Saki’s The Interlopers

Section 1: Pre-reading

What’s wrong with holding a grudge? Brainstorm: What are some situations why you might hold a grudge against somebody? How do you behave towards someone you are holding a grudge against? Do you remain angray or make up? What are some of the hazards of holding a grudge ?

Author Author Saki Real Name: Hector Hugh Munro Known for stories with wit and satire The Interlopers focuses less on these characteristics; however, it does feature another Saki forte: a conclusion with a twist.

General Information General Information The story takes place in the Carpathian Mountains, a range of mountains in Europe The story centers around two bitter rivals, Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym This rivalry has lasted generations

Literary Focus Literary Focus Setting The two rivals hunt for each other in blinding snow and bone chilling cold They look for each other on land they both prize and feel is their own This prize land they are fighting over has very little monetary value

Make an inference…. 1. As we move through this relatively concise short story, make inferences about different possible conclusions.

Section 2: during reading

Targeted Passage: Lines 1-15 What aspects of the story’s natural setting are emphasized in the introductory paragraph? Who or what is the “game” that Ulrich waits for Why does Ulrich guard the land? How did the land come into Ulrich’s possession?

Make an inference….. 6. Make another inference about how the concepts of rivalry and rocky, heavily wooded terrain could work well together in a story.

What is wrong with a grudge? Lines 63-69 Based on lines 63-69. 7.What is surprising about Georg’s comment to Ulrich?

Think about it….. 8. Using your critical thinking skills, try to make an inference about why these two bitter rivals would care about land with very little value.

Targeted Passage: Lines 89-107 Are Ulrich and Georg confident that they will be rescued? What does Ulrich find in his pocket? What questions does Ulrich ask Georg?

Targeted Passage: Lines 155-167 Who does Ulrich see running down the hill? Why do you think that Ulrich has “the idiotic chattering laugh of a man unstrung with hideous fear”? What does the surprise ending suggest about holding grudges? Why do you think grudges appear so often in literature?

Literary Focus Literary Focus Narrative Point of View Irony and Climax 3rd Person Point of View (Limited): The narration is detached, but limited to only 1 of the hunters. The story’s irony and climax occur at the conclusion of the story. The ending fittingly puts in perspective the destructive nature of the rivalry.

Literary Focus Literary Focus Themes The Pointlessness of Grudges The Unfairness of Life The Cruelty of Nature The Power of Nature The Insignificance of Man

Plot Points Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym both roam the snowy forests with the same bloody purpose: to kill the other man Despite having other men with them, they meet each in the forest—alone Both men’s intentions are clear, but nature has other ideas Plot Points

Make an inference…. 16. Using your critical thinking skills, infer why Saki only gave readers the internal thoughts of only 1 of the two men.

Make an inference…. 17 . Using your critical thinking skills, infer why the insignificance of man might be an important theme of this story. 18. Using your critical thinking skills, infer why other men being in the forest may play a crucial role by the conclusion of the story.

Section 3: After reading Label your notes Section 3: After reading

After reading questions Complete the following Comprehension Questions 1-4 Text Analysis Questions 5-8