(5). The Open Window
GENERAL INTRODUCTION: -
The Open Window is an interesting, mysterious and puzzling story by H.H.
Munro. He was a great British novelist, short-fiction writer and political
satirist. Who wrote under the pseudonym Saki. His stories are mostly elegant,
witty and highly individual; full of humour, suspense, mystery and action. The
present story is an outspoken example of his excellent dramatic style.
MAIN IDEA OF THE STORY: - (Theme)
The very
title of this story is symbolic which plays the central role in creating horror
and suspense. It is basically a mysterious description of Mr. Framton Nuttel’s
visit to Mrs. Sappleton’s house and the way he is handled there by her niece,
Vera. It also highlights a make-believe tragic incident, which happened with
Mrs. Sappleton there years back. In short, the writer has cleverly developed a
surprise plot to throw considerable light upon the character of Vera, Mrs.
Sappleton and Mr. Framton Nuttel.
SUMMARY: -
On an October afternoon, Mr. Framton
Nuttel came to the rural house of Mrs. Sappleton whom he had never met before,
to recover from his nervous tension. He came there with a letter of
introduction from his sister who had an acquaintance with them. He is received
by Mrs. Sappleton nniece, Vera, who was a young girl of 15. She told them that
her aunt would come down very soon. Vera was found of mysterious and horror
stories. On knowing that he was a stranger, she fabricated a strange story to
pass the time. She drew the attention of
Mr. Nuttel to the open window of the room in the month of October. She asked
the reason of the window being opened, and when got no answer. She told him a
tragic story attached to that window.
Vera told Mr. Nuttel that out
through that open window almost 3 years ago, Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and her
two brothers with their dog went for snipe shooting. But they never came back
as all of them had drowned in a bog while crossing the moor. In lamentation, she
further told him that her aunt always kept the windows open, hoping that they
would come back some day. She further frightened Nuttel saying: “I almost get a
creepy feeling that they will walk in through that open window.” Mr. Nuttel was
quite shocked and sad at this tragic story, which appeared to him real.
After some time, Mrs. Sappleton
entered the room and apologized for being late. She even asked him if he didn’t
mind the window being opened. She further told him that the window was open,
because, soon her husband and brothers would return through that window. He
even noticed that his hostess was not paying attention to him; rather
constantly looking through that open window. All these things added to his fear
and astonishment. Suddenly she cried out: “Here they are at last. Just in time
for tea “. And were all muddy Nuttel was really shocked at this sight and tried
to look at Vera. Vera was also staring at the window with dazed horror in her
eyes. Thinking that they were “ghosts”, he ran out of the room shivering with
horror. Entering the room, they asked why the man had run out without seeing
them. Only Vera knows that her concocted story had frightened the stranger. So,
she, not wasting the time, invented another story. She told them falsely that
Mr. Framton was actually afraid of dogs; because he had a terrible experience
with them in the past, and had to spend a whole night in a newly dug grave.
CONCLUSION: -
To conclude, we can say
that the whole story is a superb blend of deep suspense, situation, character
and action. Throughout the story, the reader keeps guessing and thinking about
the actual facts. But it is the last sentence, “romance at short notice was her
speciality”, which serves as an eye-opener. It unveils the character of Vera
and the falseness in her stories. Hence, it keeps the reader’s interest alive
up to its ending. All the characters have played their role aptly, but Vera has
an edge on them. In short, this story is a beautiful description of “fantasy
and Reality”.
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Q-1. What precise function has the open window?
(OR)
The Open Window plays a very important function in the story,
Discuss
ANS: - “The Open Window” is an
interesting, mysterious and puzzling story by H.H. Munro. The very title of the
story is symbolic which plays the central role in creating horror and suspense.
It is basically a mysterious description of Mr. Framton Nuttel’s visit to Mrs.
Sappleton’s house and the way he is handled there by her niece Vera. Vera, is
also highlights a make-believe tragic incident, which happened with Mrs.
Sappleton three years back.
However, the whole story
revolves around the Open Window. It is the axle round which the 6 characters, 4
male and 2 female. Of the story revolve. They are Mrs. Sappleton, her niece
Vera, her guest Framton Nuttel, her husband and her two younger brothers. The
window has special significance with the entire episode of the departure and
arrival of the dear ones of Mrs. Sappleton. Her husband and her younger
brothers had gone for snipe shooting through that window. She always waits for
their arrival through that window; hence, it is kept open every morning till
dark. So, it serves as a symbol of hope for her. As hope sustains life, it
gives her courage to wait for them hopefully. It functions as a connecting
point between the wife and the husband, between the sister and the brothers.
Besides, it serves as a source for Vera to invent a strange story for Mr.
framton Nuttel. In short, the house, the window and the marsh serve as the
locale of the story. The writer has very beautifully used these objects to make
his story interesting and dramatic.
Q-2. is the final sentence of the story, “Romance at short notice
was her speciality” necessary and what is its significance?
ANS: - Theme + Conclusion +
thus, the last sentence of the story is inevitable for the sake of clearing the
minds of the readers. In its absence, the entire story would have been only a
fake of ghosts. Owing to the last sentence, a black and white story at once
becomes colourful.
Q-3. Comment on the names, which the writer has given to his
characters.
(OR)
Which is the importance of the three main characters as for as their
names are concerned?
ANS:- There are three central
characters in the story “The Open Window”. They are: Mr. Framton Nuttel, Mrs.
Sappleton, and Vera. They have special importance, as they possess hidden
meaning in them. Their description in as follows:
1). Mr. Framton Nuttel: -
He is an elderly man whose name resembles the world ‘Nutt’. In fact, Nut
is a fruit with hard shell and a sweet kernel. He is also like a nut whose
brain is a sweet kernel, and can be easily deceived, as happens in the story.
He is tires of the noisy life of the city. He wishes to spend some time in a
village to get peace of mind. For this purpose, he comes to Mrs. Sappleton’s
house in a village. So, he is easily deceived by Vera. Hence, he plays his role
in the story according to the hidden meaning he possesses.
2). Mrs. Sappleton: -
She is an elderly lady, very polite and graceful in her behavior. So her
name could be identified with the world ‘Simpleton’ She is very simple and does
not understand Vera. She does noot know what Vera has told to Mr. Nuttel before
her arrival in the room. She is good wife and a kind sister. Being issueless,
she keeps her husband and younger brothers very dear to her. She daily waits
eagerly at the window for their arrival from snipe shooting. So, she keeps the
‘Window’ open every morning till evening. She is very loveable and considerate
to her niece, Vera. So, her role in the story is quite befitting according to
the hidden meaning of her name.
3). Vera: -
She is a premature girl of
15. She is self-possesses, because she does not let us feel that she is
emotional and imaginative at the same time. She is found of inventing romantic
stories. Her name ironically resembles the world ‘Veracious’ which means
truthful. In fact, she is not truthful, though whatever she says is considered
quite true. For example, she invents two stories and both look quite true.
Psychologically she knows the
art of influencing others through her improvised horror stories. Framton Nuttle
was perhaps thrice her age and as such, thrice her wisdom; but he does not
hesitate to accept her story as being totally true. The story that she invents
about Mr. Nuttel running out of the room, is also considered true by her three
uncles. Actually the way she relates her make-believe stories and handled the
situation, it makes others accept her stories as true. This shows that she is
very clever, imaginative and tactful girl.
Moreover, her fabrication of the
horror stories shows that she is a girl of highly active imagination. This is
proved by the closing sentence of the story uttered in her praise:
“Romance at short
notice was her speciality”
UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS
Q-1. narrate the story “The Open Window” and
comment on its atmosphere?
(OR)
H.H Munro’s story “The Open
Window” is packed with suspense. Which situation is more shocking?
(OR)
“The Open Window” by H.H.
Munro is a superb combination of situation, character and incident within a
framework of deep suspense and irony. Discuss.
(OR)
“The Open Window” by H.H.
Munro is a story of full of suspense and irony that keeps the reader’s interest
alive to the final sentence Comment.
ANS:- G.I + Theme + Summary +
Conclusion (brief)
Q-2. narrate the reasons
Mrs. Sappleton’s niece gave for keeping the window open.
ANS:- Theme + Summary Paragraph (1 + 2)
Q-3. “Vera is responsible for
all confusion which upsets Framton Nuttel”. Brirfly sketch her character in the
light of this statement.
(OR)
Give a brief character-sketch of Vera Mrs.
Sappleton’s niece.u
ANS: - Textual Q-3 (Character of Vera)
Q-4. write brief notes on
the following characters
( I ) Mrs.
Sappleton (ii) Framton Nutte
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