Exploring 'The Open Window' by Saki: An Analysis of Characters and Key Points

 
LESSON-7, THE OPEN WINDOW
SAKI (H.H. MUNRO
)
 
MODULE 1/2
 
SAKI (H.H. MUNRO)
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Hector Hugh Munro was born in Britain on
18
th
 Dec. 1870 and died on 14
th
 Nov. 1915.
He is better known by his pen name Saki.
He is considered a master of the short story,
and is often compared to O. Henry.
 
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY
 
The Open Window is Saki’s most important short
story. Saki’s wit is at the height of its power in this
story. It is about a spontaneous practical joke
played upon a visiting stranger Mr. Framton
Nuttel. The story has a tripartite structure with
the first part beginning with the conversation
between Vera and Framton Nuttel, the second
with the entrance of the Mrs. Sappleton and the
third with the return of the hunting party.  Saki
employs a flashback to divide these three parts
with a story-within-a story, inspired by Vera’s
imagination.
 
MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE STORY
 
1. 
Framton Nuttel’s Sister
- She writes several letters
of introduction to keep her brother, Framton
Nuttel, from being lonely on his retreat to the
countryside.  She writes one such letter in order
to introduce him to Mrs. Sappleton. This is how
Framton finds himself in Mrs. Sappleton’s home.
2. 
Mr. Framton Nuttel
- A perpetually anxious
gentleman sent to the English countryside to
soothe his nervous disorder.. He has arrived at
the Sappletons’ home following a letter of
introduction from his sister.
 
 
3. 
Vera
- A fifteen year old girl who greets Framton
and informs him of her aunt’s great tragedy.
4. 
Mrs. Sappleton
-  Framton Nuttel’s host and
Vera’s aunt .
5. 
Mr. Sappleton
-Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and a
member of the hunting party.
6. 
Ronnie- 
Mrs. Sappleton’s youngest brother and a
member of the hunting party. He often teases her
by singing a short song, “I say, Bertie, why do you
bound?”
 
KEYPOINTS OF THE STORY
 
1. Framton Nuttel, a man with a nervous disorder,
moved to the countryside on his doctor’s advice
to find a cure for the condition which he suffered
from.
2. His sister had lived in the area he visited and had
given him letters of introduction to Mrs.
Sappleton.
3. Mr. Framton Nuttel reached Mrs.Sappleton’s
house in the countryside. The lady was busy
upstairs, so he started talking to her niece Vera,
who was sitting there.
 
 
4. Vera told Framton Nuttel about a family
mishap. She showed him the French window
in the room that opened on to a lawn.
5. She told him that the open window was
always kept open and that there was a story
behind it.  She said that three years earlier,
Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and her two young
brothers had gone for hunting through that
window. A spaniel was also with them. They
never returned as their bodies were engulfed
in a dangerous piece of  bog.
 
 
6. She told the stranger apologetically how her
poor aunt still thought that they would return
one day through the same open window. That
was why (according to Vera) the window was
being kept open every evening until sunset.
7. She said that sometimes on still, quiet
evenings, she used to get a creepy feeling that
they would walk in through the window.
Slide Note
Embed
Share

The story "The Open Window" by Saki follows Framton Nuttel, a man with a nervous disorder, as he visits the English countryside. Upon his arrival at the Sappletons' home, he interacts with Vera, a witty young girl who spins a tale about a family tragedy involving an open window. This practical joke plays out with unexpected consequences, showcasing Saki's mastery of storytelling through wit and intrigue.


Uploaded on Jul 25, 2024 | 0 Views


Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. LESSON-7, THE OPEN WINDOW SAKI (H.H. MUNRO) MODULE 1/2

  2. SAKI (H.H. MUNRO)

  3. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hector Hugh Munro was born in Britain on 18thDec. 1870 and died on 14thNov. 1915. He is better known by his pen name Saki. He is considered a master of the short story, and is often compared to O. Henry.

  4. INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY The Open Window is Saki s most important short story. Saki s wit is at the height of its power in this story. It is about a spontaneous practical joke played upon a visiting stranger Mr. Framton Nuttel. The story has a tripartite structure with the first part beginning with the conversation between Vera and Framton Nuttel, the second with the entrance of the Mrs. Sappleton and the third with the return of the hunting party. Saki employs a flashback to divide these three parts with a story-within-a story, inspired by Vera s imagination.

  5. MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE STORY 1. Framton Nuttel s Sister- She writes several letters of introduction to keep her brother, Framton Nuttel, from being lonely on his retreat to the countryside. She writes one such letter in order to introduce him to Mrs. Sappleton. This is how Framton finds himself in Mrs. Sappleton s home. 2. Mr. Framton Nuttel- A perpetually anxious gentleman sent to the English countryside to soothe his nervous disorder.. He has arrived at the Sappletons home following a letter of introduction from his sister.

  6. 3. Vera- A fifteen year old girl who greets Framton and informs him of her aunt s great tragedy. 4. Mrs. Sappleton- Framton Nuttel s host and Vera s aunt . 5. Mr. Sappleton-Mrs. Sappleton s husband and a member of the hunting party. 6. Ronnie- Mrs. Sappleton s youngest brother and a member of the hunting party. He often teases her by singing a short song, I say, Bertie, why do you bound?

  7. KEYPOINTS OF THE STORY 1. Framton Nuttel, a man with a nervous disorder, moved to the countryside on his doctor s advice to find a cure for the condition which he suffered from. 2. His sister had lived in the area he visited and had given him letters of introduction to Mrs. Sappleton. 3. Mr. Framton Nuttel reached Mrs.Sappleton s house in the countryside. The lady was busy upstairs, so he started talking to her niece Vera, who was sitting there.

  8. 4. Vera told Framton Nuttel about a family mishap. She showed him the French window in the room that opened on to a lawn. 5. She told him that the open window was always kept open and that there was a story behind it. She said that three years earlier, Mrs. Sappleton s husband and her two young brothers had gone for hunting through that window. A spaniel was also with them. They never returned as their bodies were engulfed in a dangerous piece of bog.

  9. 6. She told the stranger apologetically how her poor aunt still thought that they would return one day through the same open window. That was why (according to Vera) the window was being kept open every evening until sunset. 7. She said that sometimes on still, quiet evenings, she used to get a creepy feeling that they would walk in through the window.

More Related Content

giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#