The Open Window by H.H. Munro (SAKI)(Pre-Intermediate)

Pre-Intermediate

story

Once upon a time, in a quaint little village nestled between rolling hills and lush green meadows, there was a lovely house with a wide, inviting garden. Inside this house lived a lady named Mrs. Sappleton, along with her charming niece, Vera. One sunny afternoon, a man named Framton Nuttel came to visit. Framton had come to the countryside to rest and recover from his nervous condition.

"My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel," said Vera, a confident young girl of fifteen. "In the meantime, you must try and put up with me."

Framton, though nervous, tried his best to be polite to Vera. He wondered if meeting new people like this would really help him relax.

"My sister gave me letters of introduction to some people here," Framton explained. "She thought it would be good for me to meet them while I stay in the countryside."

Vera looked at him thoughtfully. "So, you know nothing about my aunt?" she asked.

"Only her name and address," Framton admitted. He was curious about Mrs. Sappleton but didn't know much else.

"Then you mustn't know about her great tragedy," said Vera softly.

"Tragedy?" Framton asked, surprised. In this peaceful place, it seemed hard to imagine anything tragic happening.

"You might wonder why we keep that window open," said Vera, pointing to a large window that looked out onto the garden.

"It is quite warm today," said Framton, "but does the open window have something to do with the tragedy?"

"Yes," said Vera. "Three years ago, my aunt's husband and her two younger brothers went out through that window for their daily shooting trip. They never came back. They were lost in a treacherous bog out on the moor. Their bodies were never found. My poor aunt always thinks they will return someday, so she keeps the window open every evening, hoping they will walk in just as they used to. She always tells me about how her husband carried a white coat over his arm and how Ronnie, her youngest brother, would sing 'Bertie, why do you bound?' to tease her because it got on her nerves. Sometimes, on quiet evenings like this, I get a creepy feeling that they will walk in through that window."

As Vera spoke, her voice grew softer and sadder. Framton felt a chill run down his spine. Just then, Mrs. Sappleton entered the room, bustling with energy.

"I hope Vera has been keeping you entertained," she said cheerfully.

"She has been very interesting," Framton replied, trying to sound calm.

"I hope you don't mind the open window," said Mrs. Sappleton. "My husband and brothers will be home soon, and they always come in this way. They've been out shooting today."

Framton felt uneasy as Mrs. Sappleton chatted away about the shooting and the countryside. He couldn't stop thinking about the tragic story Vera had told him.

Suddenly, Mrs. Sappleton's eyes brightened. "Here they are at last!" she exclaimed. "Just in time for tea."

Framton turned to look. To his horror, he saw three figures walking across the garden towards the window. They were carrying guns, and one of them had a white coat over his arm. A tired brown spaniel followed them closely. Framton froze in fear, his heart pounding.

"It's them!" Vera whispered, her eyes wide with terror.

Framton couldn't stand it any longer. He grabbed his hat and stick and ran out of the house as fast as he could. He didn't stop until he was far away, breathing hard and shaking with fear.

Back at the house, Mrs. Sappleton's husband and brothers walked in through the window, just as they always did.

"Who was that man running away?" asked Mrs. Sappleton's husband, looking puzzled.

"A most extraordinary man, a Mr. Nuttel," said Mrs. Sappleton. "He talked about his illnesses and then ran off without a word when you arrived. One would think he had seen a ghost."

Vera smiled to herself. "I think it was the spaniel," she said calmly. "He told me he had a terrible fear of dogs. Once, he was chased by a pack of wild dogs and had to hide in a graveyard all night."

Mrs. Sappleton laughed, not suspecting a thing. Thanks to Vera's love for storytelling, the mystery of the open window continued to delight and surprise those who visited this peaceful countryside.

This story teaches an important lesson about considering multiple perspectives and not jumping to conclusions too quickly when judging a situation.

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Words and Idioms

Study it with Flashcard

https://quizlet.com/kr/923941092/the-open-window-by-hh-munro-saki-flash-cards/?i=3en6ue&x=1jqt

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quaint (adj) - charmingly old-fashioned.

inviting (adj) - attractive or tempting.

charming (adj) - pleasant and attractive.

nervous (adj) - easily agitated or alarmed.

recover (v) - to return to a normal state of health.

polite (adj) - showing good manners.

tragedy (n) - a disastrous event.

warm (adj) - having or showing enthusiasm, affection, or kindness.

shooting (n) - the act of hunting game with firearms.

creepy (adj) - causing an unpleasant feeling of fear.

nestled (v) - settled or lying comfortably within or against something.

bustling (adj) - full of energetic and noisy activity.

frazzled (adj) - exhausted and anxious; overwhelmed by stress.

treacherous (adj) - dangerously unstable and unpredictable.

engulfed (v) - completely surrounded or covered.

apologies (n) - expressions of regret or sorrow for having wronged someone.

perspective (n) - a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something.

delight (v) - to please someone greatly.

hesitated (v) - paused before saying or doing something.

in the meantime - during the intervening time.

to rest and recover - to take time to become healthy or well again.

chatted away - talked in a relaxed, informal way.

grabbed his hat and stick - quickly took his belongings, ready to leave.

without a word - without saying anything.

put up with - to tolerate or endure someone or something.

run down one's spine - to cause a feeling of fear or excitement.

froze in fear - to be so frightened that one cannot move.

grabbed wildly - to take hold of something in a hurried or panicked manner.

to stand it any longer - to be unable to endure a situation any further.

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Questions

1. Why did Framton Nuttel come to the countryside?

a) To visit his family

b) To recover from a nervous condition

c) To go hunting

d) To write a book

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2. What did Vera tell Framton about the open window?

a) It was a tradition to keep it open

b) It was stuck and couldn't be closed

c) Her aunt kept it open, hoping her family would return

d) It was for ventilation purposes

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3. How did Framton react when he saw the figures approaching the house?

a) He calmly greeted them

b) He felt relieved

c) He ran out of the house in fear

d) He started crying

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4. What did Mrs. Sappleton think of Framton's sudden departure?

a) She was angry

b) She thought he had seen a ghost

c) She was sad

d) She didn't notice

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5. What does the open window symbolize in the story?

a) Hope and expectation

b) Fear and danger

c) Wealth and luxury

d) Mystery and secrecy

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6. Why is Vera's storytelling significant in the story?

a) It shows her kindness

b) It reveals her playful and imaginative nature

c) It highlights her shyness

d) It demonstrates her love for her aunt

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Writing Topics

1. Describe how you would feel if you were in Framton Nuttel's situation. What would you do differently?

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2. Write a short story about a mysterious event in your neighborhood.

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3. Explain the importance of verifying facts before believing a story. Why is this important?

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Answer Keys

b) To recover from a nervous condition

c) Her aunt kept it open, hoping her family would return

c) He ran out of the house in fear

b) She thought he had seen a ghost

a) Hope and expectation

b) It reveals her playful and imaginative nature

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Sample Short Writing Responses

1. If I were in Framton Nuttel's situation, I would feel very nervous and confused. Hearing such a strange and tragic story from Vera would certainly unsettle me. However, instead of running away in fear, I would try to stay calm and rational. I might ask more questions to understand the situation better and look for signs that could confirm or refute the story. If I saw figures approaching, I would remind myself that there might be a logical explanation and wait to see what happens. By staying calm and inquisitive, I could avoid jumping to conclusions and making hasty decisions.

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2. One evening, as the sun was setting, a strange glow appeared in the forest near our neighborhood. Curious, my friends and I decided to investigate. As we approached the source of the light, we found an old, abandoned house we had never noticed before. The light seemed to be coming from the attic. Cautiously, we entered the house and climbed the creaky stairs. When we reached the attic, we found an old lantern glowing brightly, but there was no one around. We later learned that the house once belonged to an inventor who disappeared mysteriously. The lantern was one of his inventions, designed to light up when someone with a curious mind approached. The mystery of the inventor's disappearance remains unsolved, but the glowing lantern continues to intrigue us.

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3. Explain the importance of verifying facts before believing a story. Why is this important?

Verifying facts before believing a story is crucial because it helps prevent misunderstandings and spreading false information. In Framton Nuttel's case, believing Vera's story without verification led to unnecessary fear and panic. If he had asked more questions or looked for additional evidence, he might have realized the truth sooner. In everyday life, verifying facts ensures that we make informed decisions based on accurate information. It helps maintain trust and credibility in our relationships and prevents the spread of rumors and misinformation. Being critical thinkers and verifying facts before accepting them is essential for personal integrity and societal harmony.

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