Monkey's Paw

Wednesday's Lesson - "The Monkey's Paw" - short story by W.W. Jacobs
** If you want to read this short story, just google it... It's a classic!
Students, you will get this handout in class.

Before Reading - About the Author…


1. Where was Jacobs born?

2. What was the name of his first collection of stories?

3. For what work is he best known?

Before Reading – Discussion Questions

1. If you could wish for anything what would it be? What if there were grim consequences or a difficult “trade off” to your wish? Would you still do it? Why do people wish for things in our society?



2. What stories, myths or fairy tales have you read that connect to making wishes or fate?



3. What does the word “fate” mean? People who believe in fate are known as “fatalists”. Some ways fate is predicted include palmistry, numerology or horoscopes. Have you experienced a situation that seemed like fate? How is fate connected to superstition?

During Reading

1. What words and phrases in the passage on page 1 help to create a suspenseful, ominous mood? What images come to mind when you read the passages?



2. What does “mate” mean?



3. Do you find the sergeant-major's story believable? Why or why not?



4. What is a “fakir”?



5. Why is the sergeant-major alarmed?



6. What is a “talisman”?



7. Why doesn't Mr. White know what to wish for?



8. What happens when Mr. White makes his wish?



9. What are the family's feelings about the wish in the morning?



10. How does the first wish come true?



11. Why does Mrs. White want the monkey's paw?



12. What fear does Mr. White have?



13. Why does the man hesitate before making a wish?



14. Why is the man afraid?



15. What was the man's third wish?



16. What is probably upsetting the sergeant-major about the White family's lightheartedness toward the paw?





17. What event reveals the power of the monkey's paw?





18. How is the following statement by Sergeant-Major Morris an example of foreshadowing? "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death." *Foreshadowing – when the author presents clues in the story so that the reader knows that a twist of events is yet to come.





19. Explain how Mr. White’s feelings about the monkey’s paw change throughout the story.







After Reading – Respond to ONE question in multi-paragraph form

Does Fate rule our lives or do we have some control over what happens to us? Explain.





If you had the monkey’s paw, what would your three wishes be? List the consequences that may have occurred due to each wish-good and

bad.