The Open Window

Question

by H. H. Munro (Saki)

“My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel,” said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; “in the meantime you must try and put up with me.”

Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say the correct something which should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting the aunt that was to come. Privately he doubted more than ever whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much towards helping the nerve cure which he was supposed to be undergoing.

“I know how it will be,” his sister had said when he was preparing to migrate to this rural retreat; “you will bury yourself down there and not speak to a living soul, and your nerves will be worse than ever from moping. I shall just give you letters of introduction to all the people I know there. Some of them, as far as I can remember, were quite nice.”

Framton wondered whether Mrs. Sappleton, the lady to whom he was presenting one of the letters of introduction, came into the nice division.

"The Open Window" by H.H. Munro ("Saki")

Question
Use the story “The Open Window” to answer this question.

How does the setting influence Mr. Nuttel’s expectations about the interaction he is about to have?

(1 point)
Responses

He is reminded of a conversation with his sister and expects to meet someone like her.
He is reminded of a conversation with his sister and expects to meet someone like her.

He expects the surroundings to be isolating and depressing.
He expects the surroundings to be isolating and depressing.

He does not expect the visit among strangers to have much value.
He does not expect the visit among strangers to have much value.

He expects the country people to be unsophisticated and foolish.
He expects the country people to be unsophisticated and foolish.
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Answer 1

The setting in "The Open Window" influences Mr. Nuttel’s expectations about the interaction he is about to have mainly because he does not expect the visit among strangers to have much value. He is in a rural retreat, and his previous conversation with his sister underscores his anxiety about engaging with people he does not know. This sense of trepidation is compounded by his purpose for the visit, which is to seek a cure for his nerves, and he doubts that formal visits could be beneficial. His anticipation of a mere formality causes him to approach the interaction with skepticism regarding its potential value. Therefore, the correct response is:

He does not expect the visit among strangers to have much value.