1. Saki’s
The Interlopers

2. Section 1: Pre-reading

3. 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 ?

4. 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.

5. 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

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 monetary value

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

8. Section 2: during reading

9. 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?

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. 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?

14. 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?

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

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

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