1. Saki’s
The Interlopers

2. 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.

3. Clue Number 1
As we move through this relatively concise short story, make inferences about different possible conclusions.

4. 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

5. Clue Number 2
2. Make another inference about how the concepts of rivalry and rocky, heavily wooded terrain could work well together in a story.

6. 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 monitory value

7. Clue Number 3
2. Using your critical thinking skills, try to make an inference about why these two bitter rivals would care about land with very little value.

8. 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.

9. Clue Number 4
2. Using your critical thinking skills, infer why Saki only gave readers the internal thoughts of only 1 of the two men.

10. 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

11. Clue Number 5
5. Using your critical thinking skills, infer why the insignificance of man might be an important theme of this story.

12. Plot Points 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

13. Clue Number 6
6. Using your critical thinking skills, infer why other men being in the forest may play a crucial role by the conclusion of the story.