The Open Window by Saki

1
The Open Window by Saki

• Reading Notes
• Theme
• Plot
• Characters
• Irony
• Foreshadowing
• Setting

2
Saki

• Pen Name (Whats another word for a pen name?)
• Pseudonym
• Authors real name is H.H. Munro

3
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

4
Theme Continued

• Vera seems concerned and informative in a helpful
  way, but she is only setting up Nuttel to be a
  fool.

5
Verbal Irony in the Names

• Vera
• Veri means truth but she doesnt tell the truth
• Verbal fools everyone through stories
• Frampton Nuttel
• Nuts
• Framed by Vera (Frame is the window frame)
• Open window is his escape

6
Whats in a Name?

• Mrs. Sappleton
• Sap
• Wholesome like an apple

7
Exposition

• background, time, place (setting), characters
• Background Sister is a minor character helps set
  up the storys setting
• Setting October one day 1900s English
  countryside wealthy estate of the Sappletons
  moors surround property
• Characters We meet Nuttel and Vera Vera
  questions Nuttels knowledge of the area and
  family

8
Conflict

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

9
Complication

• Vera admits that Mrs. Sappleton is in denial of
  the familys 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

10
Climax

• The hunters come home and Nuttel runs away

11
Resolution

• The reader knows that Vera lies to Mr. and Mrs.
  Sappleton and her brothers about Nuttels fear of
  dogs

12
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

13
Frampton Nuttel

• Nervous
• Anxious
• Gullible
• Imagination leads him to believe fiction over the
  truth
• Impulsive

14
Ironic Momentsdont 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.
• Situational
• Mrs. Sappleton was preparing for her husband to
  come home from hunting while Frampton thought she
  was in denial
• Dramatic
• We know that Vera tells the Mr. and Mrs.
  Sappleton and Mrs. Sappletons brothers a lie
  about Framptons fear of dogs

15
Mrs. Sappleton

• Kind
• Welcoming
• Family oriented

16
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.

17
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