The Interlopers

Background Saki- master of surprise endings and suspense The Interlopers has a surprise ending. Interloper: a person who intrudes, into some region or field without proper license

Characters Ulrich von Gradwitz: Head of the Von Gradwitz family. He hates Georg with a passion. His family has a long standing feud with the Znaeymn family. Georg Znaeymn: Head of the Znaeymn family. He hates Ulrich with a passion. His family has a long standing feud with the Von Gradwitz family.

Plot Summary Two families are fighting over a piece of land. They have been fighting for at least 3 generations. The land is an undesirable strip of woods that are almost worthless. The trees are small and sick, there is not a lot of game and the land can’t grow any crops.

Plot Summary The Von Gradwitz family takes the Znaeymn family to court. The Von Gradwitz family wins the land in court. However, the two families continue to fight about the land.

Plot Summary Despite the ruling, the Znaeym family continues to hunt roebuck on the land. One dark night both men are on the land and are trapped by a large branch that falls on them.

Plot summary Both men are waiting for rescue and argue with each other- wishing death on one another. Ulrich offers a flask of wine to Georg. This symbolizes a peace offering. Both men think about ending the feud as they wait rescue.