The Open Window
TEXTUAL EXERCISES
COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 57)
- 1. Why had Framton Nuttel come to the "rural retreat" ?
- 2. Why had his sister given him letters of introduction to people living there ?
- 3. What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece 1
Answers
- 1. Framton Nuttel had been suffering from nervousness and worry. So he had come to the "rural retreat" for cure.
- 2. His sister knew that he would meet very few people in the countryside. So he would feel very unhappy. His condition would become worse than before. So she had given him letters of introduction to the people she knew there.
- 3. A great tragedy had happened in the Sappleton family about three years ago. Her aunt"s husband and brothers had gone for hunting as usual. Unfortunately they were swal¬lowed up by the marsh.
COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 60)
- What did Mrs Sappleton say about the open window ?
- The horror on the girl"s face made Framton swing around in his seat. What did he see ?
Answers
- Mrs. Sappleton told Framton Nuttel that her husband and brothers were expected soon. They would enter the house through the window. Their dog would follow them as usual. That was why the window was kept open every evening till it is dark.
- The girl looked through the open window. There was horror in her eyes. Framton swung around his seat and saw three figures coming towards the window.
COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 61)
- Why did Framton rush out wildly ?
- What was the girl’s explanation for his lightning exit ?
Answers
- The girl had told Framton a false story. She said that her aunt"s husband and brothers died in the marsh. But he saw them coming towards the house. He thought that they were ghosts. So he was terribly afraid and rushed out wildly.
- The girl"s explanation was that Framton Nuttel was afraid of the dog. He had told her about his bitter experience of the dogs. So he made a sudden and quick exit.
EXERCISE (Page 61)
Discuss in small groups.
Question 1.
Is this a mystery story ? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
"Open Window" is a mystery story. A young girl, Vera, tells Framton about a great tragedy. Mrs. Sappleton"s husband and two brothers had gone for hunting birds in the marsh. They were swallowed up in the marsh. She adds that her aunt, Mrs. Sappleton, always thought that they would come back. That is why they kept the window open through which they went out. Mystery deepens further when these men are really seen walking towards the window.
Question 2.
You are familiar with the "irony" of the situation in a story. (Remember The Cop and the Anthem in Class VII Supplementary Reader!) Which situations in "The Open Window" are good examples of the use of irony ?
Answer:
There is irony of situation in the "Open Window". Situational irony refers what is intended or expected and what actually occurs. The most ironical situation relates to Framton Nuttel. He was suffering from nervousness and worry. He had come to the calm and quiet
countryside for treatment. On the contrary, the story about Mrs. Sappleton"s husband and brothers disturbed his peace of mind. Again, he wanted to avoid any further reference to the incident. But Mrs. Sappleton too referred to the open window just as the girl had. Besides this, Framton had come with high expectations to this place. But he had to run away from the place. This was because the three men were seen walking towards the window.
Question 3.
Which phrases/sentences in the text do you find difficult to understand ? Select a few and guess the meaning of each. Rewrite a simple paraphrase of each.
Answer:
There are some phrases/sentences in the text which I found difficult to understand. Some of them are enlisted below :
- Bury yourself down there : You will feel very lonely.
- Came into the nice division : Can be placed in the category of the nice people.
- An undefinable something about the room seemed to suggest masculine habitation : There was something about the room which could not be described. It seemed to suggest that the room belonged to a man.
- Treacherous piece of bog : The bog was treacherous. Its surface was green but underneath it was a wet spongy ground.
- 5. Falteringly human : The girl"s voice broke off. She was overcome by her human feeling of pity for her aunt.
- "Bertie, why do you bound V : It is a popular song of twentieth century. "Bound" means "jump", but here there is play on words. "Bounder" means a person whose behaviour is unpleasant to other people.
- Whirl of apologies : "Whirl" means a rapid succession of activities. Here it means many apologies, one following the other quickly.
- Sympathetic comprehension: Understanding the whole matter and showing sympathy to the girl and her aunt.
- Romance at short notice : Finding occasions of fun and enjoyment without time for preparation.