Use paragraphs 8–10 from “The Interlopers” to answer the question. In this excerpt, two men are trapped under a tree and accuse each other of trespassing on their land. How do the men’s situation and conversation create tension and mystery in the story? In 1-2 sentences, support your ideas with evidence from the paragraph.

Question

I’m caught in my own forest-land,” retorted Ulrich. “When my men come to release us you will wish, perhaps, that you were in a better plight than caught poaching on a neighbour’s land, shame on you.” Georg was silent for a moment; then he answered quietly: “Are you sure that your men will find much to release? I have men, too, in the forest to-night, close behind me, and THEY will be here first and do the releasing. When they drag me out from under these damned branches it won’t need much clumsiness on their part to roll this mass of trunk right over on the top of you. Your men will find you dead under a fallen beech tree. For form’s sake I shall send my condolences to your family.”

Answer 1

The tension between Ulrich and Georg is palpable as they find themselves trapped under a tree, with each man accusing the other of trespassing. This animosity escalates as they taunt one another about the fate that awaits them, particularly when Georg chillingly suggests that his men will arrive first and could easily crush Ulrich under the fallen tree, hinting at the lethal stakes of their rivalry. The mystery surrounding their potential rescue deepens as readers are left uncertain about which of their men will reach them first, amplifying the sense of danger and foreboding in their conversation.