Page 2 - LN 6

SHORT SUMMARY:

Mr. Framton Nuttel has just moved to a new town to cure his nerves.
While visiting one of his sister’s

acquaintances, Mrs. Sappleton, he spends some
time with the woman’s niece, Vera. Vera recounts a
story about how her aunt lost her husband and two
brothers in a tragic hunting accident. She warns
Framton that her aunt never accepted their deaths
and believes that someday the hunting party will

return. In anticipation, Mrs. Sappleton leaves the
window in the front room open so that they may re-enter the house.
When Mrs. Sappleton enters the room and discusses the hunting party,
Framton is deeply disturbed by her delusion. However, his concern turns
to pure horror when he sees three male figures dressed in hunting gear
approaching the house. Believing he has seen ghosts, Framton bolts

from the house. Spinning another tale, Vera explains to the newly
arrived hunting party and her aunt that Framton fled when he saw the
hunting dog because of his severe fear of dogs.

ELEMENTS USED IN THE POEM:

THEME: ESCAPE,
EMPOWERMENT

IRONY: FROM THE NAME OF THE STORY’S
PROTAGONIST, VERA, TO NUTTEL’S MOTIVATION
FOR COMING TO VISIT, IRONY ABOUNDS