The+Interlopers

//__Point of View:__// The point of view is third person (limited).

//__Protagonist:__// The protagonist is Ulrich von Gradwitz.

//__What type of character is the protagonist?__// The protagonist is a dynamic and round character.

//__Antagonist:__// The main antagonist in this story is the fallen beech tree, as Ulrich became friends with Georg in the latter of the story.

//__Describe the setting:__// The story takes sometime in the 1900's, in the forests of eastern Europe. The atmosphere has a very tense vibe to it.

//__Type of Conflict:__// The main conflict in this story is a man vs man conflict, however there is some conflict between man and nature as well.

//__Describe the main conflict:__// The main conflict is a feud between two families; the Gradwitzs and the Znaeyms. Many years ago, the Gradwitzs had filed a lawsuit wresting a small strip of forest from the illegal possession of the Znaeym family. This sprung an ever-lasting dispute, which carried on throughout the years and built a hatred between Ulrich and Georg, as they were each the inheritor of the quarrel.

//__Describe the Climax of the Story:__// The climax of the story is when Ulrich and Georg realize that the wolves are coming for them.

//__How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?__// The protagonist changed by becoming acquainted with Znaeym, and realizing that the whole dispute was pointless.

//__Describe the relationship between the title and the theme:__// The word 'Interloper' is defined as a person who becomes involved in a situation or place where they are unwanted. The title is true to the story in the sense that neither Ulrich or Georg want the other on the designated piece of land.

//__How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?__// The main conflict (man vs man) helps to illustrate the theme by describing the hatred between the two men, and then their resolution.

//__How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?__// The climax helps to illustrate the theme in a somewhat ironic way; the two men had just become friends, but it almost seems useless, as they are yet to be eaten by wolves.

__ **Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story:** __

//__Simile:__// "The roebuck, which usually kept in the sheltered hollows during a storm-wind, were running like driven things tonight..."

//__Metaphor:__// "Relief at being alive and exasperation at his captive plight brought a strange medley of pious thank-offerings and sharp curses to Ulrich's lips. "

//__Personification:__// "Ulrich was silent for a few minutes, and lay listening to the weary screeching of the wind."

//__Symbol:__// The sight of the wolves at the end could be a symbol for nature's revenge on the two men who had taken from it all these years.

//__Foreshadowing (give both elements):__// An example of foreshadowing is in the sentence "Assuredly there was a disturbing element in the forest, and Ulrich could guess the quarter from whence it came". Later in the story, he finds himself struck by a fallen tree, and cornered by a pack of wolves.

//__Irony:__// An example of irony in 'The Interlopers' is when Ulrich realizes that the figures in the darkness are neither of their men, but a pack of wolves. This is ironic, because he had only recently taken the effort to befriend his long term enemy, to then be eaten.

//__Imagery:__// Gloomy, Dreary, Somber, Dismal, Dreary, Unwelcoming, Unforgiving, Tense.

//__Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story:__// The theme of choices ties into the story on multiple occasions. One example is when Ulrich makes the decision to attempt to befriend Georg. This was a very difficult decision for him to make, and it ends up being pointless, as they are both found by the wolves. Another example of the theme 'choices' is when they had both simply given up on trying to escape from under the fallen tree. If they had continued trying, they may have had a chance of survival.

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1. //__What is Ulrich hunting for?__// Ulrich is hunting for his enemy, Georg Znaeym.

2. __//How did Ulrich come to own the property in question?//__ Ulrich came to own the property when a famous lawsuit had rested it from the illegal possession of his grandfather's petty neighbors.

3. __//Why do Ulrich and Georg hate each other? How did it all start?//__ Ulrich and Georg hate each other because of the feud that was never resolved between their families.

4. __//Identify the foreshadowing in the second paragraph.//__ "Assuredly there was a disturbing element in the forest, and Ulrich could guess the quarter from whence it came".

5. __//Why did they not try to shoot each other the moment they saw each other?//__ They had both been brought up under the code of a restraining civilization, and could not bring themselves to shooting the other. To add to this, they had little time to analyze the situation, as a fallen beech tree was soon over top of them.

6. __//What saves Ulrich’s feet from being crushed?//__ The only thing which prevented Ulrich's feet from being crushed were his heavy shooting-boots.

7. __//What lies do they tell each other after realizing they are both trapped under the tree?//__ Each ensured the other that their men would be their within minutes, and would kill the other, but in reality they had no idea when, or who's men were to come.

8. __//Why does Ulrich change his mind about killing Georg?//__ Ulrich changes his mind about killing Georg, because he realizes that the whole argument was almost without meaning; they had quarreled for years over an old, narrow strip of forest where the trees couldn't even bear the slightest gust of wind. He feels that they had a chance to be friends if they forgot about the whole ordeal.

9. __//What significance is there in the title of this story? What are some possible meanings of the title?//__ The title is significant to the story in the sense that it describes what both characters see the other as; an interloper. Most likely, this is what the author meant for the title to indicate.

10. __//In the end of the story why do each of the men hope that their men will come first to rescue him?//__ In the end of the story, each of the men have positive feelings toward one another, and want their men to come to their rescue so each can free the other. In a way, this would be taking another step towards their friendship.

11. __//Describe the irony in this story://__ The most ironic part of the story is when Ulrich and Georg are found by the wolves. This is ironic because the two families had joined hands for the first time, only to be forgotten in a dead forest, and their friendship remain a secret to the many generations yet to come.

12. __//What metaphor can you find in relation to the tree pinning down the two characters?//__ "Relief at being alive and exasperation at his captive plight brought a strange medley of pious thank-offerings and sharp curses to Ulrich's lips. "

13. __//Is the ending of this story effective? Why or why not?//__ The ending of the story is very effective in the way that it surprises the reader, and leaves them hanging. This makes for a very strong ending, because the reader wants to read more, and find out what happens to the main characters.

Completion 5/5 Effort 5/5 Content 4/5

Total 14 /15

Questions Completion Mark 5/5

Total 19/20