“The Interlopers”

1. “The Interlopers” Saki

2. Saki • Pseudonym/pen name for H. H. Muneo • 1870-1916 • Wrote humorous stories that poked fun at upper-class British society • Stories have carefully constructed plots that often feature a practical joke or a surprise ending. Could require making inferences!

3. Theme • Centers around the subject of feuds and conflict • Feud – a bitter, long-standing fight that often occurs between families. Usually begins with an insult or injury that the people involved feel must be avenged, resulting in a never-ending cycle.

4. Theme • Act of avenging – vengeance that then prompts a response • Where have we seen long-standing feuds and the act of avenging??

5. Conflicts • Causes or reasons • Two characters hate each other in the story because of a land dispute that goes three generations back (long-standing feud). • Cause: land dispute Effect: life-long feud

6. Conflicts • Famous American feud: the Hatfields vs. the McCoys • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCwe61LzjgI • What were they fighting over? • Did it matter? • Was the conflict/feuding justified? • Which side won?

7. Interlopers • Prefix: “inter” – between or among • Root word: “loper” – to run or leap along • Original meaning: “to interfere with another’s trading rights or privileges” • More general meaning: “to intrude in the affairs of others”

8. Connection • Have you ever “intruded upon the affairs of others” or been called out for getting involved with something that doesn’t pertain to you?

9. Connection • Have you ever been in a fight with someone or hated someone for such a long time, that you have forgotten what originally caused that fighting or hatred?

10. Connection • Is there ever a clear winner and a clear loser in feuds? Why or why not?