In the short story "The Interlopers," the tone is serious
and defensive. Both characters, Gradwitz and Znaeym, have hatred one for the other. The
setting affects the tone and mood. It is a dark, stormy night in the forest. Both men
are out to get the other. There is a somber, gloomy, suspenseful mood. The reader
anticipates which one will find the other first. Simultaneously, they run directly into
one another, both with rifles in hand.
Who will make the
the first move? This question leaves the reader in great suspense. There is a dangerous
feeling in the atmosphere:
The two enemies stood glaring at one another for
a long silent moment. Each had a rifle in his hand, each had hate in his heart and
murder uppermost in his
mind.
Then, the lightning
stikes a tree. The tree falls on both men, pinning them within close range of each
other. The two men claim that their men will rescue them momemtarily. Ultimately,
Gradwitz decides to let his anger and hatred go. He asks Znaeym to be his friend.
Momentarily, the reader's anxiety is lessened as Znaeym
agrees.
While the two decide to become firends, there is a
team coming toward them. While they speculate as to whose men are arriving first,
Gradwitz realizes it is a pack of wolves headed toward them. Again, the reader is left
with a suspenseful mood as to what will happen now.
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