Characters
What is the name of the man who calls on the couple?
Mr. Steward
What does attitude mean in a story?
How a character feels about something.
What is situational irony?
The irony of something happening different from what was expected.
What happens when the button is pressed?
Someone dies but the person who pressed it gets $50,000.
What does "monetary" mean when Norma thinks about what happens if she presses the button?
Related to money/financial matters
What are the names of the couple?
Norma and Arthur Lewis
What is Arthur's attitude towards the button box?
He wants nothing to do with it.
What are the other two types of irony you learned?
Verbal irony and dramatic irony
How does Mr. Steward returning the button to their home affect the Lewises?
It encourages Norma to consider using it.
What is the CONNOTATION of the word "detatchment" in reference to Norma's attitude toward the death of a stranger?
Implies emotional distance and a lack of empathy
Who eventually wants to hit the button?
Norma
What is Norma's attitude towards the box when she learns what it does?
Norma is disturbed and wants nothing to do with it.
What is one example of situational irony in the story?
The character that dies is someone the person who pressed the button knew.
What is the final line Mr. Steward says?
My dear lady, do you really think you knew your husband?
What does "grudgingly" mean when describing how Arthur feels about talking about the button/box?
Unwilling, reluctant, showing resistance toward the topic
What are the motivations of the person who wants to hit the button?
Norma wants to hit the button because she wants more money to have a better life with Arthur.
He is unbothered by Norma's call.
What is the situational irony of how the money was acquired?
The money came from the life insurance policy of Norma's husband. The company that gave them the button didn't have to pay them anything.
List the things Norma says could happen if they get the $50,000.
They could go to Europe, have a cottage, have nicer things, or have a baby.
To justify an action with logic, even when the logic is immoral or inappropriate
Which character dies and how do they die?
Arthur is pushed in front of a train after Norma hits the button.
Explain the attitude Arthur has towards Norma after she says she was considering pressing the button.
Arthur has a disturbed and possibly disgusted attitude towards her.
What is the irony of Norma explaining all the things they could do with the money?
These were all things she thought they'd do together. Because Arthur died, those plans could no longer happen.
When the money is finally acquired at the end of the story, where does it come from? Explain.
The money comes from Arthur's life insurance policy of $25,000 with double indemnity.
What does the word "peculiar" mean when it is used to describe Mr. Steward's manner?
Strange, odd, suggests that something is off about him