1. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
Author and Context Notes

2. Author Notes
W. W. Jacobs, the author of “The Monkey’s Paw” was born in London, England in He died in 1943 at the age of 80.

3. Author Notes
When he was young, he listened to tales told by sailors he met at his dockside house where he lived with his father.
These were stories about everyday life disrupted by strange and fantastic events.

4. Author Notes
“The Monkey’s Paw is his most famous tale of suspense and the supernatural.
It was first published in 1902 and made into a one-act play a year later.

5. Culture / Context
One of the major motifs in the story is that of FATE – a force that determines the outcome of events before they occur.

6. Culture / Context
Ancient Greeks and Romans worshiped fate in the form of the 3 Fates who wove human destiny
Clotho: Spins the thread of life
Lachesis: measures the thread of life
Atropos: cuts the thread of life

7. Culture / Context
The theme of wishing found in “The Monkey’s Paw” is very common in the folklore of different cultures.

8. Culture / Context
In a Jewish folk tale from Eastern Europe, a man is helped by a magical wishing ring, but nearly dies when he reveals this to others.

9. Culture / Context
An Ancient Chinese tale tells of the Mother Heaven who tries to grant everyone’s wish, but who only causes problems.

10. Culture / Context
In Middle Eastern cultures, Djinn (commonly called Genies) assist or cause mischief through the granting of wishes. A famous example of this is the tale of Aladdin, from The Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

11. Literary Focus: Foreshadowing
In foreshadowing, writers give clues to the outcomes of the stories they write before the events play out later in the plot.

12. Literary Focus: Foreshadowing
Practice your foreshadowing detective skills by paying close attention to the story told by the Sergeant Major at the outset of the story. Important clues are given well before the conclusion of the story.