1. The Interlopers by Saki
Class notes

2. Literary Focus
What is the difference between omniscient narrator and first point of view?
Omniscient = the narrator is outside of the story
observing the action
First person point of view = the story is being
told by someone inside the story

3. How does the opening paragraph set the scene?
Which character have you been introduced to?
What type of person do you think he is?
In line 23 we are introduced to another character – why do they hate each other?
Can you think of any other stories that follow this format?

4. Compound words
In lines 44 and 45 which is the compound word and what does it mean?
Uppermost
Highest in place, rank, or importance.
What are examples of other compound words?
Newsstand = news and stand
Pigpen = pig and pen
Sandpaper = sand and paper

5. Examples of the omniscient narrator
Underline and give examples of where the omniscient narrator is present on page 83 and 84.
Example
The two enemies stood glaring at one another for a long silent moment.

6. Pause at line 203. The narrator doesn’t reveal who is coming toward the men. What effect does this lack of information create?

7. The ending
Why is it fitting that the two men, who were hunting each other in the forest that winter night, are discovered by wolves rather than by rescuers? Can you apply anything you have studied in a pervious class to this ending?

8. Take a scene/event from the story and in pairs
write it from the following points of view
How would the story be different if it were told from the point of view of one of the men?
How might the story be different if it were told from the point of view of the wolves?

9. Short film
How does the opening scene in the film compare to that of the book?
How does it set the scene?
Which does it better and why?
How are the characters portrayed in the film compared to the book? How is the character development? Which does it better?
In the film what is missing?
Why do you think this is so?
Which medium builds more emotion for you? Why do you think this is so?
Music is also used in the film – does it help set the scene or not?
How does the films ending compare with the books? Which builds more suspense?