Name
Date
Class
Literary Element (page 78)
Irony
The Interlopers
SAKI
Situational irony refers to a situation in which the reader’s expectation about what
will happen next is not at all what happens! The end of “The Interlopers” is an
excellent example of situational irony: The men have made peace with each other
and are ready to be rescued. When they hear sounds they expect to see men, but
instead they see wolves coming toward them. Expecting a new life for themselves
and their families, the men are shocked at their approaching death.
An important point to remember about irony is its effect on the reader. Irony, like
Saki’s ending in this story, can create great feelings of surprise or shock; it can teach
a lesson or a moral. When the reader finds out that it’s wolves coming after the
two men, the point is made that no matter what the men may do, other forces can
interrupt—nature, here, provides the real interlopers.
A CTI V I TY
Directions Reread each situation in the first column. In the next two columns, tell the
expected outcome, and actual outcome. Then tell the effect the irony has on you.
The Interlopers
The men meet
in the forest but
don’t shoot each
other. (p. 80)
Expected Outcome
Actual Outcome
Effects: Feelings,
Lesson, Meaning
1.
2.
3.
They lie together 4.
wounded. Ulrich
offers wine and
Georg refuses.
(p. 82)
5.
6.
Now Ulrich
offers Georg a
reconciliation
beteween them.
(p. 83)
8.
9.
32
7.
Copyright© by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Situation
Unit 1 The Short Story
Name
Date
Class
Reading Strategy
Analyzing Cause-and-Effect Relationships (page 78)
The Interlopers
SAKI
Cause-and-effect relationships are important because often the effect of one cause
will become the cause of another effect. In this way, a chain of cause-and-effect/
cause-and-effect is established that moves the story forward.
A CTI V I TY
Directions In this chart, the first four boxes show a sample cause-and-effect chain from
the story. Return to the story and continue charting causes and effects. If an effect causes
something that moves the story forward, then repeat it as the next cause.
Cause
long series of accusations (p. 79)
1.
➧
➧
➧
embittered relationships between the two
families
Ulrich and Georg, as heads of the two
families, became personal enemies
2.
Active Reading Graphic Organizer
Continue analyzing cause and effect throughout the story. Ask your teacher for a
copy of the Cause-and-Effect Graphic Organizer to use for this activity.
The Interlopers
Copyright© by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
embittered relationships between the two
families
Effect
Unit 1 The Short Story
33
Name
Date
Class
Selection Vocabulary Practice (page 78)
The Interlopers SAKI
VOCABULARY
acquiesce v. to assent or agree to without protest
pious adj. having either genuine or pretended religious devotion
endeavor n. a serious or strenuous attempt to accomplish
something
languor n. weakness, fatigue
reconciliation n. a settlement of a disagreement
E X E R C I S E A Practice with Analogies
Complete the following analogies. Decide what relationship the first two words have; then,
choose the word that creates the same relationship between the second pair of words.
1. pious: religious :: moral:
A. sanctimonious
B. ethical
C. objectionable
2. refuse : acquiesce :: reject :
A. accept
B. reconsider
C. concede
B. anger
C. energy
A. sleepiness
4. reconciliation : handshake :: disagreement :
A. duel
B. contract
C. party
E X E R C I S E B Applying Meanings
Write the word from the vocabulary box above that belongs in each sentence.
1. She bent down to rest, feeling a deep
The Interlopers
2. Please give this task your best
from having journeyed so far.
.
3. We will agree to your contract as written, if you will
to these few
written requests.
4. The two families threw a party to celebrate their legal
.
E X E R C I S E C Responding to the Selection
On the back of this sheet, write a dialogue that might have taken place if the two men had
been rescued. What would either of them have said to their men when they arrived? And to
each other? Use at least THREE of the vocabulary words.
34
Unit 1 The Short Story
Copyright© by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
3. labor : languor :: rest: