About the Author
Who is the name of the man who wrote "The Monkey's Paw?"
W.W. Jacobs
Who is the name of the protagonist of the story?
Mr. White
What part of the plot mountain does it state that Sergeant Morris drops by the Whites' family home?
The exposition
What is the theme presented in this story?
"Be careful what you wish for"
What is the word "grin" synonymous to?
Smile (wildly)
What year did the author write the story in?
1920.
Who is the name of Mr. and Mrs. White's son?
Herbert White
What was the first wish that Mr. White made?
He wished for 200 pounds
What is the name of the Whites' family home?
True
What year was the author born in? How old does that make him by the time he wrote the story?
He was born in 1863, making him 39 years old by the time he published "The Monkey's Paw".
What kind of mother is Mrs. White described as?
An affectionate and heartfelt mother who went through extreme emotional turmoil at her Son's death.
What game was Mr. White and Herbert playing? What was Mrs. White doing by the fire?
Mr. White and Herbert were playing Chess, while Mrs. White was knitting by the fire
Man Vs Supernatural. The Monkey's Paw can be considered to be a magical item, thus making the nature of the main conflict supernatural.
Who was described to be "Large and strong; heavily built"? What is the exact word used to describe this character?
Sergeant Morris. The word used to describe his build is "burly"
What historical event occurred during the author's lifespan?
The Victorian Era, the Second Boer War, World War I, the Great Depression, and part of World War II.
Mention all four of the characters in the story, and what type of character they're categorized as?
1. Sergeant Morris -> Flat character
2. Mr. White -> Protagonist
3. Mrs. White -> Dynamic character
4. Herbert White -> Static character
What happened during the climax?
Mr. and Mrs. White received news that their son had died at an accident in work, and they were given 200 pounds in compensation.
What can you infer to be the second moral or lesson that can be derived from the story (other than "be careful what you wish for")?
Don't be greedy // Listen to then wisdom of others
What is a torrent?
A strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid
How does the year the story was written in affect the story itself?
The Monkey's Paw was published in 1902, a time when British readers were particularly enchanted by tales of the supernatural and moral cautionary tales, influenced by the unpredictable nature of the time.
How did Sergeant Morris' character greatly affect the story despite having very little 'screen time'?
He acted as a catalyst to the events of the story. The moment he told the White family of the existence of the Monkey's Paw, he had already essentially put the story in full swing.
What (can you assume) happens by the end of the story?
The ending of the story suggests that Mr. White's final wish was effective in not letting whatever was outside the door to enter, be it their son or something entirely different. Although it is not made 100% clear, and is mostly up for the readers' interpretation, we can assume that Mr. and Mrs. White just had to grief more after the ending of the story.
How do all of the elements of the story help set the scene?
Each element provides us with a vision of how the story is meant to go, which mainly sets a gloomy atmosphere throughout the story.
What does it mean to "hark at" something?
To listen attentively or pay close attention