“Contents of the Dead Man’s
Pocket”
By
Jack Finney
Literary Analysis
Conflict and Resoultion
Internal Conflict
• In an internal conflict, a
character struggles with his
or her own opposing
desires, beliefs, or needs.
External Conflict
• In an external conflict, a
character struggles against
an outside force, such as an
element of nature, or
another character.
Literary Analysis
Main Internal Conflict
Main External Conflict
• The main internal conflict is
between Tom’s ambition
and his love for his wife.
• The main external conflict is
Tom’s struggle to get back
into his apartment.
• Tom’s internal conflict is
resolved when he lets the
yellow sheet float back out
the window.
• Tom’s external conflict is
resolved when he breaks
the window
Reading Skill – Cause and Effect
• A cause is an event, an action, or a situation
that produces a result.
• An effect is the result produced.
• To better follow a story, analyze causes and
effects as you read, determining which earlier
events lead to which later events.
• Many stories are chains of cause and effect, in
which one event leads to the next.
Cause and Effect
• Tom’s decision to stay home and work sets the
cause/effect chain in motion.
• Short term: The paper flies out the window as
he shuts the door behind his wife.
• Long term: Tom realizes that his life is more
important than his work.
• Key detail: Clare goes to the movies; Effect:
She will not return home in time to help Tom.
Vocabulary
• Convoluted: adj. twisted in a complicated way.
The convoluted maze confused us.
• Verified: v. - proved to be true. He verified
the results of the test by double-checking the
scores.
• Deftness: n. – skillfulness. She climbed with
the deftness of a mountain goat.
Vocabulary
• Imperceptibly: adv. – so slowly or slightly as to
be barely noticeable. I did not notice when
the fish nibbled imperceptibly at my bait.
• Reveling: v. – taking great pleasure or delight.
When she got her first job, she could not stop
reveling in her newfound independence.
• Interminable: adj. – endless or seeming
endless. The wait seemed interminable to the
impatient shopper.
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
• In the selection, Tom Benecke stays home to work
on a business proposal while his wife goes to the
movies alone.
• When Tom has a harrowing experience on the
ledge of his apartment building, he is forced to
reexamine his life and reshape his outlook.
• At first, Tom feels safe and secure in his
environment and place in life.
• When he Is out on the ledge, he realizes how
dangerous reality can be and how small he is in
the world.