Privately he doubted more than ever whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much towards helping the nerve cure which he was supposed to be undergoing. She broke off with a little shudder. There are three themes in The Open Window. In a chill shock of nameless fear Framton swung round in his seat and looked in the same direction. she said. Their bodies were never recovered. Framton wondered whether Mrs. Sappleton, the lady to whom he was presenting one of the letters of introduction came into the nice division. It had been that dreadful wet summer, you know, and places that were safe in other years gave way suddenly without warning. The child was staring out through the open window with a dazed horror in her eyes. She relies on her imagination to execute pranks whereas Saki’s boy characters usually rely on destruction or aggression (Byrne 195). Framton asks whether the open window is related to Mrs. Sappleton’s tragedy. © 2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", "I expect it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly; "he told me he had a horror of dogs. Framton Nuttel is a single man in a new town. His exit was also responsible for Framton's close call with a cyclist. The Open Window by H.H. He does this in part by making Vera a young girl. The tale becomes darker still when the aunt enters because Saki continues to describe the setting as a cheerful one even amidst the aunt’s clear and tragic misunderstanding. Suddenly, Mrs. Stapleton jumps to attention and excitedly remarks that the hunting party has finally returned. Some of them, as far as I can remember, were quite nice.". Vera is also an important character in “The Open Window” because she introduces childhood, a theme common in many of Saki’s stories. Vera then notes that Framton and his sister would not know about Mrs. Sappleton’s “great tragedy,” which occurred three years ago. The Question and Answer section for The Open Window is a great asked the niece, when she judged that they had had sufficient silent communion. He admits to being a newcomer who knows “hardly a soul” and explains with a note of exhaustion that he is in the process of visiting all the contacts his sister made in the town four years ago when she worked at the rectory (225). "Her great tragedy happened just three years ago," said the child; "that would be since your sister's time.". This perspective stems, in part, from H.H. Which characters in "The Open Window" are static/flat and which are round/dynamic ?All the... A frame story, the ironic "The Open Window" is dependent upon its main character, Vera, for its development. Framton grabbed wildly at his stick and hat; the hall door, the gravel drive, and the front gate were dimly noted stages in his headlong retreat. Instead, she looks out, horrified, onto the lawn. "My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel," said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; "in the meantime you must try and put up with me.". Framton Nuttel is a single man in a new town.

Curious, Framton asks whether the window relates at all to the tragedy. Framton Nuttel arrives at the home of the Sappletons, with whom he is not acquainted.

He tries to bring up other subjects, but Mrs. Sappleton is inattentive and continues to look at, and beyond, the open window. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Vera gestures towards a large French window, which has been opened, despite the October weather. truth), is ironically anything but truthful (Marcus 4). Who was that who bolted out as we came up? The Open Window study guide contains a biography of Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. He attempts to shift the conversation away from the hunting expedition, but Mrs. Stapleton cannot be redirected, frequently looking expectantly out the open window as she prattles on about hunting. His sister has arranged for him to meet several of her acquaintances to prevent him from becoming lonely there. "On the matter of diet they are not so much in agreement," he continued. Browser Support Mrs. Sappleton has told Vera of the manner of their departure, with her husband carrying his white coat over his arm and her brother Ronnie jestingly remarking, “Bertie, why do you bound?”, Vera trembles as she finishes the story, at which point her aunt bursts into the room, apologizing for her lateness and expressing her hope that Vera has been “amusing.”. Just then, Vera interjects that it must have been the dog that frightened Framton. GradeSaver, 18 March 2016 Web. That was the dreadful part of it." Let motivate you. Munro’s own upbringing. Poor dear aunt, she has often told me how they went out, her husband with his white waterproof coat over his arm, and Ronnie, her youngest brother, singing 'Bertie, why do you bound?' As she goes on discussing the topic of bird-hunting, Framton is horrified to witness her grief-stricken fixations. He made the last statement in a tone of distinct regret. In Saki’s time it was rare for a woman to be portrayed as “cunning” or “conniving” (Gibson 170-171). In crossing the moor to their favourite snipe-shooting ground they were all three engulfed in a treacherous piece of bog. Enough to make anyone lose their nerve.". Clay, Andrea. How to Select Open Windows With Alt + Tab It's possible to select an open window without using the mouse. "You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon," said the niece, indicating a large French window that opened on to a lawn. In the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the window, they all carried guns under their arms, and one of them was additionally burdened with a white coat hung over his shoulders. asked Framton; somehow in this restful country spot tragedies seemed out of place. She expects they’ll dirty her floors with their muddy shoes.