ReadingQuiz

1) According to the sergeant major, what is special about the monkey’s paw?

2) How do the Whites get $200?

3) At the end, why is Mr. White afraid?

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.

LITERARY

INELEMENTS

CHARACTERIZATION

MOOD

MONKEYCONFLICTSYMBOLISM

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

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.

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.

The Monkey’s PawAre You Superstitious?

IlluminatiThe

The Monkey’s PawPlot Chart

The Monkey’s PawPlot Chart

The Monkey’s PawPlot Chart

The Monkey’s PawForeshadowing

--In “The Monkey’s Paw,” there are many things that foreshadow what will happen later. In an essay, identify two examples of foreshadowing from the story and explain in detail the specific future events they suggest.