Foreshadowing
What does the princess also being described as semi-barbaric foreshadow?
It foreshadows her possibly telling her lover to choose the door with the tiger.
How might the reader interpret the princess's feelings?
The reader can conclude that the princess feels conflicted because she hates the lady behind the door, but also does not want her lover to be eaten by the tiger.
What happens to Herbert in "The Monkey's Paw"? Be specific!
Herbert dies after being caught in the machinery at his factory job.
Compare the roles of the female characters in both stories.
The Princess - though she is royalty, she is not given much power and is not allowed to be with a man of low status, but is passionate about her lover.
Mrs. White - passive, doesn't believe in the paw at first, but is passionate like the princess and desperate to bring Herbert back to life.
Identify a specific line that hints at the dangers of the monkey's paw.
Answer can be any line in which the dangers of the paw are discussed.
What might the audience think about the king's justice system?
The king's justice system is unfair because choosing the "correct" door is left up to chance.
Who are the main characters in "The Monkey's Paw"? (There are 4)
Mr. White, Mrs. White, Herbert, and Sergeant Major Morris.
What are the similarities in the protagonists' dilemmas?
The dilemmas are similar because they both involve fate and chance.
Which moments in each story foreshadow the outcomes for the main characters?
The Lady or the Tiger - the princess being described as semi-barbaric, like her father.
The Monkey's Paw - when Sergeant Major Morris warns Mr. White of the dangers of the paw and tries to burn it on the fire.
Why might the characters choose the paths they do in each story?
The Lady or the Tiger - The princess may choose the tiger because she hates the lady behind the door, or she might choose the lady to spare her lover's life.
The Monkey's Paw - The Whites make the wish for the 200 pounds because they do not believe in the powers of the paw at first.
How does the author convey the setting in "The Lady or the Tiger?"
"This vast amphitheater, with its encircling galleries, its mysterious vaults, and its unseen passages, was an agent of poetic justice, in which crime was punished, or virtue rewarded, by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance."
Contrast the methods of justice in both stories.
The justice in The Lady or the Tiger is not really justice, because it is left completely up to chance.
The justice in The Monkey's Paw IS justice because the Whites are punished for not listening to Morris' warnings about the dangers of the paw.
What event in "The Monkey's Paw" hints at the tragic consequences of wishes?
Answer could contain any of the following:
When Sergeant Major Morris warns Mr. White of the dangers of the paw and attempts to burn it.
When the Whites learn that the last owner of the paw wished for death.
What can you infer about the princess's character based on her actions?
Based on her actions, the princess is likely as semi-barbaric as her father.
What does the monkey's paw symbolize in the story?
the danger of tempting fate, the consequences of trying to change one's fate, and the illusion that one can change their fate
How does the theme of fate differ in both stories?
The Lady or the Tiger - the "fate" is left up to chance
The Monkey's Paw - the Whites' fate is set up by their failure to heed Morris' warning/the fakir warns that everyone's fate is already sealed.
What clue in "The Lady or the Tiger?" suggests the princess's inner turmoil?
When it is mentioned that the princess hates the lady behind the door, but also does not want to see her lover eaten by the tiger.
How can you infer the king's feelings about the arena?
Based on the text, the king is very proud of the arena and feels that it is fair and just.
What is the main conflict in "The Monkey's Paw"?
We learn that the main conflict is when Sgt Morris arrives and tells them about the Monkey's Paw. We are left with an uncertain, eerie feeling and a picture of the White's distraught, empty and forever devastated by their loss.
Compare the endings of both stories.
They are both cliffhangers. We never know which door the princess told her lover to choose, and we never know what/who was knocking on the Whites' front door before Mr. White wished it away.