Class 8 English Question Answers - The Open Window (Old Syllabus)

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. What is the significance of the window in the story’?
 Ans. The window in the story, reveals niece’s habit of playing jokes and pranks. The window is central to the story. Through it the aunt’s husband along with his two brothers-in-law had gone out hunting. Framton is frightened to see them coming towards the window. Taking them for ghosts, he rushes out of the gate.

Q2. What was Framton Nuttel suffering from?
 Ans. Framton Nuttel was suffering from nervous disorder and excitement. The doctor advised him complete rest and relaxation in the countryside.

Q3. Why does Framton retire to the countryside?
 Ans. Framton retires to the rural retreat on the doctor’s advice. He needed rest and relief from mental excitement.

Q4. Whom does Framton contact in the rural resort?
 Ans. Framton goes to Mrs Sappleton’s house in the countryside. He carries an introduction letter from his sister. But he first meets Mrs Sappleton’s niece, Vera.

Q5. What did Framton admit as well as notice in Mrs Sappleton’s room?
 Ans. Mr Framton tells Vera that he doesn’t know anybody in that village. He wondered whether the lady was married or a widow. But he did notice that some male member has been living in the room.

Q6. What sort of tragedy had happened in Mrs Sappleton’s life, as narrated by the niece?
 Ans. Vera told Framton about a family mishap three years ago. Mrs Sappleton’s husband, along with her two brothers had gone for shooting. They were caught in a wet marshy land. They never returned. But the aunt was still hoping that they would return home and enter through the open window.

Q7. What did Framton notice about host’s chief concern?
 Ans. Framton noticed that the host was turning her eyes constantly towards the open window. She was giving very little attention to his story of sickness. Her chief concern was to notice her husband’s returning home.

Q8. What did the aunt and her niece say about Framton’s sudden exit?
 Ans. Mrs Sappleton and her niece told different stories why Framton had run out of the house in such a hurry. The lady called him an extraordinary man who talked only about his illness. Perhaps he had seen a ghost, so he had dashed off. But Vera said that the caller had a horror of dogs. So the sight of spaniel made him push out.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Who was Vera? What joke did she play? What was its outcome?
 Ans. Vera was the niece of Mrs. Sappleton. She was a young girl of fifteen. She was fun loving and mischievous. She knew how to oust a stranger from the house. She played a joke on him (Framton) and made him run out. She narrated a cooked up story about her aunt’s husband, her two brothers and the open window. She told him that three years ago her aunt’s husband along with her two brothers had gone for shooting. They were caught in a wet marshy land. They never returned. But the aunt, Mrs. Sappleton, was still hoping that they would return home and enter through the open window. When Mrs. Sappleton came to Framton, she also confirmed the story of the hunting party. This story had a deep effect on Framton. He was frightened to see them coming towards the window. Taking them for ghosts, he rushed out of the gate in great hurry.