The Open Window

2989 Words12 Pages
Before Reading The Open Window Short Story by Saki How should you treat a GUEST? RL 4 Determine the figurative meanings of phrases as they are used in a text; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone. RL 6 Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of world literature. RL 10 Read and comprehend stories. 604 You’re sitting at home when the doorbell rings. Instead of the pizzadelivery guy you were expecting, it’s an uninvited guest. If that guest happens to be your best friend, you now have someone fun to share your pizza with. If, however, that guest is someone you would rather not hang out with, what should you do? DISCUSS In your opinion, do you have an obligation to treat a guest, invited or not, with hospitality? Discuss your opinion with a small group of classmates. Talk about the obligations you have as a host— especially to a guest you would rather not spend time with. Are there minimum standards you have to meet in order not to be rude? After you’ve discussed these questions, think about whether or not your opinion has changed and, if so, why. Meet the Author text analysis: tone and author’s purpose A writer’s tone, or attitude toward a subject, can often reveal his or her perspective and purpose. Just as you might use one tone of voice to make a joke and another to criticize someone, writers choose their words to convey different tones and accomplish different purposes. A writer’s tone may be playful or solemn, sarcastic or admiring. Figuring out the writer’s tone can help you decide what his or her purpose might be. As you read Saki’s famous short story “The Open Window,” ask yourself • Does the narrator’s description of other characters reveal whether Saki is portraying them in a favorable or an unfavorable light? • Does Saki use formal
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