Misc.
What do Edgar Allan Poe and W.W. Jacobs have in common as authors?
They both write Gothic Literature.
What does the narrator obsess over about the old man?
His pale-blue, vulture-like eye.
What object gives the White family three wishes?
The monkey's paw.
What does the monkey's paw symbolize?
The danger of interfering with fate or trying to control the future?
What character traits describe the narrator? Name TWO.
Unreliable, paranoid, obsessive, etc.
How do both stories relate to Gothic Literature?
Both stories use Gothic techniques such as suspense and foreshadowing to create an eerie and unsettling feeling.
How many nights does the narrator sneak into the old man's bedroom before killing him?
7 nights.
What warning does Sergeant-Major Morris give Mr. White about the Monkey's paw?
The monkey's paw is cursed, and "those who interfered with fate did so to their sorrow."
What point of view is The Monkey's Paw written in?
An outside narrator uses third-person pronouns (he, she, they) to reveal the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of all three White family members.
What point of view is The Tell-Tale Heart written in?
First-person point of view delivered by an unreliable narrator.
What do both stories teach readers about making decisions?
Our choices can have unexpected consequences.
How does the narrator dispose of and hide the old man's body?
He cuts the body into pieces and hides it under the floorboards in the old man's bedroom.
What is the family's first wish?
200 pounds.
What is one major theme of The Monkey's Paw?
Be careful what you wish for because your wishes may have unexpected consequences.
What mood does Poe create throughout the story?
Poe creates a creepy, suspenseful, and unsettling mood.
How do both authors build suspense?
Through foreshadowing, keep readers wondering what will happen next.
How does the narrator act when the police first arrive compared with how he acts right before he confesses?
Goes from feeling confident and welcoming to becoming terrified and losing control of his emotions.
What happens after the first wish comes true?
Herbert dies in a machinery accident, and the family receives 200 pounds in compensation.
What mood is created when someone begins knocking at the door after the second wish?
Suspenseful, frightening, or tense.
Is the narrator experiencing an internal or external conflict when he hears the heartbeat?
Internal conflict (person vs. self)
Which story was better: The Tell-Tale Heart or The Monkey's Paw? Defend your answer using at least TWO details from the story.
What noise does the narrator hear at the end of the story, and what causes him to confess?
He thinks he can hear the old man's heartbeat, making him feel guilty about his actions and causing him to confess.
What is the family's second wish, and what happens after they make it?
They wish for Herbert to come back to life, and someone begins knocking at the door.
What is the main conflict between the White family and the monkey's paw?
The family struggles with the dangerous and unexpected consequences of their wishes.
What is one major theme of The Tell-Tale Heart?
Guilt can become so overwhelming that it is hard to hide the truth.