The Open Window by Saki

point of view

3rd person limited

conflict

External/Internal: Framton Nuttel’s nerves vs. Vera’s made-up story (and the “returning” hunters); Vera vs. the adults she manipulates

characterization

Framton Nuttel: self-absorbed, nervous, gullible; Vera: self-possessed, clever, manipulative teenager; Mrs. Sappleton: self-absorbed, oblivious, gullible

theme

Deception (clever adolescents can easily manipulate self-absorbed adults); Appearance vs. Reality (nothing is as it seems)

irony

Nuttel goes to the country for rest but finds more excitement and fear; hunters return exactly as Vera described; Mrs. Sappleton says he ran as if he’d seen a ghost (readers know he thinks he did); open window implies honesty but becomes a tool of deception; child (Vera) controls the situation, not the adults

foreshadowing

Vera checks that Nuttel knows nothing about her aunt (plans to use his ignorance); Nuttel stresses he must avoid excitement (he will face even worse nervousness)

flashback

Nuttel recalls his sister’s advice to introduce himself to people in the country while waiting for Mrs. Sappleton

symbol

The open window (at first suggests Mrs. Sappleton’s grief and refusal to accept death; later represents deception, mystery, and unanswered questions)