Frame is the window frame)•Open window is his escape

What’s in a Name?Mrs. Sappleton•Sap•Wholesome like an apple

Exposition• background, time, place (setting), characters

• Background: Sister is a minor character helps set up the story’s setting

• Setting: October; one day; 1900s; English countryside; wealthy estate of the Sappletons; moors surround property

• Characters: We meet Nuttel and Vera; Vera questions Nuttel’s knowledge of the area and family

ConflictExternal:•Vera tells Nuttel about the tragedy that happened three years ago•Nuttel believes Vera’s lies because she appears innocent•The men come home from hunting just as Vera had planned in order to trick NuttelInternal: •Nuttel’s anxiety at the arrival of the hunters makes him believe fiction as truth

Complication• Vera admits that Mrs. Sappleton is in

denial of the family’s loss• Vera gives details of the tragedy on the

basis of the day: (knew her uncle was wearing a white McIntosh) which could like a ghost

• Mrs. Sappleton says the men will be home proving to Nuttel that she is in denial

Climax

•The hunters come home and Nuttel runs away

Resolution• The reader knows that

Vera lies to Mr. and Mrs. Sappleton and her brothers about Nuttel’s fear of dogs

Vera• Malicious (intends to hurt another)• 15 years old• Romance was her specialty• (in this case these stories are LIES)• Not honest (LIAR)• Self possessed (composed and in control)• Good actress

Frampton Nuttel• Nervous• Anxious• Gullible• Imagination leads him to believe

fiction over the truth• Impulsive

Ironic Moments…don’t you think?Verbal “You must try to put up with me.” “Frampton doubted more than ever these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much toward helping the nerve cure.”“I hope Vera has been amusing you.”

SituationalMrs. Sappleton was preparing for her husband to come home from hunting while Frampton thought she was in denial

DramaticWe know that Vera tells the Mr. and Mrs. Sappleton and Mrs. Sappleton’s brothers a lie about Frampton’s fear of dogs

Mrs. Sappleton•Kind•Welcoming•Family oriented

Foreshadowing• The room seemed to suggest

masculine habitation• He made the last statement in a

tone of distinct regret. When asked if he knows anyone, he replies, “Hardly a soul.”

Foreshadowing• Little brown spaniel lost/ Spaniel comes home

later with the hunters; Vera uses this “fear” of dogs for her next lie

• White Mackintosh described/ Mr. Sappelton had it draped over his arm easily noticed as a ghostly color