illustration of a young girl looking out a window at ghostly figures

The Open Window

by Saki

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The Open Window Questions on Irony

The Open Window

The irony in "The Open Window" lies in the unexpected twist at the end. The reader and the protagonist, Mr. Nuttel, are led to believe Vera's fabricated story about the open window and the supposed...

15 educator answers

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel's "nerve cure" in "The Open Window" is significant because it highlights his hypochondriac tendencies and sets the stage for his later agitated response to Vera's story. His need for...

1 educator answer

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel is a nervous and anxious man seeking a cure for his nerves. He is advised to visit the countryside for rest. His affliction is a nervous condition, and during his visit to Mrs....

7 educator answers

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel leaves abruptly in "The Open Window" because he believes he has seen ghosts. Vera rationalizes his sudden departure by claiming he has a fear of dogs. Nuttel's anxiety and nervous...

3 educator answers

The Open Window

The final sentence of "The Open Window" is critical to the story's effect, because it confirms that Vera has been lying and making up stories and that Framton did not actually see four ghosts...

1 educator answer

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel is not inherently afraid of dogs in "The Open Window." The fear is fabricated by Vera, who invents a story about Framton being terrified of dogs due to a past traumatic experience in...

1 educator answer

The Open Window

The dual endings of "The Open Window" create a contrasting effect, with one ending revealing the protagonist's fear and the other exposing the niece's deceit. This juxtaposition highlights the theme...

2 educator answers

The Open Window

Irony and humor enhance interest in "The Open Window" by creating ironic humor that satirizes weak, foolish adults and adds intellectual challenge. Vera's contradictory statements and situational...

2 educator answers

The Open Window

In "The Open Window," Mrs. Sappleton's response is ironic because she is not shocked, incredulous, nor overjoyed at witnessing the return of her husband and brothers from a day of shooting. This is...

1 educator answer

The Open Window

The author mentions Mr. Nuttel's ailments to highlight the irony and humor in the story's conclusion. Nuttel seeks calm and rest for his "nerve cure," but instead, experiences extreme mental...

1 educator answer

The Open Window

The last sentence of "The Open Window" adds a twist to the story. It changes the mood by suggesting that Vera is not malicious but just romantic and imaginative. Commentary: The story "The Open...

3 educator answers

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel's nervous condition in "The Open Window" serves multiple narrative purposes. It explains his presence in the countryside seeking relaxation, making him susceptible to Vera's prank. His...

2 educator answers

The Open Window

Saki's choice of the name "Vera," meaning "truth" in Latin, is an example of situational irony rather than verbal irony. Vera, contrary to her name, is a skilled liar who fabricates stories, such as...

2 educator answers

The Open Window

The key structural choice in "The Open Window" is Saki's decision to withhold the truth about Vera's story until the end. By initially presenting Framton Nuttel's nervous condition and keeping the...

1 educator answer

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel experiences an "unfortunate coincidence" when he visits the Sappletons on what he believes is the anniversary of the deaths of Mrs. Sappleton's husband and brothers, as told by Vera....

1 educator answer

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel dashed off in terror because he believed Vera's fabricated story that the Sappletons' male relatives, who supposedly died three years ago, were returning as ghosts. Seeing the men...

1 educator answer