by _________________________
Name_________________________________________ Date _____________________ Period _____
Test your comprehension skills by circling the answer to each of the following items.
1. The story takes place in
a. a boardinghouse.
b. a small house in England.
c. a law office.
d. a villa in India.
2. What are Mr. White and his son doing while waiting for the sergeant-major?
a. eating dinner
c. playing chess
b. watching television
d. sorting through paperwork
3. Why did the old fakir originally put a spell on the monkey’s paw?
a. to repay a favor to a friend
c. to get revenge on a person who had wronged him
b. to generate wealth for his family d. to show that people should not interfere with fate
4. As a result of Mr. White’s first wish
a. he got his new house.
b. the postman delivers money.
5. The climax of the story occurs when
a. there is no one at the door.
b. a fierce knocking at the door
wakes the Whites in the night.
c. his son is killed in a freak accident.
d. his wife dies and is therefore “cured of her illness.”
c. Mrs. White races to the door while Mr. White makes
his final wish on the monkey’s paw.
d. the road outside the house is deserted.
Apply the following literary devices to the story.
Genre: ___________________________________________________
Setting: Where? __________________________________________________ When? ____________
Characters: Give each character’s name and role. Identify which one is the protagonist.
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Foreshadowing: What do you think Sergeant Major Morris’s warning suggests about the outcome of
the wishes Mr. White will make? ________________________________________________________
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Point of View: ______________________________________________________________________
Conflict: Is the main conflict internal or external? _______________________ man vs ____________
Briefly describe the conflict. DO NOT summarize the story. ___________________________________
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Mood: Use your most creative adjective to describe the mood. _______________________________
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How does the setting contribute to the mood? ____________________________________________
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Suspense: Describe the moment of most suspense. ________________________________________
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Climax: ____________________________________________________________________________
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In your own words, state the theme. ____________________________________________________
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Mr. White’s second wish is for his son to be alive again. Dispute or defend his decision to make this
wish. Give at least two reasons for your response.
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