20 Questions
What is the age of the self-possessed young lady?
Fifteen
What was the purpose of Framton Nuttel's visit to the rural retreat?
To calm his nerves
Why did Framton's sister give him letters of introduction?
To help him socialize in the rural retreat
What did Framton know about Mrs. Sappleton before the visit?
Only her name and address
What did the self-possessed young lady imply about Mrs. Sappleton's tragedy?
It occurred after Framton's sister's visit
What was Framton's initial reaction to the mention of Mrs. Sappleton's tragedy?
Tragedies seemed out of place in the restful country spot
How did Framton feel about the formal visits to total strangers?
He doubted whether they would help calm his nerves
What was the purpose of the letters of introduction given by Framton's sister?
To help Framton make connections in the area
How did the self-possessed young lady perceive Framton's knowledge about her aunt?
He practically knew nothing about her aunt
What did Framton's sister predict about his behavior during the visit?
He would bury himself there and speak to no one
What happened to the aunt's husband and brothers three years ago?
They got trapped in a treacherous bog and never returned
Why does the aunt keep the window open every evening till dusk?
She hopes that her husband and brothers will return someday
Why did Framton announce that the doctors had ordered him complete rest and avoidance of mental excitement?
To steer the conversation away from the tragic topic
What was Mrs. Sappleton's reaction when Framton announced his health condition?
She barely stifled a yawn
How did Framton react when he saw the figures walking across the lawn?
He grabbed his stick and hat and made a headlong retreat
What did the niece say about Mr. Nuttel's reaction to the spaniel?
He had a horror of dogs and bolted out when he saw the spaniel
Why did the aunt's husband and brothers enter through the window?
To avoid making a mess of the carpets
What did the niece say about Mr. Nuttel's experience with dogs along the Ganges?
He was once chased into a cemetery by a pack of vicious dogs
What was the aunt's specialty according to the text?
Romance at short notice
Why did Framton find the situation 'purely horrible'?
Due to the distracted behavior of his hostess and the unexpected arrival of the figures
Study Notes
The Visit to the Rural Retreat
- Framton Nuttel's sister gave him letters of introduction to help him make acquaintances during his rural retreat.
Framton's Knowledge of Mrs. Sappleton
- Framton knew nothing about Mrs. Sappleton before his visit, except that she was his hostess.
Mrs. Sappleton's Tragedy
- Mrs. Sappleton's tragedy was that her husband and brothers drowned in a bog three years ago.
- The self-possessed young lady implied that Mrs. Sappleton was haunted by the tragedy.
Framton's Reaction to the Tragedy
- Framton was initially startled and uncomfortable when told about Mrs. Sappleton's tragedy.
The Letters of Introduction
- The letters of introduction were meant to serve as a formal introduction to society, but Framton's sister predicted that he would not fit in.
Framton's Health Condition
- Framton announced that doctors had ordered him complete rest and avoidance of mental excitement, but this was likely an excuse to avoid social interactions.
The Unexpected Events
- Framton saw the figures of Mrs. Sappleton's husband and brothers walking across the lawn, which frightened him.
- The niece explained that the men were walking towards the window, which was left open every evening till dusk in the hopes that they would return.
The Aunt's Specialty
- Mrs. Sappleton's specialty was that she kept the window open every evening, expecting her husband and brothers to return.
Framton's Experience
- Framton found the situation "purely horrible" due to the eerie atmosphere and his own fear of the mysterious events.
Test your knowledge of "The Open Window" by Saki with this quiz. Explore the plot, characters, and themes from this classic short story.
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