““The Open Window”The Open Window”

SakiSaki

(H.H. Munro)(H.H. Munro)

BackgroundBackground

Around the beginning of the twentieth century Around the beginning of the twentieth century --- when this story is set --- people often --- when this story is set --- people often presented themselves through letters of presented themselves through letters of introduction --- a kind of letter of introduction --- a kind of letter of recommendation that listed a person’s recommendation that listed a person’s accomplishments and personality traits.accomplishments and personality traits.

Plot ReviewPlot Review

Vera meets Mr. Nuttell and quickly determines Vera meets Mr. Nuttell and quickly determines that he is the perfect victim and plays a little that he is the perfect victim and plays a little joke on him, with spectacular results.joke on him, with spectacular results.

She tells Mr. Nuttell a story so tragic and She tells Mr. Nuttell a story so tragic and convincing that she has him believing in convincing that she has him believing in ghosts --- and seeing them as well.ghosts --- and seeing them as well.

Plot ReviewPlot Review

When faced with having to explain to her aunt When faced with having to explain to her aunt why Mr. Nuttell left in such a hurry, she why Mr. Nuttell left in such a hurry, she makes up an equally strange tale, making her makes up an equally strange tale, making her aunt the next unsuspecting victim.aunt the next unsuspecting victim.

PlotPlot

The sequence of events that make up a story.The sequence of events that make up a story.

Plot LinePlot Line

Exposition – introduces the characters, setting, Exposition – introduces the characters, setting, and situationand situation

Exposition

Inciting Incident

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

CharacterizationCharacterization

Direct Characterization – The author tells the Direct Characterization – The author tells the reader exactly how the character acts and what reader exactly how the character acts and what his physical traits are.his physical traits are.

Indirect Characterization – The reader is left to Indirect Characterization – The reader is left to figure out the motivations of the character by figure out the motivations of the character by the way he/she acts or by the way other the way he/she acts or by the way other characters treat him/her.characters treat him/her.

SettingSetting

The story is set at a country home in October The story is set at a country home in October around the turn of the 20around the turn of the 20 thth century century

Situation of ExpositionSituation of Exposition

Mr. Nuttell has come to the country to undergo Mr. Nuttell has come to the country to undergo a “nerve cure.”a “nerve cure.”

He knows no one in the neighborhood.He knows no one in the neighborhood. Vera confirms the fact that Mr. Nuttell does Vera confirms the fact that Mr. Nuttell does

not know her aunt well before she creates her not know her aunt well before she creates her fictional tale about her aunt and the open fictional tale about her aunt and the open window.window.

Vera’s taleVera’s tale

““Out through that [open] window, three years Out through that [open] window, three years ago to a day, her husband and her two young ago to a day, her husband and her two young brothers went off for their day’s shooting. brothers went off for their day’s shooting. They never came back. In crossing the moor to They never came back. In crossing the moor to their favorite snipe-shooting ground they were their favorite snipe-shooting ground they were all three engulfed in a treacherous piece of all three engulfed in a treacherous piece of bog.”bog.”

““Their bodies were never recovered.”Their bodies were never recovered.”

Inciting IncidentInciting Incident

An incident that often leads to a central An incident that often leads to a central conflict or problem.conflict or problem.

Inciting IncidentInciting Incident

Vera tells Mr. Nuttell about her aunt’s Vera tells Mr. Nuttell about her aunt’s “tragedy.”“tragedy.”

Mr. Nuttell believes that Mrs. Sappleton is Mr. Nuttell believes that Mrs. Sappleton is crazy from sadness, when Mrs. Sappleton crazy from sadness, when Mrs. Sappleton cries, “Here they are at last!”cries, “Here they are at last!”

ClimaxClimax

This is the highest point of interest in the story.This is the highest point of interest in the story. This is also said to be the point of no return, This is also said to be the point of no return,

where the action forever changes the outcome where the action forever changes the outcome of the plot.of the plot.

ClimaxClimax

The climax of the story occurs when Mrs. The climax of the story occurs when Mrs. Sappleton announces the return of the men Sappleton announces the return of the men from their hunting trip, and Mr. Nuttell sees from their hunting trip, and Mr. Nuttell sees them and runs away.them and runs away.

ResolutionResolution

The resolution of a story occurs when the The resolution of a story occurs when the conflict is resolved.conflict is resolved.

ResolutionResolution

The central conflict is resolved when the The central conflict is resolved when the hunting party returns and Mr. Nuttell flees.hunting party returns and Mr. Nuttell flees.

Vera has gotten rid of the visitor, and he will Vera has gotten rid of the visitor, and he will never return.never return.

Vera’s TaleVera’s Tale

““He was once hunted into a cemetery He was once hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of pariah dogs, and had to spend the pack of pariah dogs, and had to spend the night in a newly dug grave with the creatures night in a newly dug grave with the creatures snarling and grinning and foaming just above snarling and grinning and foaming just above him.”him.”

Compare/ContrastCompare/Contrast

VeraVera Mr. Framton NuttellMr. Framton Nuttell

confidentconfident shyshy

Talkative; a good Talkative; a good storytellerstoryteller

uncomfortableuncomfortable

mischievousmischievous nervousnervous

healthyhealthy sicklysickly

Mr. Nuttell’s PersonalityMr. Nuttell’s Personality

How does Mr. Nuttell’s personality affect the How does Mr. Nuttell’s personality affect the plot?plot?

His nervous personality convinces Vera that he His nervous personality convinces Vera that he is the perfect victim for her joke.is the perfect victim for her joke.

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

What effect does Vera’s story have on Mr. What effect does Vera’s story have on Mr. Nuttell?Nuttell?

Vera tells Mr. Nuttell a tragic and eerie story.Vera tells Mr. Nuttell a tragic and eerie story. Mr. Nuttell is horrified, and his imagination Mr. Nuttell is horrified, and his imagination

runs wild.runs wild. Mr. Nuttell leaves quickly in a fright.Mr. Nuttell leaves quickly in a fright.

Central ConflictCentral Conflict

What is the central conflict of the story?What is the central conflict of the story? Vera found Mr. Nuttell’s company unbearable Vera found Mr. Nuttell’s company unbearable

and wanted to get rid of him.and wanted to get rid of him.

MeaningMeaning

““Romance at short notice was her specialty.”Romance at short notice was her specialty.” This means that Vera is able to invent fantasy This means that Vera is able to invent fantasy

tales very quickly.tales very quickly.

ThemeTheme

Theme is the message about life that the story Theme is the message about life that the story conveys.conveys.

Self-centered people tend to be easily fooled.Self-centered people tend to be easily fooled.

HumorHumor

What is funny about Mrs. Sappleton’s remark, What is funny about Mrs. Sappleton’s remark, “ One would think he had seen a ghost”?“ One would think he had seen a ghost”?

She does not realize that Mr. Nuttell does She does not realize that Mr. Nuttell does think he has seen a ghost.think he has seen a ghost.