Divide into groups and answer the following
questions about Saki's story "The Open Window." Make sure
your summary includes names of the members of your group. Be prepared to share
some of your answers with the class.
1. Who is the most interesting person in
this story? Why?
2. Who is the least interesting person in
this story? Why?
3. Who seems to be the most admirable person
in this story? Why?
4. What kind of person is the
"target" of this story?
5. Do the characters in this story remind
you of anyone you know? If so, without naming real names, explain how so.
6. Do you
know anyone who makes up stories about themselves and people they know and then
pretends these stories are true when they meet new people? Do you think this
has anything to do with what they think is heroic or makes someone an
impressive person?
7. Think
of someone that you do not know personally, but think is an excellent person or
heroic (or a terrible person!). How have stories you’ve heard about
this person influenced your determination that this person is excellent,
heroic, or terrible?
M. Kagan, PHL 403, Senior Seminar on
Heroism and the Human Spirit, Le Moyne College, November 2002 (last revised
April 2006)
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PHL 403--Senior Seminar on Heroism and the Human Spirit