The Open Window

What does Mr. Nuttel carry with him to the Sappleton home?

•  A letter of introduction from his sister

• A medical prescription for his nerves

•  A gift for Mrs. Sappleton

• A book on mental health

What is Mr. Nuttel’s stated reason for visiting the Sappletons?

•  To deliver his sister's letters

• To reconnect with old friends

• To undergo a “nerve cure” in the countryside

• To investigate Vera’s stories

How does Mrs. Sappleton react to Mr. Nuttel’s sudden departure?

• She laughs it off as a misunderstanding

• She worries he saw a ghost through the window

•  She blames Vera for causing the confusion

• She is offended and calls him strange

Vera tells Mr. Nuttel that Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and brothers died in a tragic accident just one year prior.

• True

• False

Why does Vera specifically target Mr. Nuttel with her fabricated story?

•  She dislikes strangers visiting the house

• She wants to protect Mrs. Sappleton’s privacy

• She senses his nervousness makes him gullible

•  She is bored and enjoys pranking guests

What theme is highlighted by Vera’s deception?

• The importance of honesty in relationships

• The power of storytelling to distort reality

•  The dangers of isolation

•  The inevitability of fate

 How does the open window function symbolically?

• As a metaphor for Mrs. Sappleton’s grief

• As a symbol of Mr. Nuttel’s anxiety

• As a sign of the family’s hospitality

•  As a portal between truth and deception

Why does Saki include the detail of the men carrying “a white coat hung over [their] arm”?

•  To foreshadow their ghostly appearance

• To symbolize their innocence

•  To highlight their social status

•  To contrast with the autumn setting

What does Saki suggest about human nature through Vera’s actions?

• People are inherently cruel

• Creativity can be used to exploit vulnerability

• Loneliness leads to delusion

• Trust is easily earned

How does Mrs. Sappleton’s dialogue contrast with Vera’s story?

•  She is cheerful and oblivious to Vera’s fabrication

• She speaks cryptically, hinting at tragedy

• She scolds Vera for lying to guests

• She shares her grief openly with Mr. Nuttel