The Interlopers - Thought

“The Interlopers”
By Saki
Saki (Real name Hector Hugh Munro)
Saki was a British journalist who was born in Burma (now
Myanmar). He is known for writing clever and occasionally
dark short stories. He began writing for the Westminster
Gazette and other such newspapers. Eventually, his short
stories were compiled into multiple collections. Saki was
born on December 18, 1870, and died on November 13,
1916 in France, during World War I.
Source: http://haytom.us/bibliography-of-saki-h-h-munro/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saki (don’t
judge!)
Other Works by Saki
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The Rise of the Russian Empire (1900)
The Chronicles of Clovis (1911)
Reginald (1904)
Reginald in Russia (1910)
Primary Characters
Ulrich von Gradwitz
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Wealthy landowner who has legal right to a strip of land that Georg still hunts on
Enemy of Georg
Eventually makes amends with Georg
Hunter
Dynamic Character
Georg Znaeym
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Enemy of Ulrich von Gradwitz
Refuses to accept that Ulrich’s land doesn’t belong to him
Later becomes friends with Ulrich
Summary of the story
Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znayem were both enemies. Georg was a
poacher. They were both in the forest and a tree fell on them. They start
struggling to get out from under the tree, but eventually they give up. They fight
over whose men will arrive first to save them while they are both stuck and
seriously injured. Ulrich has a flask with him and offers Georg some of his wine,
but Georg still refuses to drink with the enemy. Ulrich says that since the island
is his land, if Georg’s men come first, then he will be freed first since he is the
guest and Ulrich asks Georg to be friends with him. Then as they are laying
there, they notice something coming in the woods and they are trying to figure
out whose men it is. But then they figure out that it is wolves.
Setting
Place:
A snowy forest in the Eastern Spurs of the Karpathians
Time:
1900’s
Social Milieu:
High/ middle class because he had a lot of land and men.
Climax
Rising Action
Georg and Ulrich meet up with
rifles and are still angry at each
other due to past conflicts.
Suddenly a part of a tree falls
onto them and they’re trapped
underneath it. Both eventually
make amends and agree to
common friendship.
As they’re calling for help, they see
figures coming. They assume they
are Ulrich’s men, but then discover
they are really wolves.
Falling Action, Resolution
(External to story) Georg and Ulrich were
messily devoured by wolves. But at least
they’re friends now.
Point of View
The Interlopers is told in third person. This makes the tale
better because we can see both sides of the story, not just
one character. We can also know their thoughts and
feelings.
Saki’s Techniques
Saki effectively builds suspense in “The Interlopers”, especially towards the
end. When Ulrich and Georg are calling for their men, Saki adds several
pauses of uncertainty. Finally, Ulrich sees figures approaching, but they are
unidentified... until Ulrich discovers they are wolves.
"Are they your men?" asked Georg. "Are they your men?" he repeated impatiently as
Ulrich did not answer.
"No," said Ulrich with a laugh, the idiotic chattering laugh of a man unstrung with
hideous fear.
"Who are they?" asked Georg quickly, straining his eyes to see what the other
would gladly not have seen.
"Wolves."
Theme
A theme of “The Interlopers” is ‘A person
should not allow themself to be consumed by
hatred for another.’ This theme is displayed
when Ulrich and Georg are trapped by the tree.
They were too set on the other’s downfall to
realize the nearby tree was unstable, trapping
them and leaving them for the wolves.
Symbol
The wolves at the end of the story were physical
manifestations of Ulrich and Georg’s hatred for each other,
ready to devour them when they were most helpless. They
thought they had gotten over their animus for each other,
but in the end it was too late. Their contempt cost them
their lives.
Rating
We give this short story a 3 out of 3 stars. This
is because it really makes you think. It is also
very interesting to see how two people that
have been enemies for a long time can become
friends just like that and leaves you in
suspense at the end since it just ends when
they see the wolves.
Sources
British flag:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack
Background:
http://secret-rp.wikia.com/wiki/File:Snowy_forest_wallpaper_o1jkh1.jpg
Rise of the Russian Empire:
http://www.bookdepository.com/Rise-Russian-Empire-Hector-HughMunro/9781473310117
Wolf:
http://gallery.yopriceville.com/Free-Clipart-Pictures/AnimalsPNG/Transparent_Wolf_Clipart
Saki
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/saki.htm