Question 1.
Why had Frampton Nuttel come to the “rural retreat”?
Frampton was suffering from some nerve ailment. So, he was advised to have rest in the natural surroundings of the countryside. His sister also decided to send him to that rural area. That is why he came to the “rural retreat”.
Question 2.
Why had his sister given him letters of introduction to people living there?
Frampton Nuttel’s sister had stayed in a village four years ago. She had known many people there. That is why she had given him letters of introduction to people living there. She thought that they would help him in his need.
Question 3.
What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece?
When Mr. Framton reached the house of Mrs. Sappleton, she was upstairs. In her absence, her niece talked to him. She narrated a tragic tale to him. She told Frampton that the husband of her aunt and her two young brothers had gone off for shooting snipes. They were caught in a bog there. Their bodies were never recovered. Their dog was also with them.
Question 4.
What did Mrs. Sappleton say about the open window?
Mrs. Sappleton said that her husband and two brothers had gone out for shooting snipes. They would be coming back home. They always come home directly from shooting through that window. That is why she always kept the window open.
Question 5.
The horror on the girl’s face made Frampton swing around his seat. What did he see?
Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and two brothers had returned with spaniel. The girl Vera was horror-stricken to see them. Frampton saw three figures walking across the lawn as Vera had told him. It made Frampton swing around his seat.
Question 6.
Why did Frampton rush out wildly?
Mrs. Sappleton looked out of the window. She saw that her husband and two brothers were coming. She said that they had come at last just in time for tea. They were covered with mud and spaniel followed them. Framton Nuttel got panicked. He thought that they were ghosts. It made him rush out wildly.
Question 7.
What was the girl’s explanation for his lightning exit?
Mrs. Sappleton said that Mr. Framton had rushed out speedily as if he had seen a ghost. But the girl explained his lighting exit by saying that he was afraid of the spaniel. She told that once he had remained hiding in a grave for fear of dogs. It happened in a cemetery on the banks of the Ganges.
Question 8.
Is this a mystery story? Give a reason for your answer.
This is certainly a mystery story. Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and brothers had gone out shooting. The niece of Mrs. Sappleton Vera turned the story that they were dead. Their bodies were never recovered. Frampton Nuttle was horrified by Vera’s explanation. So, when he saw them returning but he thought that they were ghosts.
Question 9.
You are familiar with the ‘irony of the situation in a story. (Remember The Cop and the Anthem in Class VII Supplementary Reader!) Which situations in ‘The Open Window’ are good examples of the use of irony?
The irony is an expression of one’s saying the direct opposite of what one is thinking. The irony is a significant part of most of the stories. The story “The Open Window’ to keep the window open for the arrival of the dead persons who were stuck in the mud is an example of irony in this story.
Question 10.
Which phrases/sentences in the text do you find difficult to understand? Select a few and guess the meaning of each. Rewrite a simple paraphrase of each.
I think the following phrases/sentences are difficult to understand :
- ‘Suggest masculine habitation. It means the room belonged to a man.
- My aunt will be down presently. It means she will come downstairs.
- ‘Without unduly discounting the aunt: It means to think the aunt unimportant.
- A whirl of apologies: It means apologies in quick succession
- Rattled on: It means continued.
- Romance at short notice: It means finding occasion for fun and enjoyment, wherever possible.
Question 11.
Which disease did the author suffer from ?
(a) Water foebia
(b) Bad nerves
(c) Tuberculosis
(d) Cholera
(b) Bad nerves
Question 12.
What is the name of Mrs. Sappleton’s niece ?
(a) Vedna
(b) Veeranga
(c) Vera
(d) Vegmati
(c) Vera
Question 13.
Who gave the author letters of introduction ?
(a) His father
(b) His brother
(c) His sister
(d) His son
(c) His sister
Question 14.
What’s name of Sappleton’s youngest brother ?
(a) Rohit
(b) Rudra
(c) Ronnie
(d) Ronak
(c) Ronnie
Question 15.
“Bertie, why do you bound ?” Who spoke so ?
(a) Sappleton’s hubby
(b) Sappleton’s sister
(c) Sappleton’s youngest brother
(d) None of the above
(c) Sappleton’s youngest brother
Question 16.
What were the men carrying in their hands ?
(a) Guns
(b) Pistols
(c) Googles
(d) Towels
(a) Guns
Question 17.
Whose speciality is inventing thrilling stories ?
(a) Sappleton
(b) Vera
(c) Framton
(d) Ronnie
(b) Vera