Tropes
A common feature or convention used in Gothic stories.
What is a Gothic trope?
An abandoned house, dark forest, ruined castle or isolated village.
What is a common Gothic setting?
The main character.
What is a protagonist?
The opening that introduces characters, setting and situation.
What is the exposition?
In The Monkey’s Paw, what object causes the main mystery and conflict?
The monkey’s paw.
Hints that suggest what might happen later.
What is foreshadowing?
Separated from other people or places.
What does “isolated” mean when describing a setting?
A character or force that opposes the protagonist.
What is an antagonist?
The turning point or most intense moment.
What is the climax?
Who brings the monkey’s paw into the White family’s home?
Sergeant-Major Morris.
A misleading clue that distracts from the real mystery.
What is a red herring?
It hides information and creates uncertainty and suspense.
How can darkness contribute to a mystery story?
How a writer reveals a character’s personality - actions, speech, thoughts.
What is characterisation?
What is the difference between suspense and mystery?
Suspense asks what will happen; mystery asks what happened or why.
How does the first wish lead to the family’s tragedy?
The Whites wish for money and receive compensation after Herbert dies in an accident at work.
Weather reflects human emotions and creates mood, such as a storm suggesting fear.
How can pathetic fallacy create a Gothic atmosphere?
Why might a writer use an old, abandoned house?
To create an eerie atmosphere and suggest hidden secrets.
How can dialogue suggest that a character is hiding a secret?
Through evasive answers, contradictions or nervous speech.
Why include a red herring before the climax?
To mislead readers and make the revelation more surprising.
How does the knocking at the door create a Gothic effect?
It creates suspense and fear of the unknown because the reader does not know what is outside.
A house has “watchful windows” and a “groaning staircase”. Identify the technique and explain its effect.
Personification makes the house seem alive and threatening.
A character hears footsteps in an empty corridor during a storm. Explain how the setting creates tension.
The storm and empty corridor make the character seem vulnerable, while the unknown footsteps create suspense.
A character claims a locked room is empty but refuses to let anyone enter. What might readers infer?
The character may be hiding something, creating suspicion and mystery.
A strange footprint makes a neighbour look suspicious, but it belongs to the protagonist. Explain how the clues shape the plot.
The footprint raises a question, the neighbour misleads readers, and the revelation changes their understanding.
Why is the final wish significant, and how does it affect the ending?
Mr White uses it to stop the figure outside from reaching the house. The empty street creates uncertainty and a tragic ending.