Question 1:
Why had Framton Nuttel come to the “rural retreat”?
Answer:
Framton Nattel had a nervous disorder. He had come to the “rural retreat” on his doctor’s advice.
Question 2:
Why had his (Framton’s) sister given him letters of introduction to people living there?
Answer:
Framton was totally unknown to the place where he was going. But his sister had lived there for some time. She had known many people there. So she gave her brother the letters of introduction.
Question 3:
What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece?
Answer:
The niece showed Framton an open window. She told him that three years ago Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and two young brothers had gone off for their day’s shooting through that window. A spaniel was also with them. They never came back. They were engulfed in a dangerous piece of bog. Their bodies were never recovered.
Question 4:
What did Mrs. Sappleton say about the open window?
Answer:
Mrs. Sappleton said that after their shooting, her husband and brothers always came back home through that window.
Question 5:
The horror on the girl’s face made Framton swing round in his seat. What did he see?
Answer:
Framton saw that in the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the open window. They all carried guns under their arms. One of them had a white coat hung over his shoulders. A tired brown spaniel accompanied them. Calmly they walked towards the house.
Question 5:
Why did Framton rush out wildliy?
Answer:
Framton had seen a dreadful sight through the window. Three men were coming back home, with their dog. He took them to be ghosts as narrated by Vera. The sight sent a chill in his body. He grabbed his stick and hat and rushed out of the house, wildly.
Question 6:
What was the girl’s explanation for his (Framton’s) lightning exit?
Answer:
The girl said that Framton had a horror of dogs. So he ran away at lightning speed on seeing their spaniel.
Question 7:
Is this a mystery story? Give a reason for your anwer.
Answer:
No, this is not a mystery story. The story the girl invented might be mysterious but we all know the truth behind it. It, in fact, seems to be a humorous story.
Question 7:
You are familiar with the ‘irony’ of the situation in a story. (Remember in class VII Supplementary Reader!) Which situations in ‘The Open Window’ are good examples of the use of irony?
Answer:
The irony in the story is that Framton who had come to the countryside to relax and be calm suffered a major shock and that too at the hands of a fifteen year old girl. It is also ironic how the events had favoured Vera’s version of the story in the sense that when the men returned from the shooting, they were covered up to the eyes with mud, just like she had quoted in the story. She had cooked a story about them being engulfed in a piece of bog.
Question 8:
Which phrases/sentences in the text do you find difficult to understand? Select a few and guess the meaning of each. Rewrite a sample paraphrase of each.
Answer:
1. Tragedies seemed out of place.
– The place didn’t look like any tragedy could take place there.
2. She broke off with a little shudder.
– with a little shiver she stopped talking.
3. Whirl of apologies
– many apologies in a quick succession.
4. Romance at short notice was her speciality.
– finding occasion for fun and enjoyment, wherever possible, was her nature.