“The Interlopers”

LESSON DESCRIPTION: While reading this story students will have an opportunity to
gain practice using literary terms when referring to plot and conflict. Furthermore,
students will work together in small groups of two or three, which I will assign, so that
they can utilize the instructional strategy think-pair-share. Once in groups, students will
be asked to interpret a poem and many other questions individually before sharing with
the group; then, once the group has had a little bit of time to collaborate each group will
share answers with the class.

LESSON OBJECTIVES:

1. TSWBAT recognize different types of conflict.

2. TSWBAT compare and contrast between two different sources.
3. TSWBAT develop and defend answers to questions related to sources.

CONTENT OUTLINE:

1. Conflict
a. external
i. another character
ii. society as a whole
iii. nature
iv. animals
b. internal
i. his/her conscious
2. Read selection pg. 97
3. What type of conflict is occurring?
4. Any solutions?

LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

1. Once in the classroom students should begin working on the prompt on the board.
Imagine that Georg has a pen and paper while pinned beneath the tree and that he wants
to let his men know what has transpired between him and Ulrich. Write a note that his
men will find so that they will know not to continue the feud. (7min)
2. Ask for a few volunteers to share notes (4 min)
3. Collect plot outline homework (4 min)
4. Work through conflict terms in “Interlopers” on overhead (10 min)
5. Break students up into groups of two (3 min)
6. Think-Pair-Share “A Poison Tree” (10 min)
7. Think-Pair-Share “Interloper” questions (12 min)
8. Pre-dismissal (5 min)
LESSON ASSESSMENT/CLOSURE
Formative: Post Game- Each student should write down two ideas that they learned from
the lesson. The teacher will pick a student at random and that student will need to share
what it is that he/she learned. Also, this student is in charge of reminding the class one
more time of the night’s homework.

Summative: There will be a quiz over the short story later in the week.

Works Cited
“The Interlopers” Saki
“A Poison Tree” William Blake
 (Overhead Notes)
Conflict
A clash of struggle between opposing forces.

External Internal
↓ ↓
Struggle between Struggle between a
character and force character and
outside something within
himself/herself. himself/herself.

Examples

External Internal
another character his/her
conscience
society as a whole
nature
animals
Read selection: Left column pg. 97

What type of conflict is taking place?

-External conflict - - Man against Nature

Are there any solutions?

 Name:

Think-Pair-Share
Read the poem "A Poison Tree" by William Blake, which also deals with the poisonous nature of
feuding.

A Poison Tree
- William Blake
(published 1794)

I was angry with my friend:

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,

Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,

Till it bore an apple bright,
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole,

When the night had veiled the pole.
In the morning, glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

Cite at least two examples of evidence from the text. One example from
the poem and one example from the short story.

1. Compare "A Poison Tree" and "The Interlopers." How are they similar?

2. How are they different?

 Name:
“The Interlopers”

Think-Pair-Share Response Questions

1. What or whom is Ulrich von Gradwitz pursuing in the forest?

2. Recall what the two men do when they meet face to face?

3. What does Ulrich offer to Georg as a token of friendship?

4. Discuss the event that shows "Nature's own violence" to be stronger than the violence of either
man?

5. What thoughts on the part of both men show that even the villagers would find their
reconciliation to be dramatic?

6. Identify the changes that take place in Ulrich and Georg while they are trapped together
underneath the beech tree.

7. Examine why the changes occur in the two men?

8. How strong is the new bond of friendship between Ulrich and Georg?

9. Assess whether or not the friendship would have endured if Ulrich and Georg had survived?

10. What do you think is Saki's principal aim in writing the short story "The Interlopers"? Does
he accomplish his aim? Explain.