1. Be Careful What You Wish For!
The Monkey’s Paw
Be Careful What You Wish For!

2. General Information General Information Author: Genre:
Publication Year:
W.W. Jacobs
Gothic horror
1902

3. About the Author W.W. Jacobs 1863 – 1943
A Boy Among Boats As a young man, Jacobs worked for the government while also writing stories. These stories soon made Jacobs a popular and respected author. In fact, one critic called Jacobs “one of the most permanently delightful short story writers who ever lived.”
Ships and Shivers Many of W. W. Jacobs’s stories are about the shops he knew so well. In fact, his first collection of stories, Many Cargoes, was about the sea. Jacobs also wrote 19 more books of sea stories and horror stories like “The Monkey’s Paw,” which brought him great success.
W.W. Jacobs
1863 – 1943

4. Character Preview Character Preview
Mr. White: Elderly man who describes how he has everything he needs. Is tempted by the Paw
Mrs. White: Wife of Mr. White.
Herbert White: Son of Mr. White.
Sergeant-Major Morris: Dinner guest of the Whites. He brings with him a curious talisman, a mummified (preserved) monkey's paw.

5. Summary and Plot Overview
Sergeant-Major Morris visits the elderly Mr. White and his son, Herbert
Sergeant-Major interests the two men with his stories of adventure, but also with his possession of a talisman called the Monkey’s Paw
The Paw is said to be able to grant 3 wishes

6. Summary and Plot Overview
Morris warns the men of the dangers of the talisman. How it has caused him trouble. He even tries to destroy it.
Mr. White, his wife, and his son take ownership of it.
Strange twists of fortune and fate await the White family.

7. Literary Focus Literary Focus Setting Great Britain, Early 1900s
A gloomy location described as a bog; the setting is emphasized as part of the story’s overall feeling of darkness, gloom and horror.
This setting serves as a contrast to the inside of their house

8. Literary Focus Foreshadowing Foreshadowing
Mr. White’s reckless chess moves at the beginning of the story—he reacts before he thinks
Sergeant Morris’ warnings about the Monkey’s Paw

9. Literary Focus Literary Focus Point of View Third- Person Omniscient.
the narrator can reveal the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters

10. Literary Focus Tied directly to the wish the Monkey’s Paw grants.
Climax and Irony
Tied directly to the wish the Monkey’s Paw grants.
Try to predict the ironic twist the accompanies the granting of the first wish.

11. Literary Focus
Symbol
The House
The Monkey’s Paw
Provides shelter from the outside world; protection from its temptations and evil
A temptation from the outside world
It twists like a snake, offering “fruit,” but really promising only ruin

12. Themes and Focus The Dangers of Risks The Inherent Greed of Man
The Concept of Being Careful What You Wish For
The Dangers of Shortcuts
Man and Fate
Unintended Consequence

13. Pre-Reading Question
Make an inference about the different possible outcomes that could occur from owning the Paw.

14. Pre-Reading Question
2. Make another inference about how reckless play in a chess match could foreshadow disaster if you owned the Monkey’s Paw.

15. Pre-reading Question
3. Make another inference about how third-person point of view might be the best choice of narration for the genre of a horror story.

16. Pre-Reading Question
4. Envision yourself with the Monkey’s Paw. What wish could you possible make that could get you into a bit of trouble? Explain.

17. Pre-Reading Question
5. Analyze and explain what these themes present in the story may be saying about life, success, fortune, and death.

18. Pre-read Number 6
6. Compare these symbols and their meaning to other stories. Do you see any connection or allusions to any other famous works? (Hint: think from a Biblical perspective)

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