“The Monkey’s Paw” By W. W. Jacobs

Get out your writer’s notebook Title this entry “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs

Write Three Wishes Write down this heading in your notebook: Imagine that you found a magic lamp with a genie inside who would grant you three wishes. What would you wish for? (Wishing for more wishes isn’t allowed!) Now, what if the genie told you that the last person whose wishes were granted wished for death? Would you still make your wishes? Why or why not?

Before reading “The Monkey’s Paw” was published in 1902 and 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 England in the mid- 1800s and did not gain independence until 1947. During this time, it was common for British soldiers to serve in India.

Before reading While serving in India, the sergeant acquired a mysterious object that a fakir placed a spell upon. A fakir is wandering Hindu holy person who performs feats of magic and sells charms.

ACTIVE READING! When we interact with what we read, we remember and understand what we read. To interact with this story, we will pause every few paragraphs to write down our thoughts and questions. This exercise will help us stay focused, and it will also help us become better thinkers. After we write our own thoughts down, we will communicate our ideas with peers. Skip a line in your notebook each time we pause. You do not need to write the questions.

While reading What details help establish the setting? Copy down at least one piece of textual evidence. Sentence Starter: A detail that helps establish setting is …

While reading Closely reread the description of Sergeant Major Morris on lines 39-42. Cite evidence to explain how the description helps build suspense. Sentence Starter: Sergeant Major Morris’s description builds suspense when the author says…

While reading Based on what we know about the spell put on the monkey’s paw, what do you think might happen in the story? (In other words, what might this description foreshadow?) Sentence Starter: I think that…

While reading What did Sergeant Major Morris do and why? What did Mr. White do? What do you think is going to happen? Sentence Starters: Sergeant Major Morris … because… Mr. White did… I think…

While reading What does Herbert want his father to wish for? What does Mr. White want to wish for? Sentence Starters: Herbert wants his dad to wish… Mr. White wants to wish for…

While reading Sometimes authors use vivid imagery to create foreshadowing. In a horror story, this imagery can create a mood of fear and impending danger. Reread lines 176-182, and find words and phrases that foreshadow something frightening. Sentence Starter: Evidence that foreshadows something frightening is “…”

While reading Reread lines 214-225 and describe the behavior of the man outside. What do you think he is doing there? Sentence Starters: The man outside is… I think he is there to…

While reading What does the man from Maw and Meggins share with Mr. and Mrs. White? Sentence Starter: The man tells Mr. and Mrs. White that…

While reading A theme is a message about life or human nature that a writer wants to share with readers. Based on what has happened so far, what do you think the theme is of “The Monkey’s Paw”? Sentence Starter: I think the theme of the story is…

While reading We use evidence to figure out or make inferences about what the author doesn’t say directly. Reread lines 330-340. Does Mr. White really believe that it’s a coincidence? How do you know? Sentence Starter: I think Mr. White …

While reading What happens? Take a moment to reread the last two paragraphs and make a prediction about what occurs. (Things to think about: what does Mr. White wish for? Why does Mrs. White let out a “long loud wail”?) Sentence Starters: I think that Mr. White wishes for… I think Mrs. White wails because…

After reading In what way does the setting described in lines 1-15 suggest or foreshadow later events? Reread lines 93-95 and identify the allusion or reference to a well-known work that Mrs. White makes. What does the allusion suggest about Mrs. White’s view of the paw? Compare and contrast Mr. Morris’s and Mr. White’s views about the monkey’s paw. Then explain how these differing points add to the suspense in the story.

After reading Examine lines 190-214 to review the Whites’ reaction as they realize what has happened to their son. What do they assume about the two hundred pounds they will receive as “compensation”? What do the actions of Mr. and Mrs. White at the end of the story reveal about their different expectations for wishes made on the monkey’s paw? Identify what hopes or fears these expectations reveal. What is the theme of “The Monkey’s Paw”? Give examples of how the author develops the theme through the characters and plot.