The Monkey’s PawBy

W. W

. Jac

obs

W. W. Jacobs(1863-1943)

Although W.W. Jacobs wrote mostly comic stories, he is best-known for his horrifying tale The Monkey’s Paw. Jacobs grew up among sailors and dock-workers on the banks of the Thames River in London where he set many of his humorous stories. As an adult, he worked as a bank clerk, a job that bored him, and he wrote in his spare time. He worked at the bank for nearly twenty years before he was able to quit and earn his living as a full-time writer.Jacobs wrote dozens of short story collections and a number of plays. The Monkey’s Paw was first published in 1902.

Overall feeling of the storyDescription of characters in a story

Problem in a story LITERARY

INELEMENTS

CHARACTERIZATION

MOOD

MONKEYCONFLICTSYM

BOLISM

Something representing something else

BEFOREREADING

Read the title and peruse the story. Make a based on what you see as to what the story might be about.prediction

What is the story of Aladdin about? What is the genie supposed to do? What would you wish for with ?three wishes

FATEFREE WILL

vs.

Something that

unavoidably

befalls a person.

FATEFREE WILL

vs.

Percy Jackson The Last OlympianThe Three Fates appeared on Olympus to take away Luke Castellan's body after the end of the Second Olympian War. One of them looked at Percy and he saw his life flash by. She said "It is done", holding up the snippet of blue yarn. Percy knew instantly that it was the same blue lifeline that he had saw them snip four years ago. Percy at first thought that it was his lifeline, but then realizes that it was Luke's, the life that had to be sacrificed to set things right. After Luke's body was taken away, Hermes says that "no one can tamper with fate, not even a god".

FATEFREE WILL

vs.

Percy JacksonThe Titan's CurseThe Fates were mentioned by Artemis while Zoë Nightshade was dying, Percy asked the goddess why she could not heal Zoë of her wounds. Artemis replied that life is a fragile thing and if the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little she can do but try. Percy also says during the council of the gods that "controlling the prophecies never works" because prophecies are what the Fates have decreed.

Vocabularyto know

sergeant major

keen

ly

peril

compensation

mischiefsolemnly

gain

s

mutilated

hosp

itabl

einquired

assu

re

fata

l

dubi

ousl

y

ProfitsPaymentSharplyRisky or dangerousOpen and invitingCompletely destroyedTendency to play tricks or cause destructionDeadly

SeriouslyAskedArmy or Marine officer

Uncertainly or doubtfullyTo give confidence

The story was published in 1902. The setting of this story takes place in London around the turn of the century. One of the main characters in the story is a sergeant who has returned from a tour of duty in India. India became a colony of Great Britain in the mid-1800s and did not gain independence until 1947. During this time, it was common for British soldiers to serve in India.

STORYBACKGROUND

Read The Monkey’s Paw to:

Find out how a character’s experiences and motivations influences the decisions they make.

Find out how the author’s descriptive words are used to create the mood of the story.

ReadingDuring

STOP Predictand

What happens now?

Part Two

Sequence the events of a tornado and match up sentences from article.

ReadingDuring

Pay special attention to “consequences of actions.”

ReadingAfter

In The Monkey’s Paw, a man’s wish ends up leading to terrible consequences. What do you suppose Jacobs might be trying to tell us as readers? At what point in the story could you predict that Herbert is killed in an accident? Include specific events from the story to support your answer.

ReadingAfter

The mood of a story refers to the general feeling or atmosphere created by the author’s words. Authors rely on descriptive images and carefully worded phrases to get the reader to feel a certain emotion or mood. Cite three short passages from the short story that help create the mood or atmosphere. Explain what emotions or thoughts this passage brings out in the reader and how. What is the mood of this short story based on your evidence?

ReadingAfter

TE: Copy down a passage from the story that contributes to

the mood

TE: Copy down a passage from the story that contributes to

the mood

TE: Copy down a passage from the story that contributes to

the mood

Passage 1: Passage 2: Passage 3:

Mood: _____ Mood: _____ Mood: _____

TicketExit

I will give you a number. ONLY explain why that story event is an example of foreshadowing.

1. Mr. White makes a major mistake in his chess game with his son. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize his mistake until it is too late.

2. Sergeant-Major Morris tells the Whites of a man who wished for death as his third wish using the monkey’s paw.

3. Sergeant-Major Morris shows nervousness when Mrs. White jokes that her husband wish for extra pairs of hands for her.

4. When Mr. White wishes for two hundred pounds, the monkey’s paw moves in his hand “like a snake.”

5. After Mr. White wishes for two hundred pounds, Herbert says that he doesn’t see the money belt and he bets he never will.

The Monkey’s PawResponse to Text

If you were to change the monkey’s paw to another item, what would it be? Draw and color a picture of your new item with a description of why it would be better to fit the plot of the story than the monkey’s paw.

Suppose you were asked to give input for a tv show based on the story. Write a memo (half to full page) to the director suggesting ways to create the proper mood. Suggest a location, actors, and music that will help create the mood. Give reasons for your choices.

OR