Saki’s novella, “The Interlopers”, explores the intricacies of friendship and rivalry. The story takes place in a European forest one night during the winter. The setting of the story is analogous to the plot; the trees have to bind together for warmth to brave the fierce winter, the same way Ulrich and George have to work together to survive.
The exposition does a wonderful job of building suspense by telling of the feud between the two families. The feeling of impending doom increases as Georg and Ulrich hunt each other in the dark forest. The suspense comes to a boiling point when the men meet and stare at each other with the intent to kill. But neither shoots. “The chance had come to give full play to the passions of a lifetime.
The exposition does a wonderful job of building suspense by telling of the feud between the two families. The feeling of impending doom increases as Georg and Ulrich hunt each other in the dark forest. The suspense comes to a boiling point when the men meet and stare at each other with the intent to kill. But neither shoots. “The chance had come to give full play to the passions of a lifetime.