“The Open Window”
“The Interlopers”
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Saki is a pseudonym, or pen name, used by Hector Hugo
Munro.
Saki was born in Burma, which is in Southern Asia, but after
his mother died, he was sent to live with his aunts in England,
and this is where he was educated.
He returned to Burma, where he was on the Burmese police
force, but he was forced to resign because of illness.
In his twenties, Munro left for London to begin his writing
career.
At first he was a journalist at the Westminster Gazzette, but
eventually, he turned his focus to writing short stories.
At the beginning of WWI, Munro enlisted in the military and
was killed in action.
Saki wrote novels and plays, but he was best known as one of
England’s best satirists and short story authors.
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WWI aka the “Great War” (1914-1918) was caused by political &
economic rivalries.
In WWI, the Allies (England, France, Russia, and US) defeated the
Central power(Germany & Austria-Hungary), and as a result of
this war, the maps of Europe were redrawn.
Problems Europe faced after WWI included inflation, economic
depression, and resentment over peace settlements.
Mussolini became the dictator of Italy, Stalin became the dictator
of Russia, and Hitler controlled Germany.
Despite the wars of this time, there were many advancements in
science and technology. For example, people lived longer,
healthier lives because of new medications.
Problems also occurred because of these advancements, such as
the development of powerful weapons that had the ability to
destroy the human race. Also, advancements in industry polluted
the environment.
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New techniques and attitudes appeared in fiction and poetry
at this time.
Fiction writers were concerned with exploring the inner lives
of characters.
Themes were influence by negative feelings from the two
world wars. Themes also presented ideas of loneliness,
isolation, and attempts at communication. Another theme
was the struggle to keep up with an ever-changing world.
Realism detailed the harshness of life.
Naturalism took realism further and objectively showed
characters as helpless victims.
Magazines, Science fiction, detective fiction, and fantasy
became popular.
Inference – the process of making a logical guess based on
given evidence.
 Tone- The writer’s attitude toward his/her subject
 Irony
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 Situational-the writer shows a discrepancy between what is
expected and what actually happens.
 Verbal- the writer says one thing, but means something entirely
different.
 Dramatic-the reader knows something that a character does not.
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Characterization- Creating Believable Characters
 Direct- learning about a character through what the author says
about him/her
 Indirect- learning about a character through what he/she does,
says, thinks, feels, and what others say about him/her.
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Setting- the time and place of a story
Point of view- refers to how the narrator tells the story
 First person-A character in the story tells what happens
 Third person limited-a narrator is not a character in the story, but
is looking in describing what he/she sees
 Third person omniscient- Narrator is not a character in the story,
but is all-knowing and explains what the character sees, thinks,
and feels
Mood- The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for
the reader. Mood is created by an author’s word choice,
selection of details, image, figurative language, and
repetition.
 Foreshadowing- Hints about future events
 Satire-ridicules the foolishness or faults of society or a
certain group of people.
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Duly- In a fitting manner
Discounting- To reduce in value; disregard
Communion- A sharing of feelings or thoughts.
Imminent- About to happen
Unduly- Excessively
Bog- Wet, marshy ground; swamp
Inference- the process of making a logical guess based on
given evidence.
 Irony
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 Situational-the writer shows a discrepancy between what is
expected and what actually happens.
 Verbal- the writer says one thing, but means something entirely
different.
 Dramatic-the reader knows something that a character does not.
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Conflict- struggle between opposing forces
 Internal- A struggle within one's self; a person must make some
decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.
 External- A struggle with a force outside one's self, such as
another character, nature, circumstances, or society.
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Suspense- a feeling of uncertainty about the outcome of
events, which keeps you interested in a story’s plot.
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Precipitous- steep; sheer
Acquiesced- agreed quietly without protest or
enthusiasm.
Feud- a long and violent quarrel, especially
between families.
Disputed- contested; argued about.
Condolences- an expression of sympathy with
another in grief.
Interloper: people who intrude or meddle in
other people’s business or life.