The Monkey's Paw
Describe the scene Jacobs paints at the beginning of the story. What is occurring? What might this tell you about the father’s personality? (Hint: Playing a game)
2. When analyzing literature, it is important that you pay close attention to details. Sergeant Major Morris describes the monkey’s paw in the following passage. Read the following passage and answer the questions. What might this mean to the reader at first glance? What does it mean after finishing the entire story?
"It had a spell put on it by an old fakir…a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. "
3. What happens to Herbert White?
4. Who throws the monkey’s paw into the fire? Why do you suppose he does this?
5. Writers pay special attention to detail in their writing. Each author has their own unique voice. Read the following passage and think about the picture Jacobs is painting. What do you find interesting about this particular passage? What is the tone of this passage (scary, dull, exciting, happy, sad)? Explain your thinking.
He sat until he was chilled with the cold, glancing occasionally at the figure of the old woman peering through the window. The candle-end, which had burned below the rim of the china candlestick, was throwing pulsating shadows on the ceiling and walls, until with a flicker larger than the rest, it expired. The old man, with an unspeakable sense of relief at the failure of the talisman, crept back to his bed, and a minute afterward the old woman came silently and apathetically beside him.
6. After reading the link about foreshadowing, please list 3-5 examples of foreshadowing in the text. Copy and paste the examples. Write 3-5 sentences describing the foreshadowing within each particular passage you choose. How did reading these sections make you feel (i.e anxious, scared, happy or sad)? Explain your thinking.
7. Now it’s your turn. Find two examples of foreshadowing in another work of literature.You can use short stories, poems, books or movies. For both examples you will need:
a. To identify the name of the work.
b. To list the example of foreshadowing.
c. To explain why this is an example of foreshadowing? What does the event foreshadow?
