Structure

The short story “The Open Window” by Saki begins in medias res with Vera telling Framton Nuttel that Mrs. Sappleton will join them in a little while, and she will keep him company until then (ll. 1-2). 

In a short flashback, we learn how Framton came to pay a visit to Mrs. Sappleton, following his retreat to the village, and his sister’s letter of introduction (ll. 8-11). 

There are several instances of foreshadowing in the story. For instance, the “undefinable something about the room (that) seemed to suggest masculine habitation” (ll. 24-25) foreshadows the arrival of the three men at the end, who are not dead, as Framton was led to believe. Framton’s doubt that his visits to total strangers will help his fragile nerves (ll. 5-7) turns out to be justified when he is frightened out of his wits in the climax of the story (ll. 80-81). Vera ends her story by t...