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Transcript

The Interlopers

Short Story
  • What is irony, and how does Saki use verbal, dramatic, and situational irony to affect the reader's understanding of the story?
  • How do Ulrich and Georg’s relationship evolve throughout the story, and what causes this change?
  • What role does nature play in the conflict between Ulrich and Georg, and how does this influence their eventual reconciliation?
  • How does the ironic ending of The Interlopers impact the story’s theme and message about human conflict?
  • Can people truly change their feelings toward one another in moments of crisis, or are these changes temporary?

Essential Questions:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Identify and define the three types of irony (verbal, dramatic, situational) as used in The Interlopers by Saki. Analyze how Saki uses irony to develop the plot and convey the theme of the story.
  • Examine how the relationship between Ulrich and Georg evolves from enmity to potential friendship.
  • Evaluate the impact of the natural setting and external conflict on the characters' internal conflict and ultimate reconciliation.
  • Draw conclusions about the significance of the story’s ironic ending and how it reflects broader themes of human pride and nature’s power.

Learning Objectives:

  • What is irony, and how does Saki use verbal, dramatic, and situational irony to affect the reader's understanding of the story?
  • How do Ulrich and Georg’s relationship evolve throughout the story, and what causes this change?
  • What role does nature play in the conflict between Ulrich and Georg, and how does this influence their eventual reconciliation?
  • How does the ironic ending of The Interlopers impact the story’s theme and message about human conflict?
  • Can people truly change their feelings toward one another in moments of crisis, or are these changes temporary?

Essential Questions:

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Identify and define the three types of irony (verbal, dramatic, situational) as used in The Interlopers by Saki. Analyze how Saki uses irony to develop the plot and convey the theme of the story.
  • Examine how the relationship between Ulrich and Georg evolves from enmity to potential friendship.
  • Evaluate the impact of the natural setting and external conflict on the characters' internal conflict and ultimate reconciliation.
  • Draw conclusions about the significance of the story’s ironic ending and how it reflects broader themes of human pride and nature’s power.

Click on image to learn more about Saki.
Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen name Saki, was a British writer renowned for his witty and often macabre short stories. Born on December 18, 1870, in Akyab, British Burma (now Myanmar), Munro spent his early years in England after the death of his mother. He later returned to Burma to live with his father and two siblings. Munro's experiences in the British colonial society of the time greatly influenced his writing, particularly his satirical take on the Edwardian upper class. His stories frequently featured characters navigating social conventions and often ended with a surprising twist or darkly humorous outcome, earning him a reputation as a master of the short story genre.Despite his success as a writer, Munro's life was tragically cut short when he was killed in action during World War I at the age of 45. His legacy, however, lives on through his timeless tales, which continue to captivate readers with their sharp wit, keen observations, and biting social commentary. Munro's work remains a staple in English literature curricula and continues to inspire writers and readers alike with its blend of humor, satire, and incisive insight into the human condition.
About the Author
About the Author
Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen name Saki, was a British writer renowned for his witty and often macabre short stories. Born on December 18, 1870, in Akyab, British Burma (now Myanmar), Munro spent his early years in England after the death of his mother. He later returned to Burma to live with his father and two siblings. Munro's experiences in the British colonial society of the time greatly influenced his writing, particularly his satirical take on the Edwardian upper class. His stories frequently featured characters navigating social conventions and often ended with a surprising twist or darkly humorous outcome, earning him a reputation as a master of the short story genre.Despite his success as a writer, Munro's life was tragically cut short when he was killed in action during World War I at the age of 45. His legacy, however, lives on through his timeless tales, which continue to captivate readers with their sharp wit, keen observations, and biting social commentary. Munro's work remains a staple in English literature curricula and continues to inspire writers and readers alike with its blend of humor, satire, and incisive insight into the human condition.
Click on image to learn more about Saki.

Can you think of any examples of these types of irony?

Think About It

  • Who?
  • What?
  • Why?
  • Where?
  • How?

As you listen to the music video, jot down the answers to these question starters.

How do motivation and setting influence conflict for fictional characters?

PreviewQuestions

“The Room Where it Happens” details the Dinner Table Bargain of 1790 when Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison met privately and hashed out the compromise that in exchange for Hamilton’s support in setting the location for the new U.S. Capital on the Potomac River in what is now Washington, D.C., Madison would withdraw his opposition to Hamilton’s plan for the federal government to assume the unpaid war debts from the states. Madison still voted against the debt plan, but by no longer pressuring his fellow representatives from the South to oppose the bill, the plan passed Congress and went into effect. In a splendid bit of irony, it is across the street from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which given how much Jefferson hated banks, would have been a constant reminder of how Hamilton probably got the better end of this bargain.

PreviewQuestions

  • Ulrich von Gradwitz: He is a wealthy landowner and the head of the von Gradwitz family. Ulrich is portrayed as stubborn and determined, holding a deep-seated grudge against the Znaeym family due to a long-standing land dispute. He represents the pride and obstinacy often associated with the aristocracy.
  • Georg Znaeym: Georg is the counterpart to Ulrich, belonging to the Znaeym family. He is equally stubborn and resentful, holding onto the feud with the von Gradwitzes as fervently as Ulrich does. Like Ulrich, Georg is depicted as a man of strong will and determination.

Characters

Key Aspects of Character Evolution:

  • Initial State: At the beginning of the story, the character typically has a defined set of traits, beliefs, or motivations. These may include personal desires, fears, or values that shape how they interact with others and their environment.
  • Catalyst for Change: The character encounters a key event, conflict, or challenge that forces them to reconsider their beliefs, actions, or attitudes. This could be an external conflict (such as a physical or societal challenge) or an internal one (like emotional turmoil or self-doubt).
  • Conflict and Growth: As the character grapples with the challenge, they begin to change. This growth may come through difficult decisions, new realizations, or shifts in their relationships with other characters. Overcoming obstacles or resolving conflicts often leads to personal development.
  • Climax and Realization: By the story's climax, the character reaches a turning point. This moment of realization or self-awareness often solidifies the change that has been happening throughout the narrative. The character may develop a new understanding of themselves or their world.
  • Final State: By the end of the story, the character has evolved in some way. They may have changed their beliefs, relationships, or goals, reflecting the lessons they have learned. This final state usually contrasts with how they were at the beginning, highlighting their growth or, in some cases, their failure to change.

Character Evolution

Final State

Climax and Realization

Conflict and Growth

Catalyst for Change

Initial State

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant tells the story of Mathilde Loisel, a discontented middle-class woman who dreams of living a luxurious life. When she and her husband are invited to a prestigious ball, she borrows a beautiful necklace from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, to look the part. Mathilde enjoys the night, but afterward, she realizes she has lost the necklace. Instead of admitting the loss, she and her husband replace it with a costly replica, plunging them into ten years of poverty and hard labor to pay off the debt. In a twist of fate, Mathilde later learns that the original necklace was a cheap imitation, revealing the irony and futility of her sacrifice.Mathilde’s character evolution in The Necklace is a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity, materialism, and dishonesty. Her journey from a superficial, dissatisfied woman to one who endures hardship and grows more practical reflects the theme that appearances can be deceiving and that personal growth often comes through difficult, humbling experiences.

Character Evolution Example:Mathilde Loisel

Endeavor (noun) : an attempt to achieve a goal

Interloper (noun) : a person in a place or involved in a situation where they are not wanted

Acquiesce (verb) : to accept something

Precipitous (adjective) : very steep or dangerously high

Vocabulary

interloper

The group resented the ____________ who showed up uninvited and interrupted their private conversation.

precipitous

The ______________ path up the mountain was not for the faint of heart, as one misstep could lead to a dangerous fall.

endeavor

They set out on an ambitious ______________ to build a new community center, determined to see the project through despite obstacles.

FILL IN THE BLANKS Vocabulary GAME

Interloper

Precipitous

Acquiesced

Endeavor

Interloper

Endeavor

Interloper

Endeavor

Precipitous

Acquiesced

Acquiesced

Endeavor

acquiesced

Although she disagreed with the decision, she eventually _____________ to the demands of the group to avoid further conflict.

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

  1. If someone treats you wrong, are you more likely to forgive them or hold a grudge? Why?
  1. What makes someone a good neighbor?

PreviewQuestions

By Saki

The Interlopers

As you read, click on the icons for definitions and other information to help you better understand what you are reading. Click on the questions that occur as you read to confirm understanding.

At the end of this reading you will complete the following:

Respond to the following prompts in 3-5 sentences each. Provide textual evidence to support your answers.

  1. Irony: Identify an example of situational irony in The Interlopers. How does Saki use this irony to influence the story’s ending and its overall theme?
  2. Characterization: How do Ulrich and Georg’s attitudes toward each other change throughout the story? What does this evolution suggest about the nature of human conflict?
  3. Theme: Analyze how the theme of nature’s power over human affairs is developed in the story. What message is Saki conveying about the relationship between humanity and nature?
  4. Conflict: Discuss how the external conflict (the feud over land) mirrors the internal conflict within Ulrich and Georg. How does the resolution of one conflict affect the other?
  5. Perspective: From whose perspective is the story told? How does this narrative perspective affect the reader’s understanding of the characters and the plot?

Short Answer Analysis Preview

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

Audio Book

Read the story, link to PDF in Module 1.

PreviewQuestions

ReviewQuestions

  1. An interloper is someone who becomes involved in a situation in which they do not belong. Who are the real interlopers in this story? Explain your answer.
  1. In the context of this story, what does it mean to be a friend?

Initial State:

At the start of The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel is dissatisfied with her life. She is a middle-class woman who dreams of wealth, luxury, and high social status. Despite having a comfortable life with her loving husband, she is frustrated by her modest circumstances. Mathilde feels she deserves more and constantly fantasizes about a more glamorous lifestyle. Her vanity and materialism make her unhappy with what she has.

Conflict and Growth:

Rather than confessing the truth to her friend, Mathilde and her husband choose to replace the necklace. This decision plunges them into ten years of hardship. They borrow money and work tirelessly to repay their debts. Mathilde’s life, once filled with daydreams of luxury, is now consumed by drudgery, hard labor, and poverty. This long period of struggle serves as the foundation for her character’s growth, as she begins to understand the true meaning of sacrifice and the value of honesty.

Catalyst for Change:

The turning point in Mathilde’s character evolution comes when she borrows a seemingly expensive necklace from a wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, to wear to a prestigious ball. At the event, she enjoys the attention and admiration that comes with looking wealthy and beautiful, fulfilling her dreams for one night. However, Mathilde’s world shatters when she realizes she has lost the necklace after the ball.

Climax and Realization:

By the time Mathilde and her husband finally pay off their debt, Mathilde’s appearance and outlook have drastically changed. The years of hardship have worn her down physically, but she has become more grounded and practical. She is no longer the vain, materialistic woman she once was. She has learned to accept her reality, albeit through painful experience.

Final State:

In the final twist of the story, Mathilde learns that the necklace she borrowed was a fake, worth very little. The years of suffering and sacrifice were for nothing, as she had worked to replace something that had no real value. This ironic revelation emphasizes how much Mathilde has changed—her vanity and obsession with status have been replaced by a deep understanding of life's harsh realities. The loss of the necklace led her to a more profound, albeit tragic, transformation.