The Interlopers Questions

Name______Date______Period____ “The Interlopers” Questions

1. (a) As you read the story, how did you think it would end? (b) What thoughts went through your mind at the end of the story?

2. (a) What started the feud between the von Gradwitz and Znaeym families? (b) In your opinion, why do Ulrich and Georg hate each other so much?

3. (a) How does the men’s relationship gradually change while they are trapped under the tree? (b) What causes the change in the men’s relationship? Explain.

4. (a) Who are the figures that Ulrich sees coming through the forest? (b) What is ironic about the way the story ends?

5. To whom or what might the title of this story refer?

6. Do Ulrich and Georg seem to meet by chance or by design? Explain your answer.

7. Saki is well known as a master of surprise endings, but he also drops hints to prepare a careful reader for the surprise. (a) What hints about the ending appear in “The Interlopers”? (b) How well has Saki prepared readers for the ending?

8. What does Ulrich’s statement that “there are better things in life than getting the better of a boundary dispute” suggest about how the two men have spent their lives?