The Open Window (H.H.

Munro)

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(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

ANS:- Textual Q-3 (Characters of Mrs. Sappleton & Framton Nuttel)

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