Plot Points
Q: The story begins with the White family doing this activity at home on a cold night
A: What is playing chess?
Q: He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. White.
A: Who is Herbert?
Q: The paw originally belonged to one of these holy men who cursed it.
A: Who is a fakir?
Q: The story’s main theme warns against this.
A: What is tampering with fate?
Q: “I don’t know what to wish for!” is said by this character.
A: Who is Mr. White?
Q: This visitor tells the Whites about the paw’s dangerous power.
A: Who is Sergeant-Major Morris?
Q: She becomes desperate enough to demand a second wish.
A: Who is Mrs. White?
Q: The paw supposedly grants this many wishes.
A: What are three?
Q: Herbert jokes about the money possibly appearing in this gory way.
A: What is by coming through the door as a zombie?
Q: “He’s been dead ten days…” is part of Mrs. White’s plea for this action.
A: What is the second wish?
Q: This is what the Whites’ first wish is for.
A: What is £200 (or money)?
Q: He warns the Whites multiple times not to use the paw.
A: Who is Morris?
Q: The paw’s purpose was to show this lesson.
A: What is that fate rules people’s lives?
Q: The knocking at the end symbolizes this emotion.
A: What is terror / dread of consequences?
Q: “Better let it burn” refers to this object.
A: What is the monkey’s paw?
Q: The result of the first wish is this tragic event.
A: What is Herbert’s death?
Q: He is described as a "radical" who enjoys taking risks in chess.
A: Who is Mr. White?
Q: This symbolic detail shows the paw’s unnatural power when Morris throws it into the fire.
A: What is Mr. White grabbing it despite the warning?
Q: This theme is shown when the Whites ignore repeated warnings.
A: What is human greed / curiosity?
Q: “I won’t… I won’t!” is yelled as this event happens at the door.
A: What is the knocking / Herbert’s return?
Q: The final wish is used for this purpose.
A: What is to undo Herbert’s return / to stop the knocking at the door?
Q: This character delivers the news of Herbert's accident.
A: Who is the representative from Maw and Meggins?
Q: The paw symbolizes this larger idea about human desire.
A: What is the danger of interfering with fate?
Q: The chess game at the beginning symbolizes this idea about risk-taking.
A: What is making reckless choices?
Q: “If you must wish… wish for something sensible” shows this theme.
A: What is caution against greed / the danger of wishes?